Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-02-23
FACILITIES OF new ARMORY GALLERY
Some Reforms Suggested in the
Regulation Uniform.
CHANGES IN THE SERVICE

March l a burst of energy in the shootlhs
line will be very noticeable in the ideal
rife gallery which has been fitted out at
the new armory. Four months work must
be accomplished in three months, which
will require some brisk firing. The season
usually ends on April 81. but to meet the
existing emergency the curtain will not
be dropped this year until thirty days
later.
Considerable time can be saved, because
In the new gallery there are double the
number Of targets that were In the d street
building. Two companies will be accom-
modated at the same time, and they are to
complete their 2OO-yard and 3OO-yard scores
in one evening. 1t Is hoped that sufficient
time will be saved in order that number
of nights may be set apart for gallery
matches, the department Of rifle practice
having in view the encouragement OF
AS soon as the troops take possession of
the armory the gallery will be opened from
pm. to q pm. daily for voluntary prac-
tice. After the long rest they have been
forced to take, even the best marksmen
in the brigade will be apt to be a little
rusty and may need polishing up before
beginning official firing. By doubling up
strong effort is to be made to complete the
regular work in the gallery by the end Of
April, so that the month of May can be
devoted to voluntary practice.
Reforms in Uniforms.
Second Lieut.. Charles De Lane Hine,
sixth United States infantry. is advocating
a number Of reforms in the matter of uni
forms in the army, which are worthy of
general attention. and are of special In
terest to District guardsmen, because Lieut..
Hne Is a Washington boy, was formerly
a High School Cadet and was in attendance
and furnished valuable instruction at both
brigade encampments Of the local soldiery.
Just the flag should be protected by
law from dissertation for advertising pur-
poses" says Lieut.. Hine. 80 should the
uniform of it's defenders be protected by
statute from insult and ridicule.' He
would make some radical reductions in
the uniform. and issue a regulation for
bidding officers and enlisted men on the
active list to wear civilian dress, either
on or off duty. whether at a military post
or not except when on leave of absence,
when secret service when given
special permission, such permission not to
be given oftener than, say, once or twice
a month.
Members of the National Guard when on
duty should be permitted to wear the uni
form Of the army. since they are liable at
any time to be called into the service Of
the United States. Students of military
schools should, Of course. be allowed to
wear cadet uniform. All other persons,
including disc harged soldiers. should be
prohibited by. law from wearing, copying
or In any way infringing upon the uniform
Of the army. 1t should be distinctively sa-
cred. Lieut.. Hine would like to see effaced
from the regulations at one fell swoop all
mention of helmets, ChapeauX, their plumeS
and trimmings, dress coats, dress belts,
epaulettes and shoulder knots. This would
result in saving of $60,OOO per year to
the government.
A return to the old style blouse with
brass buttons for officers is advocated, for
1t is claimed that the new blouse has been
tyAI finO for hal
portant attachment, a pistol belt. The
present forage cap is shortly to be replaced,
1t is hoped. by the more sensible cap sug-
gested by the cavalry. Uniformity in the
matter Of shoes, collars and ties, both when
on and off duty, is also urged. According
to Lieut. Hine the wearing of vests should
be prohibited, and the use of an umbrella
with uniform should not be tolerated.
After making number of other interest
ing suggestions Lieut.. Hine says: Let us,
then, be careful of our uniform and all
that goes with it, remembering that 1t
helps Indicate how strongly We are resisting
the enervating tendencies of rapidly adj
vancins civilization, where boosted viIility
easily degenerates into dreaded ehemi-
macy"
Story of Bath.
1t is we'll known that one of the condi
tions membership in New York's IA
nous seventh regiment is daily bath. Ac-
cording to a New York newspaper, the
staff battle twice day; captains are let
off with one bath and a shave. In the late
Brooklyn campaign it was impossible to
keep up the daily regulations owing to the
Lece ssity of keeping the men constantly
under arms. For eight days there was not
a wash in the regiment. One of the cap
tains of the seventh Is cOnspicuously
Clean man even among these well-groomed
officers. At the expiration OF week he
had but one wild desire; it was for bath.
he
day unmindful Of the rioters stones and
their women's sneers. Suddenly without
moments premonition he found himself go
ing up the steps of a brownstone house and
ringing the bell. 1t was opened by the lady
of the house herself.
Madam said the captain, do you
mind my going up to your bath room and
taking q bath?'
Not the least in the world" said the
lady under the spell Of the all-conquering
urfform
The maid was sent to prepare the bath.
and when ready the captain was shown the
way. Over the wild revel of that bath he
still fingers in delight. But only when he
was again clad did he come into his right
mind. Great Scott, what had he done?
How could ne repay such service? On the
mantel downstairs he saw a childs bank.
That should be his occasion. He begged his
benefactress that he might put something
into the childs bank that she might re-
member the great Brooklyn campaign and
the doughty service of the New York sew
erth. The lady laughingly consented.
Dropping coin, and leaving his card, the
officer babe good day. never SO much as
tonished at his own prowess, in captur-
ing that bath. But the story does not end
here. The next day he received the card
of visitor. 1t was the proprietor of the
lady, the child and the bath, and an old
business associate.
HOnOrably Discharged.
The following named have been honora-
bly, discharged: Private r. Kramer, COM
pany d, first battalion; Corporal John
Gately, company A, fourth battalion; Pri-
,ate R. Harlan. company A, fourth bat
TALON; Private Charles D. Holden. COM
rany D, fourth battalion; Sergeant c. B.
Hudson, first separate company; Sergeant
Charles NJ. Darnell, company c, engineer
battalion; Private Frank H. Hall. company
c, engineer battalion, and Private Addison
A. Ashburn, company D, first battalion.
Some Transfers.
Private William A. Harms, company B.
third battalion. has been transferred to
battery A, light artillery, and Private Jo-
seph B. Murray. company C. second bat
TALON, has been transferred to company b.