Page:The Book of Orders of Knighthood and Decorations of Honour of All Nations.djvu/508

Rh had, moreover, the privilege of bestowing it on any of her sex whom she might deem worthy of it. At a later period, however, the decoration was strictly confined to ladies, and the Empress was instituted Grand Mistress of the Order.

It is divided into two classes. The Grand Cross (Tab. I. No. 4) adorned with diamonds, exhibits in the middle the figure of St. Catharine, and is worn across the right shoulder towards the left side, by a broad (formerly blue) now poppy red ribbon with silver stripes, and with the silver embroidered inscription (in Russian) ' For love and fatherland.'

The reverse shows an airie on the top of an old tower, at the foot of which two eagles, with serpents in their beaks, are seen in the act of carrying them up as food to their young. Above are the words: 'Aequat munia comparis' (She is equal to the duties of a consort).

The number of the members of the Grand Cross is limited, besides the Princesses of the Imperial family, to twelve noble ladies of the highest Russian aristocracy.

In the second class may also be received, foreigners of high rank, though that class consists chiefly of the Court ladies of the Imperial household, to the number of about ninety-four members. The decoration of the second class (Tab. I. No. 5) chiefly differs from that of the first class, by its size and number of diamonds, and is worn on the left breast appended to a bow.

The silver octagonal star (Tab. I. No. 3) has in its red