Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-02-02
INCREASING NUMBERS OF
|. LEGION OF HONOR RIBBONS
The Bit of Red on Retur ned Soldiers Coats Are
Silent Witnesses of Deeds of Valor Re-
markable Growth of Popularity for the Ord
er-Was Originated by The Napoleon

ASSOCIATED Press Correspondence
Paris, Jan. 25.-The red ribbon on
increasing numbers Of weather
stained blue jackets. and the frequent
appeals to popular imagination by the
military parades behind the war zone
incidental to the decoration of heroes
from the front, have given remark
able increase in popularity to the
Legion Of Honor. This imperial in
stitution. handed down through the
Restoration, the Second Republic and
the Second Empire, was not accepted
without reserve by the more demo-
cratic Third Republic and has gone
through some vicissitudes since.
Napoleon's first idea was to reward
military devotion and gallant services
on the field Of battle. 1t was only
later, when he realized the importance
Of making war on Great Britains
commerce as we'll as upon her fleet
and army, that he used the decoration
to incite civilian effort. Warnings
were given at the time that abuses
however, during the Empire and the
first known traffic in the decoration
came to light in 1922. when an agency
engaged in the selling Of false decora-
tions was unearthed. The scandal of
1887 was more serious In that case
it was a question of the sale Of real
decorations, involving a son-in-law Of
the president Of the republic, Jules
Grevy. and finally bringing about the
latter's resignation. Some less con-
spicuous cases have developed since.
but the supposition put forth at diff
ferent time, that the Legion of Honor
was always for sale at a price, was
certainly exaggerated. There was.
perhaps. more foundation for the opin-
ion of the undecorated, that political
influence had a great deal to do with
the distribution Of the honors among
civilians.
At its origin the Legion of Honor
comprised a Grand Council or direc-
tory, composed Of grand officers and
16 cohorts, each cohort counting Z
grand officers, 20 commandments, 80 Of
ficers and $50 DICTIONARIES named for
council and the cohorts were sup
pressed by law recognizing the or
der in 1916. and the dispositions Of
that law were mostly incorporated
into the present charter Of the order,
which dates from March IS, 1852. The
president of the republic is the Grand
Master of the Legion Of Honor, whose
affairs are now. administered by a
Grand Chancellor named by the chief
executive Of the republic. and coun-
Gil of the order comprising a General
Secretary, Vice President and ten
members. The corps of legionaries is
composed Of Chevaliers. Officers,
Commandments, Grand Officers and
Grand Crosses. The membership is
limited to 20 Grand Crosses, so Grand
Officers. ESQ Commanders. 1000 Officers
and 1900 Chevaliers or Knights. For
eigners on whom the decoration is
conferred do not figure in this limited
membership, according to the rules.
In time of peace, to be admitted to
the Legion of Honor one must have
exercised civilian or military func-
tions during 90 years with honor and
distinction. To be promoted to any
rank superior to that of Knight it is
indispensable to have passed through
the grade Immediately inferior: the
period of four years as a Knight, two
years as an Officer three years as a
Commander, five years as Grand Of
ficer. For exceptional cases of gal
lantry or extraordinary services in
time of war or peace these periods
may be reduced, but in no case may a
knight be advanced to the grade of
Commander without having first been
promoted to the rank Of Officer.