The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-12-23
THE spREtp or rNIroEnIyIA.
A Toun= Woman or Observation says We
Arr SInNrr to i.rass nMitons.

81 suppose there j. nothing incompatible be-
tween our republican professions and our love
for uniforms" sand Il young woman ~ ohserva-
tiun, although | must say that H. rather n
shock to hear so much about equality uad sec
so much here in New York that indicates the
great difference between the helper and the
helped. That our soldiers AID sailor, who help
keep up the idea that We have an army and
navy. and that tine police. who help u women
folk across the street, should be uni' rncd. !
can quite understand; hut when it comes to
uniforning bank pogi,rs. theatrical ~ d%er,trAp-
pers, bell luys. and What not. why. IL looks To
me rs though We ran to gilt braid and lgasS
buttons rs fiantically rs the British. and almost
as much 80 rs the continental nations.
THE cash girls in the stores ARE uniformed.
the messenger boys. the strrei-rleaning brigade,
the door boys at stores. the bell boys IA the no.
tells, the Office boys of some hewsp apers-all arc
uniformed. Some OF the theatres arr richer in
uniforms than they are in talent or novelties.
II you drive to one N these your carrl' re door
is opened by a colorcd man ia livery, you buy
your tickets from II Treasurer in livery. give
them up to a man in livery, and arc
watched doing so by another man. or maybe
a couple If men. in livery. Then you get
your prog amino OF n h1y In livery, and
are shown to your places by n young
man in livery. And l was a; n variety
theatre the other night when not onl" tho NUM-
her cards of the programme were changed by
bows in livery. bat where every stage hand.
and even the Calcium-lish man IN tho gallery
wore a livery. The musicians in the orchrs-
ira have as Yet escaped the yoke of the fiat cap
and brass buttons, but their turn will come. 20.
too. | forcscc that the time iSnot FAR distant
when the actors and actresses OF n company VIII
be required to wear the livery Of the manager.
Our hackinen wear a livery: in fact. every
man connected with any form Of locomutipn or
transportation wears one. from the Captain OF
an oyster .drcdper to him OF an Atlantic liner.
from n railway conductor to the drivers of the
street Department garbage wagons. and from a
car conductor to a pullman porter. Inc lowly
parcel stand boys Mt the depots. the elevated
ticket chopper. tie grim first engineer and the
nimble- footed cabin bOy-all wear a uniform.
The uniform. too. is as essential TO the amateur
sailor a. his craft, and whether he commands
aud owns a floating steam palace or has been
accommodated with the temporary use OF n
sick friends catbOat, out comes the ynchtnan's
uniform: DO you know sometimes ungal-
form as patriotism that draws you fellows
into c~nlisting into the militia, and into tho
reserve marine force. Indeed. ! don't know II |
could not SO further than that and say that uni-
form has an immense drawing attraction 10
many men who join the regular army ana navy.
II certainly has n great deal to do with secur-
ing recruits to secret societies, aud every order
strives to see how gorgeous a uniform IL can de-
wise FOR itself. In fact, IL has always been n
mystery to me to know why you should call
these orders secret societies and then court
the widest kind OF recognition by wearing tho
banner' sdEId lace, Iii buttons, nddais, and fai,,
lals that it il possible for the mind of man, yes,
or OF woman either. to conceive OF.
q OF course. ! know there's n good reason
for this, that n sprciii" kind OF dress l. Necessary
for purposes Ut immediate public recognition.
the Investment Of authority. and all that: and.
what is more, | am perfectly willing To admit
that we women are responsible for "A good deal
Of 1t. Personally must say thai brass buttons
have al times an irresistible attraction for me.
But all this does not alter the fact, whether
commendable or OF hcrwise. that We New York
Won will .XruSam my chilling unifprmanil'