New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1920-04-02

lutSlutll VI NV '''i'N
From there the two proceeded in state 10 the
Yotel de Vile, Poincare occupying the seat OF
lonor by virtue of right.
Al the Hotel de VILE, which is the seat not OF
Ie national government but of the munlclpal au-
ministration of the metropolis, President foihcare
tremendously presented his successor TO the Chy
Fathers, whereupon the president of the municipal
council, that is to say the mayor IN chief OF the
entire capital and the Project de Ia Seine, gov
ernor of the metropolitan county or department.
welcomed the new ruler of France in the name
of the city of Paris.
The two still living former chief magistrates OF
the republic, Emile Loubet and fallieres, occupied
places Of honor at the ceremony. After faui
Deschane had fully acknowledged the two
speeches and had given n brief expression OF his
intentions to emulate the services of his prede-
cessor and to fulfill the obligations of his office
in accordance with the provisions of the constitu-
ton, Poincare and Deschanel resumed their places
in the presidential %equipage. The outgoing presl-
dent again occupied the seat on the right, no
longer MS n matter of prerogative, but as an act OF
couI tesy of his successor, who drove him. still
escc;ed by cavalry, to the residence which he had
rented for Nine. POincare and himself in the Rue
Mafoeau. From there President Deschanel pro-
tceeGed alone to The Elysee palace, of which, after
having been welcomed there with full military
honors, he assumed formal possession in the pres
ence of the members of the cabinet.
Oullt II ullltItnl ~ VI an VI
ours! The French president is not called upon to
take oath of office and the people of Paris go
about their business much as usual while the
business of the president taking office Is going ON.
What is perhaps the nearest approach to any
thing resembling an investiture of office will be
when the distinguished general, who Is grand
chancellor of the French National Order of the
Legion of Honor, calls in state at the Elysee pal
ace on the designated afternoon to place around
the neck Of the new president the great gold chain
of grand master of the order.
1t is a gold chain composed of seventeen gold
and blue enamel medallions connected with one
another by large gold links. and naturally is SUI
perior to the grand cross, or first class of the or
der. 1t Is fastened to each shoulder with bows Of
white ribbon, while suspended In front of the
| collar is a large cross of the order.
The first nine medallions are engraved with the
names of the chief magistrates who have worn
the collar since the foundation of the present re-
public, namely, Theirs, Marshal MacMahon. Jules
Grevy, Sadi Carnot, Casimir-P erier, Felix Faure,
Emile Loubet. Armand Fallieres and Raymond
Poincare. The name OF Paul Deschanel is en-
graved on the tenth medallion.
This chain or collar of the order, dating from
1872, is the fourth that has been made since the
foundation Of the Legion of Honor. just 11s years
ago, by the first Napoleon. He caused three col
lars to be made. The first one was for himself,
and was worn by his nephew Napoleon III.
throughout his reign.
The second is in the possession Of Prince Jo-
achim Murat, who inherited 1t from his great
great grandfather, Field Marshal Joachim Murat,
brotherin-law Of the first Napoleon, and some time
king Of Naples. The Prince Murat Of today, of
course, cannot wear It, not being a knight Of the
order even of the lowest grade. He merely owns
Ii as a family relic.
No one knew what had become Of the third col
lar until II turned up in 1867 among the crown
Jewels of the reigning house of Austria Hungary,
and Emperor Francis Joseph wore it when he
visited Paris that year in connection with the In
ternational exposition. 1t is now among the
French crown Jewels.
OF course the gold collar of the order recov-
cred from Vienna and that worn by the first
Napoleon as founder and first grand master of the
order are so adorned with crowns and imperial
embIems as to be unsuitable for the president of q
republic. Therefore the official insignia of Paul
DeScl,anel as the new grand master is the collar
made in 1872 for Adolphe Theirs, first president
Of the third republic.
Although President Poincare. like his predeces-
sors at the Elysee palace. was compelled to re-
Of his seven years term of Office. he will, ex-oficio,
as a past grand master. remain a knight grand
cross fer the remainder Of his days. This in It.
self gives him high official rank. Indeed. the
knights grand cross Of the order-relatively few
in number-are officially considered as among the
highest dignitaries Of the republic, coming i'm
mediately after the president. the speakers Of the
senate and of the chamber of deputies and the
three marshals-Foch Joffre and Petain.
They are entitled to all sorts of military and