The herald., 1896-02-03

ground, and no one has seemed to
think 1t of sufficient Importance to ask
what that wonderful creature would do
in event or hostiiities.
Since the days of the wicked but
martial queen Of Babylon many women
have dotted the pages Of wars history,
and il tho opportunity were given the
athletic womanhood OF today there is
little doubt that some mighty soldiers
would go marching into battle, wearing
bloomers, knickers or skirts, as their
varied inclinations prompted.
This may seem far-fetched, but a
number of young women in Hoboken
could speak more fully on the subject.
Hoboken is seldom treated seriously.
Anything or any one that has Hoboken
for it's origin is regarded as fair tar
get for satire and humor. But for all
that Hoboken has the only regularly
organized naval company composed of
women in the country.
Ever since the possibility Of war
the young women who belong to this
company have been in terrible state
of excitement. Timidity may be at
the bottom of it, in the case of few,
but to the credit of the organization it
can be eaid that there have been no
Withdrawals. In fact, there has been a
regular increase in the membership,
which now amounts to sixty-ail
valiant hearted, patriotic, strong
bodied young women, who can shoot
off gun without shutting their eyes
agility and steadincss OF a genuine
seadog.
The organization Is called the Young
Lady Naval guards. 1t has motto
and fine one, too, namely, "Honof
the Stars and Stripes" To protect tn
/ flag from insalt and injury is tho OIL.
great object of the guards. It has sey
eral smaller aims, but as it is partly
secret organization These are not f.
| public information.
The guards are only trihe NOR
than year old. Any respectable gir,
between the ages of twelve and twenty
five years Is eligible for membership,
providing she takes the oath of the or
ganizstion, which requires her to swear
that she will uphold the flag even at
the risk of her life. It can be seen
from this that the young women are
heavily charged with patriotism and
thst IL war broke out they would have
to fight the enemy or violate the oath.
None of the girls claims to be able
to manipulate modern man.
o'-war, but they do claim TO know
something about navy regulations and
discipline, for they have studied 'hese
matters most assiduously since the
organization of the guard, and they
have a drill every Wednesday night in
the Odd Fellows hall, in Hoboken.
The only enemy they have 80 ar en-.
countered 10 matrimony. Every time
a girl hes married she resigned, and
there have bsen quite large number
OF marriages in the guards.
Captain Charles Brown. a naval veter
an and com mander of the Hoboker
/ Naval post Of the q. A. r. and Captain
j. Wells Martin of the naval cadets, in
ssruct them at the drills end thoy are
sbout the only men who are over pres
ent at the interesting exercises.
A New York gil. Miss Msrgere
Shotter, is captain of the Guards. He
uniform is the pride OF the sailor girls
because 1t has nix gold stripes and si1
gold atara. The Uniform Of the regu
lars is very pretty sailor snit, includ
ing blue skirt, with threa bands O
white braid at the bottom, a regula
sailor blouse, with . white flannel yok
bearing miniature flag, and rount
ors in the navy. Ths band Of the Ia
bears the letters "Y. L. N. G." Th
uniform OF this officers differs fron
that OF the rank and Hls. In sfead 0
. blouse the officers wear ti6ht-ht