The Alaska daily empire., 1922-02-10
I MAN IS H0N0RED
 BY FRENCH
Hugh (. Wallace Decorated by French-Wins Grand
 Cross Honor Legion.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 10. - High horoys were paid here the other day to a citizen Of the state of Wash ington when M. Jules Jusserand, the French Ambassador, in the name of the President of France, conferred on Hugh c. Wallace, of Tacoma, former American Ambassador at Paris the Grand Cross of the, Legion Of Honor.
 l Last year MT. Wallace, who was 1 for many years Democratic National l Committeeman, retired from the cf-' l flee Of Ambassador which he had | held for two years Since then be ! has spent most of his time at his l Washington home. although he was ] for several months in Tacoma. ! In Washington, the Wallace resi- i dcnce at 1900 Massachusetts Ave nue, has been a pleasant gathering place for the members of the French i mission attending tho conference. 1 This is natural, as during his stay | in Paris, Mr. Wallace attained q high degree of popularity with the French, at the same time conceiving a high regard and affection for France and her people. In his letter to the President of the French ro- public, thanking him for the decOra- ton bestowed on him. Mr. Wallace expressed something of this as fol- lows
 The happiest years Of my life were passed in Paris and left it with regret Not once was l allowed 1 to forget that l was in the house of my country's friend, and my work 1 was made pleasant and easy of ac-l ccmplishment through the unswerv- ing courtesy and sympathy on the part of government and people that I have never been surpassed. From no one did l receive more kindness than from the President of the republic My association with him, and with his ministers, will always remain among my pleGsantest recollections.
 Brilliant Orator.
 Mir. Wallace's service as Ambassa- dor was performed during the strenuous and exciting after-the-war period. l. became his task to re- spond to a great many invitations to deliver addresses on notable oc- -casions, he being fluent speaker in French. His speeches reveal him | as master of language and a graceful orator, while his old asso- ciates in the state of Washington | never had attributed to him any particular oratcrical ability This no doubt was due to the fact that when Mir. Wallace was most active and powerful in state of Washing ton politics, he was disposed to let others do the talking, while he re- mained in the background and pull ed the string.
 His speeches and addresses in France received much attention ~ the hands Of the French press. In consequence, Warrington Dawson has collected them in book form. Notable in the collection and one that has been declared by French critics to be literature of the high est order is the very short speech which MT Wallace delivered on May %, 1919. at the ceremonies incident to the burial of an un- known soldier Of France. The speech follows:
 To Unknown Soldier.
 place this wreath upon the grave of the unknown soldier who refss here. as the very type and symbol of heroic France. He died Ter France as France herself stood ready to die for liberty. if there was ho other way He died for France ana glory could grant him no more.
 Who shall call him unknown when every French mother who lost a son may claim him as her own? He sleeps in peace: but who did pore to bring peace to France and 10 the world? His body lies in the earth which bore him. but his spirit ringers near, and with its fellows Keeps watch and ward over France. rms IS not death. It is life superHal.
 Soldiers of France, l speak to you, for you still have ears to hear.