The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1911-08-11
LEGION or HONOR.
The Order That Was Founded by
the Great Napoleon.
THRlvED DESPITE RIDIcULE.
The oespotlo ccrsican Proved by the
Inauguration of the Decoration That
He Was Keen Student of French
Human Nature.

He Was a Keen Student of French
Human Nature.
France owes the Legion OF Honor To
Napoleon. All orders of chivalry had
been abolished by the revolution and
had left gap which it was not easy
10 Gil. They are mere geegaws," said
Monge. the chemist, who had taught
the revolutionists how to make gun
powder out Of plaster Of paris. Gee
gaws. II you WILL" the first consul an.
swered. "but people like them. Let us
approach the question frankly. All
men are enamored of decorations.
the French more than any. They posi-
lively hunger for them. and they have
always done So"
This was at Malmaison In 1902. In
May the conseil d'etat was invited 10
consider the project of the institution
Of the legion OF Honor. 1t was ridi-
culed by many, notably by Moreau,
who ms victor of Hohenllnden was Bit
terly jealous of the victor of Marengo.
at dinner party he sent for his cook
and said to him In the presence of his
guests: Michel. l am pleased with
your dinner. You have indeed distin-
guished yourself. ! will award you a
saucepan OF honor" Nine. de Stael
was also satirical upon the subject.
"Ah. one of the decorated?" she used
to ask each guest who was shown into
her salon.
But Napoleon had gagged human ma
ture correctly. His Legion OF Honor
did meet felt want, and IL was def.
nitely inaugurated on July IA, 1904.
Among the eminent men OF science
and men of letters on whom IL was
then bestowed we're included Laplace,
the mathematician; Lalande, the as
tronomer; Cuvier. the naturalist, and
Legouve. the poet The most notable
name omitted was that of Bernardin
de St Pierre. Just then in disgrace for
Mime. de Stael, whom Ma
poleon had banished, but he got the
decoration later on the entreaty Of
Queen Hor-ense
After Naposeon's downfall the ques-
ton of suppressing the Legion Of Hon.
Or arose. Chateaubriand, whom Napo-
leon had not decorated. strongly urged
It's abolition. So did Puzzo oil Borgo.
Marshals Victor. Marmont and Mac
donald opposed. After debate It was
decided to recognize and retain the or
Ter, not on any high moral or patriotic
but because Louis XVIII.
,ould not afford to make himself more
lnpopuler than he was already by
stripping people of their decorations.
Chateaubriand and Lamartine consent
ID 10 accept the red ribbon, but 1t was
llso conferred upon q great number OF
personages and so brought
nto contempt
There have been many Legion OF
Honor scandals since those days. but
ne of them surpasses all the others In
magnitude. This IS, Of course, tho
wilson scandal. the history of which,
hough intricate. is worth recalling.
The trouble may be said to have be-
'un on the day on which Mile. Alice
irevy fell In love with an opera singer
vho need not be mentioned here. He
7anted TO marry her. and she wanted
D marry him, and the papers were be-
inning to couple the two names in
tanner most embarrassing TO the pres
lent OF the republic. The president,
owever, sent the opera singer about
is business and found his daughter
mother husband, not q very good hus-
and. but the best husband he could
rocurc on the spur of the moment
lis choice fell upon M. Daniel Wilson.
no bad long been one Of NJ. Grevy's
olitical supporters and was fnancier
some mark.
No sooner was NJ. Wilson establish
at the Elysee than he proceeded to
lrlch himself by various means.
mong other things he founded pa
n called lie Moniteur de PExposition
niverselle. which teally covered
aflic In decorations The whole story
me out In state trial toward the
ID or 1887. IL was proved that Will
n had made q regular practice of
ling the Legion of Honor, or, rather,
ah'iInS peOplt WHO WuuIeO IL 10
ibe him TO use his influence to obtain
for them. His overtures were pre-
nted through his Jackals, Generals
Audlan and Cafferel and Mines. Ii
ousin and Ratazzi, and the whole
rty had to stand in the dock to-
Their.
Wilson was sentenced to two years
prisonment, a fine of 5000 francs
d I've years deprivation of civil
hts He appealed, and the court of
ssation annulled the judgment. Tho
FUSED, said the judges. was obvious
guilty of everything that he was
lrged with. but as his offenses were
anticipated by any punitive law
could not be punished. so be re-
ed TO the country and tried to live
wn his bad name. AS he ultimately
himself elected conseiller general
must suppose that he succeeded in
s obtect-PaIl MaII Cazeffa