Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1907-02-19
THE STORY OF THE GARTER.
The Rarest Title That Can be Bestow'
ed by the Kino of EnuIand.

The Rarest Title That Can be Bestow-
ed by the King of England.
knight Of the Garter" is the rarest
title that can be conferred by the
king of England.
} About one-third of the knights at
the present time are reigning kings
or emperors-the shah Of Persia, the
emperor Of Japan, the kaiser, and the
king Of Spain being among other
members Of the Most Noble Order"
1t was founded far back In Edward
HIS reign. the date being ascribed to
New Years day. 1914, but authorities
differ. The legend-which even the
to this purpose. A certain countess
Of Salisbury. having lost her garter at
a ball, his majesty Edward III picked
1t up and restored 1t. When the cour-
tiers failed to hide their smiles, the
king reproved them with the words:
"Honi soft qui NAL y pense," which is
still the motto Of the order. That
Is the legend. The words are also
ascribed to the motion which Edward
III selected for his second French
campaign.
But 1t is said that the garter existed
still earlier, though not under royal
decree. King Richard having a select
band of knights at Acre who wore q
leathern band around the left leg.
Lady knights Of the Garter.
| Ono 90 the ourtous Foo tnraa NJ tho
Order of the Garter that distinguishes
1t from other orders Is that lady
knights can be admitted. True. they
are not usually inscribed upon the roll
Though Queen Alexandra has been
appointed by decree, and, Of course,
Queen Victoria, as queen regent was
head Of the order-but the sovereign
has the right Of presenting to certain
ladies, royal and others, the wives and
daughters of knights Of the Garter. a
set Of robes and insignia by virtue OF
which they become allied members OF
the order. But this practice lapsed for
nearly 400 years, Henry VII being per-
haps the last to exercise 1t, his daugh-
ter Margaret, wife of James " Of
Scotland, being the last recorded men,
ber. The two daughters of Henry
VIII, when they came to the throne
believing, perhaps, that one lady was
supreme in the land and the rest no.
where. discontinued It. King Charles
had ideas of reviving the custom,
but just at that time. 1888, his mind
became occupied with other things.
Under Edward HIS statute the
knights companion were bound to wear
the Garter at all times, and II caught
failing in this duty must pay in pen
atty "the dire mulctation" of six-and-
eightpence. On st. Georges eve they
had to hasten to Windsor, and there in
company make prayers and offerings
in the chapel. On the following day
they feasted. and thereafter for certain
days must encounter all comers in the
lists for the honor Of their order.
| other stringent regulations included
a rule that no knight should leave the
kingdom without the kings special per-
mission-a curious stipulation when
one considers that many OF the MEM
bers now are foreign though exalted
personages.
The famous garter itself is band
of blue velvet an inch broad. heavily
encrusted with gold. and bearing the
motto: 'Honi soft qui NAL y pense" In
letters of solid bold. Charles / wore
a garter with blazing array Of 412
diamonds, and these he did not shrink
from wearing on the scaffold.
At Windsor castle. after the new
knight has been elected by the chap
ter of the order-a ceremony which is
possibly allowed to lapse-the two
Junior knights proceed to the chapter
room, and preceded by the Junior
king of arms, who carries the insignia
on cushion. conduct the newly elect
ed knight to the sovereign. With the
assistance of the two senior knights
present, the king buckles 1t on; then.
while the new knight kneels, the king
puts the ribbon over his shoulder.
The collar which, like the collars Of
all orders, by the way. is badge Of
servitude, Is Of gold. and weighs near
ly thirty ounces. 1t is made In twenty
six pieces. corresponding to the statute
number Of members In the order, and
each ring is In the form Of "a garter.
enameled blue, with the motto In gold,
and in the center Of each garter rose
enameled red. seeded gold, and green"
The George, a figure Of the saint en-
countering the dragoon, hangs pendent
In the center
Insignia Presented by the King.
The star, with its brilliant red cross,
was founded by Charles I, and Is in
tended to be worn when the knight is
not in his robes. This star, which has
altered gradually In shape in the last
300 years, was restored by King Ed
ward to it's original shape last year.
The insignia are all presented to the
knight by the king, but on his death
| they have to be returned to the SOW
erign.
The mantle is Of purple velvet, lined
with white silk, with the badge Of the
order on the left shoulder. The neck
Is closed by Gordon Of purple silk and
gold in equal parts Queen Victoria's
mantle was nine feet in length (the
knights have mantles shorter than the
sovereignty.
The garter is worn on the left leg
over a white silk stocking, and is bal
anced on the right leg by a plain band
Of white silk ribbon. Dady knights
wear it on the left arm.) The hood
and surcoat are Of crimson velvet lined
NTH white taffeta
The admission of a knight Of the
Garter Is one of the most gorgeous
ceremonials in the world. 1t brings a
touch of color into court life that King
Edward has revived the formal pre-
sensation at Windsor.
| ORDER OF BRITISH TrTLEs.-They
had been talking about an English
| ma rnuiS and the pOSitiOn he held