The New York herald., 1871-05-04

"Sart0f Aesartus" In the custom H0usos
The distinction between a uniform and .
livery Is very fine, though not always as finely
Disseminated. Outside of that imported
class known as liveried servants there are
few here wearing a dress distinctive of their
occupation who will submit to the term. Let
a man wear garb in any regulation cut and
color and his first endeavor is to convince
himself that II is uniform this once done.
1t is not difficult getting others to believe it.
The soldier is at one extreme Of those con-
demned to prescribed apparel; the funky In
plush at the other. Between these, the ona
bearing badge of honor, the other badge Of
servitude, there are many intermediary grades.
and what makes the drawing Of strict lines,
difficult lies in the factthat social station is nc
criterion. The courtier, for instance, in his
gold-slashed coat, deny it how he may, is az
much in livery as his coachman. The true in
depreciation, perhaps, is that he thus forced
to dress, no matter what his rank, who serves
single direct master is In livery, while he
who serves people or nation wears a uni
form. The question Of those who are Hunkies
at heart does not enter into this article.
For the last week deep agitation has been
caused among some two hundred and forty Of
Uncle Sans public servants These are the
night watchmen and inspectors of the New
York Custom House. Thomas Murphy
Honest Tom-in the simplicity Of his soul, ger
minated the idea that suoh important person.
ages should wear o uniform. Hence much
bitterness among the inspectors, both of the.
day and night order. They are abashed and
ashamed at the idea of donning what they
call livery. Fools In their anger they
forget that they are only asked to take the
position which Of right belongs to them-uni-
formed protectors Of the import interests Of
the United States. There Is, however, some
thing in their dislike to assuming dress dis
tinctive Of their occupation which has two
separate causes.
The first Is in q certain measure honorable,
because it Is result of one of the best
steps in modern civilzation-namely, the in,
stinctive aversion to the sumptuary laws Of
medieval times in the matter Of dress. Un-
fortunately for the inspectors, this reason has
not much weight In their course of thought.
It is centred in the second alternative of their
dislike to uniform-namely, that they do not
wish to be known outside the circle of their
official duties for what they are. A simple
little badge is so easily put in the pocket, and
then our Custom House inspector can become
ga man as other men are" OF course Toms hon
est, or Honest Toms, idea is to keep the public
eye upon them when they are on duty, to
make them an object Of respect to incoming
foreign sea captains, and make them proud Of
their positions generally and anxious to main
tain 1t respectfully at all times. Now, in This
sartorial side issue there are many points
worth the settling. The color Of the coat will
not so much matter; but it is sincerely to bo
hoped that pockets will be peremptorily for
bidden. On biblical grounds the night watch
men should wear fame -colored garment,
and the day inspectors white or light gray.
They should in fact be pillars of FIRE 10
smugglers by night and cloud by day. This
is thrown out as q suggestion; for We
mean no offence to the heaven tinted sky-blua
which some of the inspectors have in their
minds eye. Lest the public should deem we
can freely say that we have no knowledge Of
Honest Tom having contract for the inspeo-
tors caps in perspective. Mr.. Murphy was an
army contractor for head gear, it is true, but
the two hundred and forty inspectors would
not offer fair target for the meanest specu-
lator.
If this uniform question be once fairly started
we cannot for the life Of us see why the poor
Inspector, at four dollars day, or the humber
night watchman, at three, should alone be
marked out to public notice. Why not Honest
Tom himsclf2 Should he not strut in some-
thing indicative Of his great public value.
some pumpkins color, say2 Should not the
disappointed Naval Officer roll like the bill
lows of the ocean In a suit of sea green9
Should not the Surveyor take mems and yes
sells measures in uniform of measuring tape2
Should not the Appraiser calculate his duties
on merchandise in suit Of tariff regulations
printed in large type9 Should not Mr.. Ter
williger, Honest Toms secretary, bind himself
up in bandages of official red tapce
Should not Mr.. Murphy's porters have
some outward resemblance to GUM
ness Xxx? Why stop at the Custom
HouseP There are other public servants
who want labelling, too, such as the Internal
revenue. The collectors should be draped
in something of greenback device, the asses
sors in color between cigars and whiskey,
the deputy assessors In blank income tax
forms, the gaugers in wooden armor Of
paupers' rods. We leave to the fertile minds
of our public-spirited citizens the carrying OK
this idea to the highest positions in the
country.
1t has cogency which none but the narrow
minded can waive. Pity, indeed, 1t were that
a public servant should feel this movement
IL IL .o.,,,iat{ Thnu ah0nld