The sun., 1909-02-21

certain periods Of instruction and training
every year. At first the motor cyolist
corps will wear no distinctive uniform ex-
cept special cap and badge
-
The decoration OF the Royal Red Cross
which King Edward recently conferred
upon Queen Elena Of Italy for her conduct
at Messina is one Of many orders OF merit
that may be won and worn by women.
Ihe Oldest OF these is the Order Of the Axe,
established in tho twelfth century by the
last Duke Of Barcelona, Ramon Berenguer
its establishment was inspired by the
devoted courage OF the Spanish women
in repelling the Moors, with whom the
Spaniards were then engaged In a life
and death struggle
The first order 10 recognition OF women's
personal bravery on the field OF battle
was founded In Russia. In the battle OF
Pruth. when Peter the Great led the Rus
sian army against the Turks. defeat
seemed almost inevitable. For long the
fortunes OF the Russian empire hung in
the balance and the Emperor declared
aiterward that II he had not been accom-
panied by Catherine the entire army
would have been decirnated.
On the conclusion OF peace Peter insti-
tuted the Order Of Liberty and bestowed
1t upon his wife. During his lifetime IL
was conferred on no one else. but in
1877 Paul l. modified it's character 90 that
II might be conferred upon the higher
nobility connected with the imperial
house. Each member was especially
charged with the care. manners and
morals OF pupil in the royal household
1t is now the Order Of Catherine.
The most highly prized order for women
In Germany Ia that OF Louisa, established
in 1915 by Frederick William III. 1t was
to commemorate the self-sacrince OF the
women Of Germany during the Napoleonic
campaign which terminated at Waterloo.
The women Of Prussia then sold their
jewels and rings to raise money for the
soldiery. and many accompanied the army
into the field OF battle to minister TO the
wounded and dying.
After the Franco-Prlssian War the
Service Cross for Women and Girls was
established in recognition OF their aid
during the war.
The Legion Of Honor is now the only
French order left, all others having been
abolished during the Revolution. II was
established first as the order Of the Eagle
by Napoleon in 1909. The first woman
70 wear it was Marie Jeanne Schelink.
In i792 she enlisted in tho Second Belgian
Battalion and went through several cam
paigns. In the course Of which she was
wounded more than once. After the
battle Of Austerlitz she was made Lieu
tenant Colonel and was decorated with
the order by Napoleon himself
Noble work In the cause OF humanity
entities a woman TO the Order Of Sidonia,
which was established in 1870 by King John
Of Saxony. ...
The Cross, Of Mary wss founded to
service among the .siok and
wounded in tirne Of war. The decoras
ton is that Of the Teutonic knights and
was originally limited to members Of
the Catholic faith, but that limitation no
longer obtains.
In England there are three orders con-
fined TO women. In 1877. when Queen
Victoria assumed the title OF Empress
OF India she founded the Imperial Order
Of the Crown OF India, which may be
conferred upon princesses of the royal
house and wives and female relatives
Of Indian princes and Of the holders Of
high Office in India. such as the Vioeroy
and Commander in Chief. do.
The Royal Family Order Of Victoria
and Albert, founded in 1852, explains
itself. The third British womans order
is that Of the Royal Red Cross, founded
just fifty years ago as an acknowledg-
ment OF services in nursing the sick and
The Order OF Merit, instituted by King
Edward in 1902. is really a mans order,
but IL was conferred on Miss Florence
The Ladies' Order Of st. Anne at Mu-
mich was founded by the widow Of the
Elector Maximilian III. in 1883 and orig
nally was composed Of ten women who
could prove sixteen generations Of nobil-
ity. There are now three classes with
tw enty -fve members in the first, forty
two in the second. and a third class to
which daughters Of military officers are
eligible.
Tho order OF the Starry Cross was
founded by the Empress Eleanor Of Aus
tria in 1895. After a great fire had de-
stroyed the imperial palace there was
found in the ruins a little -eTucifix said
10 contain a relic Of the ti46 cross. Ac-
,ording TO the traditions OF the family
L had been worn by and protected the
Emperor Maximilian in the perilous cam
oaigu against Martinsward. II was pre-
served in casket of crystal and enamel,
and after the great fire was entirely un-
injured.
Out Of gratitude for this miraculous
the Empress decided to
the event by establishing
an order for ladies. Pope Clement TX.
confirmed the order and entrusted the
spiritual management To the Prince
Bishop Of Vienna. The order is con-
ferred only on ladies Of royal blood who
nave done notable work for tho relief
of the poor and among the sick In hos
pitals.
Quite one Of the most exclusive orders
IS that OF Maria Louisa OF Spain. the
of which is confined to tho
ladies' Of the royal house and thirty lsdies
of noble lineage.
The order Of Isabella OF Portugal is
conferred on those who do good work
among the poor. On the decoration
appear the words "Paups rum solatio.'
,r Consolation Of the poor.'
The most notable decoration OF the
East is the order Of Nishani Shefakat. I
a. . L.