Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-01-24
Uniforms i'm New York.
From the New York Evening Post

From the New York Evening Post.
ANY New Yorker awakening to-day from a Rim
Van Wrinkle slumber would find many things be
sides the 1ifteen-story Office buildings down town.
the sixteen-stOry apartment houses up town
the elevated railways, electric lights, the East
river bridge, and the telephone, which would aston
ish him. Probably the first OF minor matters over
number OF men and boys to be seen In the streets
clad in Uniform A quarter OF century ago only
the police We're distinguished by uniforms, and
time For year or more after the force was
organized its only badge Of authority was shield
having the words metropolitan Police" The first
time the police as body wore a uniform (which
was much the same as that now worry, was in IN5S.
when the Japanese embassy was received by the
city authorities. 1t rs true that at this time an
alarm OF fire would bring host OF uniformed fire
men into the Streets but the uniform OF these men
consisted simply OF red shirt. black trousers. and
O leathern helmet, and was only worn by the men
while On duty. Occasionally, Of an evening. mem
bers OF the few militia organizations In the city
Would be seen clad In regimentals on their way to
the case OF these men, as with the 1remen the uni
form was only worn when On duty.
III, me appearance OF the crowds on the streets Of
corner OF Broadway and Park row yesteniac y
reporter OF the Ecenfng Post counted the nT,nber
OF uniformed men and boys to be seen. Here arc
two boys belonging to the American District Tele.
graph company, with their blue uniforms ana rcd
trimmings and their neat-f1tt1ng police caps They
two puppies which stand shivering on the lids of =
wicker basket, while their owner dances up and
d 4Ss ana m s sT hgS his to
OF feet is heard, and force OF q letter.
carriers, clad in their serviceable neat nnifornas
to aS Ser seSsfa %a1sa
bags filled with mail matter slung over their rrht
shoulders. Three OF them have each one of fhe
have worn another livery OF Uncle sam Here 1 is
member OF the nre department walking SLOWLY
along With his eyes scanning the buildings on the
looking cOlOred man dressed in suit OF drah Nth
green trimmings, and wearing cap, upon which
the name OF his employer, downtown ciother IL
displayed In letters formed OF gold bra,T In an -
the time the reporter stood there the numhar on ~
men and boys IN uniform who passed by him ws Sa
time there was never ending procession Of srreat
cars arriving at the post Office The conductnrs y.
these cars each wore uniform, the drivers being
the company engraved upon 1t, displayed on their
hats va 'AAen
th tailor when
work, said: 'sThe change was brOueht ahont verv
gradually, and DO not believe that one who has
the extent to which the trade has groWn TWant "
years ago, probably, you could not have induced q
car conductor to put ON distinctive uniform. To.
day there is not car line running i'm this civ
which has not uniform for its Conductors and
what with district telegraph messengers le,t H
hanas se
men, etc, there are thousands OF uniforms made
to-day where quarter OF a century ago there Was
one It was difficult at first to INTRODUCES the new
custom, and many man has surrendered his pOsi.
ton rather than wear the givery OF any man or
corporation, but this foolish prejudice has about
died out, and to-day you meet hundreds of men who
are glad to wear neat uniform 1-~
"There is an advantage in this way of clo,hino
the men or boys employed by corporation. In the
first place, they can be identified more easily If It
should become necessary, and then AGAIN the me-
cessity for keeping their uniform clean and neat
makes them more careful OF their personal appear
ance."