The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-03-14
AWARDS FOR BRAVERY.

A WARDS OF orders and deCora-
Il tons conferred upon ind!v.d-
ua!s and regiments for d,st!n-
gu!shed service on the field Of battle
have been told in dispatches 20 news
papers from capitals OF the warning
nations IN Europe. Some OF these
honors FOR bravery date back for CEN
turtles, while others are OF compare
lively recent creation. None can COM
pete IN point O: antiquity with the
title ~ the order OF the Garter. The
exact date ~ 80 foundation Is un-
certain.
Popular tradition associates Il with
the well known story Of Edward ILL.,.
who Is credited with having publicly
restored n the Countess OF Salisbury
an article Of her dress which had
slipped 10 the ground. Sedden gives
the date as st. Georges Day, 1916.
and another theory associates Il with
the battle OF Crecy. Whichever is
correct there Ia no doubt that this
order well merits tho words OF Cam
den, who says OF II. mo order IN Fu-
rope Is SO ancient. none so illustrlous.
for u exceeds In majesty and fame all
chivalrous fratern!ties in the world ="
somewhat less stately but none the
less appreclative were the words of
a well known sporting duke. who re-
marked that he liked the Garter"
better than any other OF his numer-
Gus distinctions. as Il was 80 jolly
exclusive" OF even greater antiquity
IL the Most Ancient and Most Noble
Order OF the Thistle. which is said TO
have been founded by King Achaius
in 7s7.
But although the British Empire
can claim two such historic orders
and many others OF lesser degree. w
have nothing In this country which
corresponds with the Legion dion
neur in France. This order, which
WAS originated ny Napoleon I. IN 1902
can be gained by any Frenchman tr
conspicuous service to the State. II
is also occasionally awarded TO ONE
hut not often. Rosa Bonheur was one
upon whom II was conferred, and It
was bestowed upon Nine. Sarah Bern
hardt a few years ago. The order con-
sists Of Ave classes. ranging from
Grand CroiX." OF which the number
of recipients Ia limited TO eighty, down
to simple ,Nevalters, whose number Is
unlimited. British subjects upon whom
foreign distinctions are conferred have
to obtain permission from the Foreign
office hefor" accepting. and consld-
cradle dissatisfaction has been caused
in the past by the grudging manner
in which this privilege has been aC-
corded. There are. however, indica-
tons that In future this restriction
Is likely TO be considerably relaxed.
for England to pay 10 hor Allies were
any difficulties TO be placed In the
way OF the acceptance by British sol
diers OF nv distinctions which may
he conferred upon them. The cross OF
the Legion d'IIonneur is a Ave pointed
star placed over a wreath OF oak and
laurel leaves. In the days when
France was n monarchy the star was
surmounted by n crown. but a small
laurel wreath now takes tho place of
that royal emblem. For tho grade Of
Chevalior tho star Ia Of silver, hut for
that OF officer and oil superior ranks
1t Is of gold. Chcvaliers havc the
right 10 wear IN the h~uttonholc a
small how ot scarlet ribnon. and Of
ficiers n rosette OF similar color. Mem
hers Of tho Legion d'Honneur have the
right to a military funeral. which
varaas In importance according to