Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1894-08-09

When Their Husbands Prove Refractory
They Have Them Exiled to Distant
Lands.

When Their Husbands Prove Refractory
They Have Them Exiled to Distant
Lands.
Washington Post.
The wives Of army and naval officers
stationed in Washington have it in their
power to bring their better halves TO
terms in manner that their less for
tunately located sisters upon the plains
and in out.of-the-way ports cannot
avail themselves of. A well-kn0wn
naval officer, whose record shows him
to have had very large apportionment
of sea duty, is Dlissfully unaware to
this day that he owes that fact to his
wife, to whom, by the way, when at
home, he was not inclined to be indul-
gent. The little woman, being of a
hospitable temperament, was devoted to
the giving of charming little entertain.
ments.
For some time the husband frowned
upon entertaining to such u degree that
while he was on shore duty it was al
most impossible for the wife to crafty
her hospitable proclivities even to the
most limited degree. She was an intlu-
entail little body, who endured things
as long as was possible Tor any one
short of an angel. Finally, however,
the inVariable Outcome of the husbands
obstinate refusal to allow her ~ give
some entertainment upon which she had
set her heart was followed by his i'm
mediately thereafter receiving orders
detailing him to sea duty.
Instances in which wives have had
their husbands ordered TO sea or out,of-
the-way places at posts where il was
almost impossible for their families to
be accommodated when prolonged sprees
have followed upon their being stationed
in Washington are too numerous to be
accounted in any way remarkable.
There are many reasons other than
official ones why officers have been or
dered away from Washington within
the past half dozen years. Not the least
interesting of these was the case of two
naval officers who elected to pay atten-
ton to the same handsome young ma.
iron. The rivalry finally reached such
a point that the senior officer, unable
longer to endure the presence of the at
tractive young lieutenant, hit upon the
plan Of having him ordered TO sea. In
the assignment of duty the utmost care
was taken to insure long absence from
the city, and as one of the vessels for
the relief Of some Arctic explorers was
just about setting out the lieutenant
was given the opportunity to cool down
his ardOr in voyage in Polar waters.
Another interesting 'ase is that of a
well'known member Of the medical
corps who, after considering himself
comfortably liked with his family in
Washington, was considerably chagrined
to receive orders detailing him to duty
on the Pacific coast. Cserc is consider.
able inside histo.y to tiis latter case, in
which the qualification OF personal
pique was the real reason for tho
change. During the latter part of the
last administration one of the physicians
stationed in the West, who from Ions
residence in Washington had acquired
a great longing to return, began to move
the heaven and earth of his Influence t
have himself stationed here.
This lie was unable 10 effect in spite
of everything he could do. Finally
his wife packed up her belongings anC
journeycd across the continent for til,
purpose of adding her efforts to those o
her husband. Nothing, however, ayaied
The opposition was too strong. Tht
feminine perception soon discovered
that the opposition emanated from al
officer who in some manner unwaril,
let fall certain hints that she. was no
slow to pick up. Imagining himself sur
of his detail in Washington, the office
gave little attention, if any, to the fuc
that the doctors wife was aware of hi
opposition. The affair occupied con
siderable attention in the papers at th,
, time, though it was not then know,
what was the hidden history of the case
No sooner had the present administra
ton been fully installed than the wishe
for orders assigning the physician t
duty here were dispatched to his West
ern post. Almost simultaneously, lik
Il thunder clap, came the orders assign
ing the officer who had opposed him /,
/, duty on the Pacific coast.