Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-04-13
staff Correspondence Of The Evening Star.
FORr MoSpOr Anril 10 100

STAFF Correspondence of The Evening Star.
FORT MONROE, April II, 1898.
Life here at For. Monroe is comparatively
quiet that the white squadron has pulled
on: of the roads and left for deep water and
practice in feet eyolutions. The weather has
no. been at all pleasant this week. 1t has no:
rained, but for tine most par. the sky has been
overcast and the air has had decided chill
about it that made wraps not only desirable,
but necessary for those who desired to prone
made the pier and the beach on the lookout for
new arrivals in the feet. As stated In THE
STAR last night orders were issued from the
flagship Monday evening for all the rest Of the
feet to be in readiness to sail yesterday morn
ing.
Early in the morning the skies began to lift
little and the thick weather to clear away.
About O'Clock tine fleet of white ships got
under way and started fo- the open ocean, with
the Newark in the lead bearing the flag o: Rear
Admiral Benham. She was followed by the
Chicago. Baltimore. San Francisco. Atlanta.
Charleston. Concord. Yorktown and yesuvius.
Rear admirals flagship, the Philadelphia. and
the Cushing. that acts AS the dispatch beat OF
the feet. alone were left of all the American
ships.
The white squadron according to til, orders
OF Admiral Gherardi will remain out for prac-
Roads by Thursday ing This will bring
great joy to the hearts of the crowds here Tor
the departure of the ships has made great gap
in The delightful social life, which is really
about all that there is here now. OF course
things will be different when all the foreign
ships beg to arrive mex: week.
At present every one is playing a waiting
game and all sorts of pleasant diversions arte
invented and carried into effect 20 while away
the time and to break the monotony of the lon;
u y
than for several days past, and the sun was out
at times aad made Its genial in uence felt HE
visitors to the ships. who usually are divided
among the different members of the feet, have
now to devote all their attentions to the Eussisn
ships and to the Philadelphia, and tire result is
that the steam launches and cutters from the
three are crowded on all their trips to and from
the shore.
Last night the dancing contingent Of Off
GERS in tie ball room was made up in about
equal parts OF Russians aud Philadeiphians,
and they ran close race for popular favor.
Late in tine evening the Russians had decid-
edly the best of it for, notwithstanding the fact
that the Philadelphia is the flagship. her last
boat from shore leaves at 10 o'clock In the
evening. and the young officers have to scurry
away, Tor it would be rather disagreeable for
them to be left. They stay around the ball
room and the hotel corridors until the very last
minute. and then they start in hurry and
stand no. upon the order OF going. They run
down the long dock with their long uniform
coats flying in the wind, and the first to reach
the launch use their best endeavors to hold her
for the late Corners who stopped in the ball
room for Just one turn more"
NOT ALL PLAY FOR THE OFFICERS
If any one thinks it is all play for the officers
these days, however, he is very much mis-
taken. They have their usual tricks of duty to
perform and they are allowed to leave their ship
only when it is their turn for shore leave, and
even then they have to ask permission from
their super:ors, which is never granted unless
they can be reasonably spared without any det-
riment to the service. OF course, it is more or
less of a holiday season with them, As it should
be. and they are making the best of their OPP
portunities for pleasure that come after a long
winter Of tedious aud rather monotonous duty
at sea. They have chance to meet old friends
once more and those unfortuaates who had no
acquaintance, on shore when the squadron came
into Hampton Roads have had abundant op-
portuuity to meet the friends and families of
their shipmates.
RENEWING OLD FRIENrsHIPs.
There have also been many pleasant meetings
among old classmates from the Naval Academy
at Annapolis who have been ordered to differ
ent ships and who have seen service IN different
parts OF the world since the days when they
hrst put on their ci8ss rings aud graduated into
the navy. In many cases they have had few or
no chances to meet since they graduated, and
old friendships are renewed and new ones made
that serve to make still stronger the bond of
union that binds together the members Of the
same branch of the service
One result of these meetings among old
friends has been series Of pleasantly informal
little dinner parties at the hotel As . return
Tor the many courtesies shown to visitors on
board ship, the people who are staying at the
hotel frequently invite their acquaintances
among the naval officers to Join them at table
in the evening. and this gives gala appearance
to the big. brilliantly lighted dining room Of
the Hygeia. The naval uniform and brass but
tons have become as common sights as the
stereotyped black swallow tail coat.
Strange as 1t may seem, some Of the Young
lleutenants prefer to put aside their uniforms
in the evening when they leave their ships on
shore leave and don for the time being tho
evening dress of society. This does not by any
means meet with the approval Of tho female
contingent. who find that an officer In evening
dress is not so very different after all from any
other man. Then. too. how are the other girls to
know that they have an officer to dinner with
them? 1t il even rumored that some OF the
invitations have stipulated az q sort Of condi-
ton OF acceptance that uniforms must be worn,
but OF course this can hardly be true.
RECEPTION ON THE PHILADELPHIA
The officers Of the Philadelphia are making
preparations now for an informal reception and
cahce on poaru INC na8snlP next SATURDAY
afternoon. 1t goes without saying that it will
be q pleasant affair and invitations are in
great demand. The civilians and ladies who
have friends on board the Philadelphia are
looked upon just now as being particularly for
tunate.
JOKE ON THE BENNINGTON.
There was rather good joke on the officers
of the U. S. s. Bennington Yesterday, which,
however, was more appreciated by every one
else than it was by the officers of the Benning-
ton themselves. The Bennington has been un-
der repairs at the Norfolk navy yard for the
past three weeks and yesterday afternoon she