The morning times., 1895-07-21

an exceptionally happy lot. This is more
especially true as to opinions he'd out
side of the service.
Those who happen to have had thelr
lines cast in either branch OF the service.
could tell a vastly different tale II they
were so minded. or course there are many
eNceptionaI cases, and il is mainly from
such that The impression gets abroad that
army and navy people are blessed be-
yond the deserts of most ordinary mortals
When it happens that there is wealth
to back up the chances Of happiness in
the migratory life that generally follows
upon Joining ones interests with an army
or navy officer the chances are decidedly |
in favor of the rosy-hued vision of tie
HONEYMOON being realized. When added |
TO this wealth there is what is known as |
a political pull" it goes without say
! ing that little if any of the dlscomforts |
| and real prvations of married life III the
! service fan to the lot OF those so blessed |
! in this respect.
II the lucky one happens to be an army |
officer there is a marvellous ingenuity |
displayed in avoiding the experiences or
frontier life, OF keeping away from unde-
sirabie posts and of hanging on TO most
desirable ones in the large cities. When
this can he effected life is seen at It's
best by the fortunate wife and family
of the officer blessed with that same
pull"
AVOID UNDESIRABLE STATIONS.
In the case of a raVal officer the pull
| means that he is able as in the case OF
! the army officer. to avoid undesirable
/ stations: that he viii secure long periods
of shore duty; that the otherwise inevitable
three years sea duty win be either alto
/
ened in a marvellous manner, and that
the allotment OF departmental duty at
Washington VIII be out of ali proportion
to that meted out 10 his less fortunate
comrades in the navy.
Orcourse Washington is the Mecca toward
which the yearning eyes OF all army ara
| navy officers turn with longing and once
| here every effort is bent upon prolong-
ing the stay 10 as great length as possible
Then il is that the happiness OF the wives
comes in if they have any fondness for
taking part in the social life OF the
Nations Capital
IN no other city Of the Union can
this be effected as readily and upon as
small an amount Of actual outlay for the
result accomplished as il Washington
The mere fact Uhat woman happens to be
thsr~ife of an army or navy officer renders
her free, il she so desires ii. from returning
| the COuTUeSieS ShOwered upon her or oil
The prevalent idea that an officers wife
has TO make expenses meet within the
limits of her husbands salary gives her
an immunity from having 20 return the
courtesies of social life. There are oc-
| CaSi0us on which this idea Is taken adYan-
tage of by those who by reason OF private
means are fully able 10 take their part
III the seasons entertaining
This is, however happily the exception
rather man the rule. When an army or
navy officers wife is able TO entertain
! in society iU is done and done with credit
To themselves and the service.
| Where tnis is not possible IL is of rare oc-
| currence that an attempt is made 10 splurge
| or live beyond the means. Washington ls
| full Of happy homes Of army ana navy OH
GERS who, recognizing the fact that n the
| assignment Of duty in this city they have
| been especially fortunate, do rot trouble
because they cannot outshne or vie with
| their neghbors in the matter OF display
of wealth
STAY FOR THE SCHOOLS.
The superior educational facilities for
their children afforded by the public
schools of Washington is one of the most inn
purtant features in the desire TO be assigned
to duty here This same feature holds good,
of course, in regard to New York, Phil
adelphia, Boston and Baltimore. but Wash
! ingtnn has the advantage over the greater
number Of large cities, in the possibilities
of home life il affords both for parents
and children.
For the former as already stated it is pos
sible to enjoy society to greater extent upon
a more moderate income than elsewhere in
the United States while, as for the children,
the many beautiful parks and wide, Wen
- shaded streets are bOOns beyond expression
to those who have been cooped up for any
" | time in the hot close quarters of over
. crowded streets of metropolis like New
- York,
= To secure assignment Of duty to the
! Soldiers Home is consider red one OF the
most desirable places within the city limits
There one has, at the same time, all the
, comforts and conveniences of city and
y country life combined without the discom
= forts of either
- The same cannot quite be asserted with
"a equal truth of the arsenal and the navy
"a yard, as for the generality OF officers
y, families, both the latter places are con
= sidered the jumping off, stations of the
:" city.
They are rathertoo remote from the school
facilities 10 render them sought after to any
great extent. However, those who are
quartered there make the best OF things and
Q hold within the limits of these places quite
a little court all TO themselves.
e 1t is decidedly in the nature of post life
q without the inconvenienceS or isolation ol
: life on the plains.
is APPEARANCES NO GUIDE.
T. That il does not do always TO judge 10y
: the outward appearances as presented tC
~ the world of society at large as neVel
, better demonstrated than in the case OF {
q naval officers wife recently widowed.
n 1t was generally known that the couple
;" were possessed of wealth and while the,
ALWAYS lived at one of the fashionable flat
II in the West End they rarely if ever, enter
g tained As they had no children it was {
e | matter of considerable wonCerment tha
is | they should not branch out and live III th
v most lavish manner Because they did no
'y happen to take this view OF life and th
= responsibilities attaching to the possession
- of their wealth there Were many unkint
III remarks made in this connection.
III Asa matter of fact they did dispense thei
le wealtn and with a most generous hanC
n What they omitted to lavish upon fashion
W able society in which they were mos
10 familiar figures was always given to tn
n poor and needy.
"a No call upon their purse for real wan
~ failed of generous response, but it wa
IL accomplished upon The plan OF WlthholGln
ls from the right hand knowledge of waa
It, the left hand was doing in such matters
The wealthy whom they entertained wer
ed few indeed, but the poor whom they II
ce lieved from want and suffering was legior
ee II is not Sc very long ago that IL ma
been forgotten that cae of the wealth
st hostesses of Washington remarked after tn
of call upon one of her reception days of
a naval officers wife that she had though
ed the matter over and really had come I
be the conclusion she must in future dray
ry the line upon the wives of army and nav
re officers because of their impecuDosity. A