They thought more of the Legion of Honor in the time of Napoleon I than they do now. The Emperor one day met an old one - armed veteran.
- How did you lose your arm? He asked.
- At Austerlitz, Sire.
- And were you not decorated?
- No, Sire.
- Then, here is my own cross for you; I make you chevalier.
- Your Majesty makes me chevalier because I have lost one arm; what would you have done, had I lost both arms?
- Oh, in that case, I should have made you officer of the Legion.
Where-upon, the old solder drew sword and cut off his other arm.
There is no particular reason to doubt this story. But the only question is, how did he do it?
- How did you lose your arm? He asked.
- At Austerlitz, Sire.
- And were you not decorated?
- No, Sire.
- Then, here is my own cross for you; I make you chevalier.
- Your Majesty makes me chevalier because I have lost one arm; what would you have done, had I lost both arms?
- Oh, in that case, I should have made you officer of the Legion.
Where-upon, the old solder drew sword and cut off his other arm.
There is no particular reason to doubt this story. But the only question is, how did he do it?
