Tonopah daily bonanza. [volume] (Tonopah, Nev.) 1906-1929, 1916-01-19

PARIS. Jan 19.--The red ribbon on
increasing numbers of weather-stain-
ed blue jackets. and the frequent APP
peals to popular imagination by the
military parades behind the war zone
incidental to the decoration of heroes
from the front, have given a remark
able increase in popularity to the LIE
gion OF Honor. This imperial insti
tuition, handed down through the Res
toration, 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 import
ance OF making war on Great Bri-
tain's commerce as well as upon her
fleet and army, that he used the deco
ration to incite civilian effort. Warn
ings were given at the time that
abuses would result There was no
scandal, however, during the Empire
and the first known traffic in the deco.
ration came to light in 1922, when
an agency engaged in the selling OF
false decorations was unearthed. The
scandal of 1887 was more serious. In
that case II was question of the
sale OF real decorations. involving a
son-in-law OF the president of the re
public, Jules Grevy, and finally bring
ing about the latter's resignation.
Some less conspicuous cases have de
veloped since, but the supposition put
forth at different times. that the lie
gion of Honor was always for sale at
price. was certainly exaggerated.
There was, perhaps, more foundation
for the opinion of the undecorated,
that political influence had great
deal to do with the distribution of
the honor among civilians.
At its origin the Legion of Honor
comprised grand council or direc-
tory, composed of grand officers
and 16 cohorts, each cohort counting
grand officers, 20 commandments, 30
officers and $50 DICTIONARIES named for
life by the grand council. The grand
council and the cohorts were suppress
sed by law recognizing the order in
1916, and the dispositions of that law
were mostly incorporated into the pre-
sent 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 CRANE
chancellor named by the chief execu
tive OF the republic. and council o
the order comprising general sec
rotary, vice-president and ten mem
bers. The corps OF DICTIONARIES is com
posed of chevaliers, officers, com
mandants, grand officers ana CRANE
crosses. The membership is Limited
to 20 grand crosses, so grand officers
$50 commanders, 1000 officers AM
$4,000 chevaliers or knights. Fol
eigners on whom the decoration i
conferred do not figure in this limit
ed membership, according to tn
rules.
In time of peace, to be admitted {
the Legion OF Honor one must hay
exercised civilian or military funt
lions during 20 years with honor an
distinction. To be promoted to an
rank superior to that or knight 1t
indispensable to have passed throug
the grade Immediately inferior Tn
period OF four years as knight, tw
years as an officer, three years as
commander, FIVE years as a gran
officer For exceptional cases Of ga
lantry or extraordinary services
time of war or peace these period
may be reduced. but in no case ma
knight be advanced to the grade {
commander without having first bee
promoted to the rank of officer
The decoration of the Legion
Honor is five double-pointed sta
with medallion in the center wit
the head Of the republic in relief. an
the words, French Republic, 1870"
circular border. On the other sic
the medallion bears two tricolor fla,
with the device, "Honneur ct Patrie
The star which IL enamelled In white
of silver for the knights. and gold {,
the officers. The only distinctie
made in the form Of the decoration
self for the different ranks is that
size, being 1-3 inches in diameter Il
the knights and officers. and 2 4