The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1894-09-19
OFFICERS ExILED BY THEIR WIVES.
When They Prove Refractory They Are
Ordered to Distant Lands.

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-known
naval officer, whose record shows him
to have had a very large apportion-
ment of sea duty, is blissfully 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
hospitable temperament, was devoted
to the giving of charming little inter-
tainments.
For some time the husband frowned
upon entertaining to such a 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 in
fuential little body, who endured things
as long as was possible for any one
short of an angel. Finally however, the
invariable outcome of the husbands OBJ
stinate refusal to allow her to give some
entertainment upon which she had set
her heart was followed by his imme-
diately thereafter receiving orders de-
failing him to sea duty.
Instances in which wives have had
their husbands ordered to sea or out-of-
the-way places at posts where it was al
most impossible for their families to be
accommodated when prolonged sprees
have followed upon their being station
ed 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 last half dozen years. Not the least
interesting of these was the case of two
naval officers who elected to pay at
tention to the same handsome young
matron. The rivalry finally reached
such point that the senior officer, un-
able longer to endure the presence of
the attractive young Lieutenant, hit up
on the plan of having him ordered to
sea. In the assignment of duty the ut
most care was taken to insure long
absence from the city, and as one of the
vessels for the relief of some Arctic ex-
plorers was just about setting out the
Lieutenant was given the opportunity
to cool down his ardor in voyage in
polar waters.
Another interesting case is that of a
well-known member of the medical
corps who after considering himself
comfortably fixed with his family in
Washington, was considerably chagrined
to received orders detailing him to
duty on the Pacific coast. There is con-
, siderable inside history to this latter
case, in which the qualification of a per-
sonal pique was the real reason for the
change. During the latter part of the
last administration one of the physicians
stationed in the West, who from long
residence in Washington had acquired a
longing to return, began to move the
heaven and earth of his influence to
have himself stationed heS.
This he was unable to effect in spite
Of everything he could do. Finally, his
wife packed up her belongings and
journeyed across the continent for the
purpose of adding her efforts to those OF
her husband. Nothing, however, avail
ed. The opposition was tocgstrong.
The feminine perception soon discover
/ ed that the opposition emanated from
+ an officer who in some manner unwarily
I let fall certain hints that she was not
{ slow to pick up. Imagining himself
z sure of his detail in Washington the of
l ficer gave little attention, if any, to the
t fact that the doctors wife was aware Of
, his opposition. The affair occupied con-
l siderable attention in the papers at the
? time, though it was not then known
what was the hidden history of the case.
| No sooner had the present admins
t tration been fully installed than the
+ wished-for orders assigning the physi-
e clad to duty here were dispatched to his
e Western post Almost simultaneously,
n like thunder clap, came the orders as
r signing the officer who had opposed
n him to duty on the Pacific coast. Wash
!, iaQt071 Post.