The Waxahachie daily light. [volume] (Waxahachie, Tex.) 1894-current, 1912-05-11
MEN LOVE DECORATIONS
IL is Pity That There Are No
Titles in America.

| When Edward Bellamy said that
men would be more covetous of a
decoration, or bit of red ribbon to
stick to their coats, than they would
De OF money he was laughed at
And yet he spoke the words of truth
and soberncss. The love of money
Is a great passion, as well as the
root of all evil, but the love Of dis
tlnction is greater. Indeed we
may believe that the love of money
when it passes a certain point, be-
comes love of distinction. It is
the winning of race. 1t is some
thing that lifts us above our fellow
men. 1t is badge of achievement
In England men yearn for titles
In France they yearn for decora-
ton. In America they yearn for
cascades of dollars. 1t is all the
same thing. 1t is the craving for
distinction.
1t is pity that there are no titles
or decorations in America They
would. to some extent, take the
place OF the gold lust OF course
II
insignia OF many orders and socie-
ties. And how popular they are
How proudly our best citizens will
strut through the streets decked OUT
| in finery that would make their
wives weep tears of pure pity, car
i rying their imitation swords. with
helmets upon their heads or blaz-
| ing with gaudy aprons and pinch
beck jewels. Suppose some of these
beautiful things were to be con-
ferred by real National authority.
In comparison with such bliss
mere money would become filthy
| lucre in fact as we'll as in name,
Americans can get no decorations
at home, and so they go abroad for
| them You can easily get them
| in France. No matter what your
nationality you can get decora-
ton from the French government II
you can but prove that you have
done something in the public ser
vice At least you may say you have
and say it in the right ears. Theh
Won will get the Legion of Honor
perhaps not of a very high grade,
but then, bless your heart, they VIII
never know the difference at nome
In France they will give the Legion
of Honor to a servant who has kept
his place for a certain NUMBER Oh
wears. They will give it to you for
writing a book, although the real
service is in not writing DOOR
They will give it to you for being 9
newspaper editor like James COR
don Bennett, or physician hkS
: DR.. Mcguire, or a dentist like Dr
Spaulding, or a politician like FER
: nv Belmont All the Americans Wh'
go to Paris get the Legion OF hon
or They ask for it early and often
They demonstrate in an incontest
: able way that they have served hu
: manity and saved the world. fo
e example. what would have happen
ed to horse breeding but for ina
distinguished American, Alfred va
y derbilt. The facts were notorious
c so Alfred got the ribbon. OF cours
s 7 p Morgan has all the orders tina
a there are, and probably he is tn
: only recent American who got thel
without asking for them.
1t is strange that we hear so IL
= tle of the decoration-hunting ma
: and so much of the title-huntin
i woman. On the whole the tit
9 seems the better worth having
N is something that is permanent
4. associated with your name, wher'
as a decoration is effaced in MI
W ment when you take your coat OF
At and it really doesn't amount
r much when your coat is on. But
~ title sticketh closer than brothe
II If follows you like shining sha
"A ow and can not be forgotten.-A
at gonaut