The Alaska daily empire., 1914-09-30
Fondness For "Tags"
s-.-s-l-l-s-l-s-l-l-s-l-l-a1-l.l-l-l-l-I-l-ll-l-


 PERSEVERANCE, Sept. 30.-To the Editor-A recent press dispatch says that thus far in the European war SS, 900 persons have been decorated with the iron cross of Germany by the Elm peror. This leads one to think that such wholesale distribution of honor is fitting evidence of the Teuton's im- tense desire to possess a handle to his name" or "a bauble on his heart"
 One of the aims of nearly every German with aims at all, is the ac- quisltion of 'tag" and, if such dis. tinction is not forthcoming from the authorities who control such matters, 1t is assumed by man from his pro- fession. He met Herr and Frau Ban kin -. Herr and Frau Curator -, etc, etc.,-the wife in each case, receiving some reflected glory from her mans assumed distinction.
 It very often happens that man, honored in more than one capacity, adds the list of his titles before his name. The formal mode of address. ing gentleman in Germany is to call him High and Well Born" and the writer has seen an envelope address ed to we'll known university profes- sor in Germany which read:
 "Zu dem Hochwohlgeborne
 Herr Doktor Professor Konigiiche Geheimrat ---." which means, when literally translated:
 "To the High and Well Born
 Mir. Doctor, Professor Imperial Pri' w counsellor -"
 Though Germany is an easy first among the nations where the long tags" is concerned, she is by no means unique. It would seem that this craving after titles is but human
 France, one of the Democratic pow CTS has distinctions galore, but no titles. The honors sought by French men, take the form of rosettes or rib bons, very small in size, worn on the coat lapel. To the casual visitor in France every man of any pressure which is almost synomnous with sat undity-seems to have an order on his coat-from the small green-yellow bow, awarded by the minister of agrl' culture to prominent provincial "mag' mates" to the plain red ribbon of that most courted of all French distinctions the Legiond e honneur.
 In the U. S. A., an essentially dem acratic nation, the great number of fraternity, lodge and society badges, worn by it's citizens and the prevail ence of the title Judge" and "Col' oner point to the fact that the tag is not despised; and the frequent bar ter between Europe and Columbia of titles would be ludigrous if it were not so tragic.
 In Great Britain, outside the aris' tocracy and the honors bestowed Tn military, naval and diplomatic circles, there are few to be obtained by the British citizen. In war time however the most coveted of all distinction and as easily won by the drummer boy as by the general, is the Victoria Cross, a plain Maltese cross of bronze, bearing the crown, surmounted by the lion and the inscription For Valor" This medal is awarded for conspicu ous bravery in action and is fastened by its dark red ribbon to the tunic of the hero by the soverign.
 The newspaper paragraph at the head of this column has dispelled an illusion the writer had always held that the Iron Cross" was the "Vic toria Cross" in Germany.
 Every man who is fighting for his country's honor is hero and as such is deserving of some recognition, but all soldiers cannot be super heroes and after the thousands of iron crosses have been awarded to her heroes what has Germany to offer her super heroes. R. F. s.