Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-07-17

cHtS Tue LtEkOu VI I1DuOE "
Napoleon. All orders Of chfvalry had
been abolished by the revolution and
had left gap which it was not easy
to fill. "Tbey are mere geegaws." said
Monge. the chemist, who had taught
the revolUtionists how to make gun
powder out of plaster of paris. Gee
gaws. If 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 conseiI d'etat was invited to
consider the project Of the institution
Of the Legion OF Honor. 1t was ridi-
culed by many, notably by Moreau,
who as victor of Hohenlinden 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. 1 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 It was def
Ditely naugurated on July IA. 1901.
Among the eminent men Of science
and men of letters on whom II was
then bestowed were included Laplace.
the mathematician, Lalaude. tie as
tronOmer; Cuvier. the naturalist, and
Legouve. the poet The most notable
name omitted was that Of Beruardiu
de 81. Pierre, just then IT disgrace for
chaupiouing Nine. dc Stael, whom Ma
polcou bad bauished. but he got the
decoration later on the cptreaty Of
Queen Hortensn
After Napoleon's downfall the cues
ton OF supervising the Legion OF Hon
or arose Chateaubriand. whom Napo-
leon had NOT decorated. strongly urged
its abolition So did PuZzo dt BorEo.
MarshaIs Victor. Marmont and Mac
donald opposed After debate 1t was
decided to recognize and retain The or
ltT. NOT on any 4l-l IlOIui vi t'ttl 4'fita
grounds. but because Louis XVIII
could not afford 10 make himself more
unpopular than he was already by
stripping people Of their decorations.
Chateaubriand and Lamartine consent
ed TO accept the red ribbon, but it was
also conferred upon great number OF
worthless persouaGes and SO brought
into contempt
There have been many Legion Of
Honor scandals since those days. bur
one OF them surpasseS all the others IN
ma snitude. This is. Of course. the
Wilson scandal. the history Of which.
though intricate. is worth recalling.
The trouble may be said TO have be-
gun on the day on which Mile. Alice
Grevy fell in love with an opera singer
who need not be mentioned here. He
wanted TO marry her. and she wanted
TO marry him. and the papers were be-
ginning TO couple the two names IN
manner most embarrassing TO the pres
ideut OF the republic The president.
however. sent the opera singer about
bis business and found his daughter
another husband, not a very good hus-
band. but the best husband he could
procure on the spur OF the moment
His choice fell upon n. Daniel Wilson.
who had iouE been one Of NJ. Crews
political supporters and was hnancier
OF some mark.
No sooner was NJ. Wilson establish
ed at the Elysee than he proceeded 10
enrich himself by various means.
Among other things he founded q pa
per called lie Moniteur de TExpositiOn
CniverseIle, which really covered a
traffic In decorations. The whole story
came out in a state trial toward the
end OF 1857. IL was proved that WI
son had made regular practice Of
selling the Legion OF Honor. or. rather,
of inviting people who wanted IL 70
bride him 10 use his influence TO obtain
IL for them His overtures were pre-
scented through MS Jackals. Generals
d'Audlan and CaGerel and Mines L.
mouSin and Rar2zd. and the whole
party had TO stand in the dock to-
gether.
Wilson was sentenced to two years
imprisonment. Z fine OF 5000 francs
and i've years deprivation Of civn
rights He appealed. and the court OF