The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-10-03

several inches short all the way around
lie, therefore, gave his tailor an order
for q complete outfit OF uniforms of q
captains rank. together with a. couple Of
suits OF civilians clothes. They were
made by fashionable tailor who fur
nished fine imported cloth, and who
charged Il good price for his work The
captain was somewhat taken abacll,
notwithstanding this, when he was pre-
scented with 4 bill for $l.7S0 for his ward
robe. He was well supplied with clothes,
however, for his outfit included n full
dress uniform, special full dress uni
form, und:es; uniform. two white duck
suits, a fatigue suit, gloves, etc.
The following is n standard list for
uniforms, suitable for officers of the
| marine corps:
| Full dress coat $500. $50. 80. 500
Full dress trousers %. 49,. -. 49,. 81
| Uniform evening dress coat -. 49,. 10C
| Uniform evening dress vest %. -. il
! Uniform evening dress trousers 80. il
Undross coat Uwo are necessary -. 81
| UndreES vest ...... :. :. :. -. 80.
| tnd!eSS trousers Uhgcc pairS) 80. 81
! White duck uniform Qwo) complete 12G
! ovcrcont and cape -. -. -. %. 110
SWoIu ......- 81
Sword knots OF gold lace %. :. 90. 10
Sword belt. full dress -. -. :. -. JIG
| This 10 pretty stiff tariff, but the
| high prices are explained in part by the
fact that there arc only about three or
| four taiiogs in New York and Washing
| ton who can be considered experts on
officers uniforms. All the various suits
have to he made according to a very pre-
else rule. Even the buttons have an
exact relation 10 each other which the
average tailor would hardly understand.
The officer who goes TO one OF the cheap
outside tailors usually finds so many
faults in the cut of his coat or in it's
oniSh that he spends Il week or two
having 1t altered to come within the
regulations. He i9 then glad to return
TO the high priced tailor who has a
monopoly. The experienced uniform
maker needs only the measurement and
the rank of the officer TO be fitted. He
can be trusted 10 turn out Il uniform
that will pass the stiictest inspection.
Probably four-hfths of the uniform
work OF Washington is done in the es-
Establishment OF one tailor He Is accom-
modating and never hcsitatcs to trust
young officer. He has had hundreds
of them, young and old. on his books,
and his debtors to-day are scattered all
over the world, from Rio to Hong Kong,
and from Hong Kong to Naples.
The prices quoted above are standard.
but many an officer goes beyond this
limit. AS much as $500 can be spent on
pair of epualettcs alone, although the
regulation cost is but $50. Admiral POr-
ter had a pair for which he paid $3.50
a chapcau, or uniform hat, can be
purchased for $25, but SO Is frequently
paid for them. One of the smallest ex-
penscs incident TO a change In the style
of uniform worn is the result of adj
Tancemcnt from one grade to another
In the navy each change in rank
means new shoulder strap, which costs
from, So 10 SO. Every additional stripe
on a coat sleeve costs S., and as there
arc three uniform coats in an outfit the
stripes add $50 to the cost of being pro-
NOTED. a change in the bar on an cpau-
lcttc costs from So to IS. For every
two grades n new full dress <belt must
be bought at Il cost of SIG.
However proud an officer may be of
the number OF bars he is entitled to
wear. IL Is a matter of fact that nearly
all officers dislike to wear uniforms
They are hot, heavy and uncomfortable
as they are worn so seldom it frequent