Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-03-04
OF HONOR
IS NOW GROWING
IN POPULARITY
Red Ribbon Greeted With
Much Difference in France;
Membership Limited

Paris, March 4. - Correspondence
of the Associated Press) The red
ribbon on increasing numbers of
weather-trained blue Jackets and the
frequent appeals to popular imagina-
ton by the military parades behind
the war zone incidental TO the decora-
ton of heroes from the front, have
given a remarkabel increase in
popularity to the Legion of Honor.
This imperial institution, handed
down through the Restoration, the
Second Republic and the Second En-
pire, was not accepted without re-
serve by the more democratic Third
Republic and has gone through some
Nicissitudes 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 s
commerce as well as upon her fleet
and army, that he used the declara-
tion to incite civilian effort. Warnings
were given at the time that abuses
would result. There was no scandal,
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 question of the sale of real
decorations, involving son-in-law of
| the president of the republic, Jules
GreYy, and finally bringing about the
latter's resignation. Some less con-
SpicuouS cases have developed since,
but the supposition put forth at diff
/ ferent times, that the Legion of Honor
I a q
certainly exaggerated. There was,
perhaps, more foundation for the
opinion of the undecorated, that poll
tical influence had a great deal to do
with the distribution of the honor
among civilians.
Membership Limited
I At its origin the Legion of Honor
comprised q Grand Council or direc-
tory, composed of grand officers and
/ 16 cohorts, each cohort counting Z
grand officers, 90 commandants, 80
officers and $50 legionaries named for
! life by the grand council. The grand
council and the cohorts were sup
pressed by a law reorganizing the
order in 1916, and the dispositions of
that law were mostly incorporated
| into the present charter of the order,
which dates from March 16, 1852.
The president of the republic is the
grand master of the Legion of Honor,
whose affairs are now administered by
n grand chancellor named by the chief
executive of the republic, and a coun-
ell of the order comprising a General
Secretary, vice-president and ten
members. The corps of leGionaries
is composed of chevaliers. officers
| grand crosses. The membership Is
limited TO 20 grand crosses, so grand
! officers, 250 commanders, 1000 off,
GERS and 1900 chevallers or knights
Foreigners 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
exercise civilian or military func-
tions during 20 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 q knight two
years as an officer. three years as g
commander, five years as grand Off
Ger. 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 firs
been promoted to the rank of officer
The decoration fthe Legion o.
Honor is a five double-pointed star
with a medallion in the center with
the head of the republic in relief, anc
the words, French Republic, 1870
in q circular border. on the other side
the medallion bears two tricolor flags
with the device, "Honneur ct Patrie.'
The star which is enameled in white
is of silver for the knights and gol6
for the officers. The only distinc.
ton made in the form of the decora-