Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-09-10

chevaliere," Permit me to introduce the
Chevaliere Robbins
1t beats the Daughters of the Revolu
tion-being easier to obtain. Also it beats
the band.
| shall not mention names. Why give
pain? Even after the falling of Naens,
Evrard and Clement most of our Ameri
cans are still wearing their decorations,
blissfully ignorant that there has been a
scandal. They have no doubt about the
prncely origin of their blue eagles, pink
crescents and golden lions. There seems
TO have been special department for
Americans.
Besides. the true list, should anybody
know It, would fill d column. There is no
list. We just see the avenues and prom
enades of the rich American quarter fair
~ blooming with colored ribbons like a
continuous flower garden. The authori-
ties do not modest them Where n French
man risks fine and Imprisonment for
wearing a false decoration, the American
passes free. like the lady in ''Comus
He she may have got it in Italy or
Switzerland. Somctimes-but not often
they did.
The French Legion of Honor is in no
way involved.
Its few American members III Paris
famous artists. financiers. diplomats. high
business men and foremost Journalists of
old standing-are we'll known When they
approach. with their simple red ribbon,
honor follows. That is why the others
want ribbons.
What the cable recently called tie
French decoration scandal flew no higher
than the sale of academic palms-whose
ribbon is violet-fraudulent in the of
young Poldor. irregular and myst erious
in the ease of Ealensi and Clement
The Academic Palms exist to reward
French savants, artists. writer's profcs-
sors and musical composers \ number
of Americans wear them quite Legally.
All through the idea liz beauiIul.
The state. seeking out the. extra meritor-
ious citizen, says: Wear this for my
sake; / wash - diStinRu'sI Won The
state wishes to encourage merit in all
grades. So purple is the ribbon OF the
public instruction, of which many thou
sands are yearly given out % professors,
school teachers and lesser savants and
writer's.
The victims who have complained are
French. Polidor was cashing a check for
1900 francs when arrested. For a full
alpfoiGa OF the -'Peilt.s ne asked SiuI.
Having friends among clerks in the min
istrY Of public instruction he would steal
a few diplomas while on visit from a
package of signed ard sealed cnes. with
only the recipients cle in blank. Of
course il was fraudulent. The caeatei
purchasers name could never get on the
list
Nalensi. on the other hand. seems t
have been sure of his Palms and
Nichams that he advised two purchasers
to 90 i'll person to the chancellery and
pay their investiture, They went. An
INTERPRETER called and "the chan
celery did not perceive anything irrcsu-
lar II handed the parchments back
certified To the now fully decorated ones.
All this is hazy and delicate.
In Nicha,ns they were ,renared m do a
wholesale business. 1t is the Nicham
lftikhar, high order of Tunis, and val
ued by Frenchmen because of the con-
nection with France. Men of position
and honor wear il. Neyert aeless Judge
81 Instruction Tortat has seized an express
package containing II3 Nicham diplomas
out of a thousand ordered by the mys-
ferrous NJ Reveillard. The expressing
was anonymous. Could they have been
genuine diplomas? The insurance agent,
Turner. says yes. Having paid Valensi
500 for the hono5 he had no difficulty in