The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-09-07
BY Ia MARouIsE die FoNTENoY.

III Wv .
A CCoRD1NG to popular ideas in
~ America, every F'renchman is
entitled 10 wear a bit of red
ribbon in his button-hole. 1t may be
therefore OF interest 10 State that the
total number OF knights of the French
Legion OF Honor. VINO are alone en-
titled by law to adorn the button-hole
OF the lapel OF their coat with a bit
OF red ribbon, Is. according to the
latest official records. 4T.767, Of whom
nearly 40 per pent. are foreigners.
The order is distributed with q far
greater amount OF Sreedom among
foreigners han among F~renchmen.
Most foreign secretaries OF Embassy
and Legation. when leaving Paris. az
ter having been stationed there. have
1t awarded to them as a sort OF part
ing gift. Foreigners who have render
ed services TO the French government.
and TO the French nation. receive IL, II
any interest is invoked at Paris In
their behalf. Foreigners who give
their service free OF cost. as Jurors at
international exhibitions in France.
or who have spent q particularly large
sun In showing their manufactures al
French exhibitions, also have crosses
OF the Legion OF Honor accorded to
htbNbis es0 ~ w. w NN 49,
courtiers in attendance on foreign roy
alties visiting Paris.
But with the Frenchman 1t IS dif-
ferent. True. there has been u con-
siderable amount of abuse in distri-
buting the Legion OF Homo to editors
and Journalists. whose support Is need
ed by the government OF the day, also
to playwrights. who are feared. Cor
the power which they possess OF pro-
ducing plays satirlzing and ridicul-
ing the administration. Cabinet min
listers are also in the habit OF recon-
mending for the Legion OF Honor. rich
young men who have given 10 them
their services as private secretaries,
or as "attache au Cabinet du minis
ire" without pay.
But. save in the case OF these threc
categories. the cross is sufficiently diff
ficulr to obtain. that Its possession
constitutes q real distinction.
To begin with: no Frenchman can
get It until his past has been In
v~est!gated. and his antecedents shown
10 be clean. Moreover. he %forfeits the
cross If guilty OF any conduct that II
criminal. or even merely dlshonorable.
This rule applies to foreign knights
of the French Legion of Honor as
well. Senator's and members OF the
! DOPNNtSo' o'S
receiving 1t during the term of their
mandate, and most OF the Cabinet min
listers do not have the red ribbon.
is accorded to civil servants, such
as chiefs OF dicision. and OF bureaux
OF the great government departments.
at the close of a long and honorable
career of at least twenty years or more
of service: to French painters and
sculptors who have obtained warld-
wide celebrity: to government engi-
neers of great state works. on the
completion Of the same. and to naval
and military officers who have long
| years of useful service to their credit.
1t is also granted for feats of hero
ism by civilians, and for conspicuous
| gallantry, both In the army and in
the navy, under fire. the men as we'll
as the officers being eligible, and st is
! worthy of note that quite number
OF the native non-commissioned officers
and soldiers in Algeria, and in the great
dependencies Of France In Western
and General Africa. are decorated with
the Legion OF Honor.
IN the army and the navy the cross
OF the Legion OF Honor carries with
1t a special pension. and throughout
France and her colonies the possession
OF the red ribbon ensures one of more
bilhi q . oh NV
part OF public officials and even OF
ordinary citizens of high and low
degree. In French provincial towns
and villages, the red ribbon usually
brings to tho wearer a salute from sol
diers. sailors. police, c~oatguards, gen.
darmes. etc. When n member Of tht
Legion of Honor dies in France. nc
matter whether he be n Frenchman oil
n foreigner. he is entitled to the pres
encc OF the military at his funeral; &
company of infantry for a mere
chcvalier, q regiment for a commander
n brigade for q grand officer. and ar
entire division for a Knight Crane
Cross; the troops presenting arms or
the passage of the hearse. and Their
passing by the coffin In review order
the dead Legendary. indeed. holding
the review.
Sir Forster Gurney Goring. thirty
seven years of age, who has just sue
ceeded through his father's death t.
tho l%atter's ancient b%aronetcy. has ne
income beyond his half-pav. az .
nNH.. .IAFH. ..f.N 4g-H.