New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-08-05

husband TO set aside for the poor much
land as would enable her to institute a
dole of bread TO sill Corners at the gates OF
T1chborne Park on Lady Day Sir Roger
took brand from the hearth and promised
her as much land for the purpose IS she
could encircie while the brand was burn
ing. Dame Mabel. according to tradition,
caused herself TO be carried from her bed
10 a spot which IS still pointed out and
began creeping on her hands and knees.
Before the brand was consumed she had
encircied several acres which are still
known 10 this day in that part of the coun-
try as The Crawls." Since then-eight
hundred years ago or more-the Tichborne
dole has never ceased to be distributed on
every Lady Day. Nowadays it takes the
form OF large gift of fours to each family
i'm the village Of Tichborne, the distribution
taking place in front OF Tichborne House.
Republican Orders of knighthood.
Frances Chamber of Deputies has fire.
quently had under consideration proposals
for the abolition Of the order of the
Legion OF Honor and of other French
decorations on the plea that their existence
a republic is based. There is not the
slightest chance. however, of any such pro-
posal ever becoming law, and if the cham
Der occasionally INDUCES in discussion
upon the subject II is because its members
are disqualified by virtue of their Office
from accepting any French order as long
as they belong to the national Legislature.
The Senate might be relied upon TO reject
cd
by the Chamber of Deputies, while the gov
eminent would sooner dissolve Parliament
than render itself a party to any such I'M
popular move
For, in spite of all that is said to the
contrary, orders OF knighthood are quite
as popular in France as in any monarchical
country-more SO, indeed, since the Legion
OF Honor carries with it prerogatives which
titles of nobility no longer retain. In fact,
the only French people that l have ever
found to be really Indifferent to the red
ribbon of the Legion of Honor are the
members Of the Chamber of Deputies, who
are precluded from receiving it
France is by no means the only republic
that finds il useful TO have orders Of
knighthood for the reward of services to
the nation. For the Mexican Republic has
just founded a order of knighthood to
commemorate its centennial this year. 1t
bears the title of the Order of Mexican
Noblemen, and is composed of five classes
that OF grand cross, those of commander
Of the first class and of the second class,
that Of officer and lastly that of chevaEer
of the order. The first class has just been
bestowed by President Diaz upon the
Kaiser This is the first Mexican order
TO be created since the overthrow of the
empire and the death of Emperor Maxi
milan.
The United States has its medal OF honor,
bestowed by Congress for feats of distin-
gulshed galIanrry in the face of the enemy.
Il is the American counterpart of the Vic
toria Cross of England. of the Iron Cross
or Prussia, OF the Order of st. George Of
Russia, and of the Order OF Maria Thereso
of Austria.
Venezuela has several orders, the best
krcwn of which is that of Bolivar. Bo-
livia has the Order of Christopher Column
bus while in Brazil all orders of knight
hood save the Medal of Merit were abol-
ished by the constitution in 1891. The tiny
republic of San Marine has also an order
OF knighthood. which until quite recently It
openly sold devoting the revenue derived
tberefrom to the maintenance of its hospital
and founding asylum.
The Republic of Switzerland not only pos
So sses no order OF lznighthood but likewise
strictly forbids its officials, military. dipo-
matte. consular and administrative, from
accepting any orders, under pain of dis
Inissal. Every now and again laws TO this
effect are enacted afresh and confirmed by
the federal parliament, In order thoroughly
20 impress the rule upon the minds of all
those IN the service of the republic.
MARQUISE DE FONTENOY.