Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-02-02

The decoration Of the Legion OF
Honor is a five double pointed star.
with medallion in the center with
the head of the republic in relief. and
the words, French Republic, 1870" in
circular border. On the other side
the medallion bears two tricolor flags
with the device, "Honneur ct Patrie."
The star which is enamelled in white
is Of silver for the Knights, and gold
for the Officers. The only distinc-
ton made in the form Of the decora-
ton itself for the different ranks Is
that of size, being Ia inches in
diameter for the knights and Officers.
and 2l5 inches in diameter for the
Commanders. The Knights wear the
decoration on the left side Of the
chest, attached to a red MORE ribbon,
the Officers wear it the same place
and with the same ribbon. but with a
red rosette attached. Commanders
wear the decoration around their neck.
attached to a red MORE ribbon wider
than that of officers and Knights.
Grand Officers in addition to the cross
wear on the left side of the breast
five double pointed silver star set with
diamonds. The Grand Crosses wear
the decoration attached to red sash
passing over the right shoulder and
also on the left side of the chest
another double pointed star similar to
that Of the Grand officers.
1t is not generally known that mem.
bership in the Legion Of Honor car
ries with it a pension to soldiers or Of
ficers who have lost member or have
lost the use Of member as the re-
suit of wounds received in battle.
Knights receive $50 francs a year. Of
ficers 500 francs. Commanders 1000
francs, Grand officers 1000 francs and
Grand Crosses 5000 francs.
Membership in the Legion of Honor
is lost for the same causes that a man
is liable to lose his civic rights, that
is to say. in cases Of conviction for
criminal offences or in case Of bank
ruptcy
The palace of the Legion of Honor,
called generally 1.-The Chancellerie," is
a beautiful building on the left bank
of the Seine, facing the Tuileries Car
dens. The original structure was
erected between 1882 and 1859 by
Rousseau for the Prince Frederic of
Salm- kyrbourg. 1t was inhabited by
Madame de Stael for time and was
bought by the Legion of Honor in
1904 to be used as headquarters Of the
order and as the residence of the
Chancellor. Burned during the Com
mune in 1871, it was rebuilt on the
original plans by voluntary subscrip-
tions Of members of the order. In the
Salons of the palace are gathered a
great many interesting works Of art,
among them a splendid full life por
trait of the First Consur' by won,
an apotheosis Of Napoleon, by Maillot,
and ceiling by ]. P. Laurens repre-
senting the creation of the Legion OF
Honor.
Besides pensions to crippled men,
bers, the Legion of Honor educates
the daughters of its DICTIONARIES in
three different institutions. the origi-
nal of which was established at
Ecoun in 1906. The second was Or
ganiZed in the ancient abbey at Saint
Denis in 1909 and became the princi-
pal institution. Others were founded
in 1870 but three only survived,
Saint Denis, Ecoun and des Loges.
Each institution has accommodations
for 400 free places for daughters of
members with the rank of Captain or
equivalent, without fortunes. Daugh-
tiers, grand daughters, sisters and
nieces of members are admitted to 80
places in each institution at the ex-
pense Of the family. The date of ad-
mission is from to II years of age
and the girls graduate in seven years.