The evening times., 1897-07-02
Minister WoOdford Will Wear
Them at the Spanish Court.
THE PRESIDENT APPROVES
The New Diplomat to Be Presented
in the Uniform OF Brigadier
tion and Military Attaches VIII
Also Appear in Military RegaIia.

hiulSttI NoouiOiu, Will i itsHicut MI
Kinlcy's approval, will be presented at the
Spanish court in the full-dress uniform Of
brigadier general instead of in the Gus
tomary oress of American diplomats
abroad His military and naval attaches,
Capt Piss and Lieut.. Dyer, will also ac-
company him in uniform, while Secretary
sickles, CT the legation, who has already
gone 70 Madud, will appear on state oc-
casions In the uniform of major of the
New York National Guard, TO which rank
he is entitled as a member OF Gov Blacks
staff.
Itisexpected that the innovation will add
considerable impressiveness to the first
official appearance OF the new minister In
Nadnd, and TO add materially to the dis
tiuction of Gen. woodford in the eyes Of
Spanish officials, contrasting strongly with
the plainuess Of recent American represen
tation at the Castillian court.
The custom of wearing the full-dress
uniform OF d military officer by ministers
and members of the diplomatic service en-
cedcnt On many occasions have consular
officers appeared on the highest ceremonial
occasions at the court OF st. James, the Cas-
lillian court and the palace In Berlin wear .
ing the full uniform of their highest rank
as United States Army officers
Many persons recall the appearance OF
Gea. Sickles at the court OF st. James,
wearing the full uniform of major gen
era. of the United States Army, when
he was secretary to the legstion under
Mu,ster buchanan. When he was after
ward sent as a bearer of dispatches to
Pierre Saule, then United States minister
to Madrid he gain Wore the uniform Of lis
rank. Many persons at the time thought
that the general was sent to Madrid on 4
special mission, but this was afterward
proved TO be untrue. However, in 1863
Gen. Sickles was sent to the Castillal
court by President Grant as minister cx-
traordinary, and, as he then wore the
uniform Of his Iank on all ceremonial oc
casions, anything that Gen. woodford
may do in this regard will have had
precedent in the very court to which he
has been assigned.
In the matter of dress for ceremonies on
all important occasions diplomatic repre-
sentatives to other powers are instructed
by the consular regulations, to be governed
by the usages of the country to which they
may have been sent. The American ant
bassador to the court of st. James should
attend an afternoon reception in the attire
of an English gentleman of fashion. IT
would be vulgar to wear evening dress
or anything except the customary Prince
Albert with its double row Of buttons,
light gray trousers, lavender gloves and u
high silk hat or the ultar fas hionable
Uncle Sans beaver that the ''prince has
lately taken to- Col Hay should attend
court in knickerbockers and silk hose.
Second Assistant Secretary of State
Aaee in conversation with a Times re-
porter yesterday said that he could cite an
instance OF United States minister who
wore suit made after the pattern OF
the famous black velvet knickerbockeT
attire of George Washington. A South
American consul. he said. would with pro-
priety wear the buckskin pants and broad
brimed somhrero of Latin. countries.
Nc person in the diplomatic service should
wear a uniform not previously authorized
by Congress, but it is merely matter Of
choice with a consul having the rank of
an army officer. whether or not he wears
his uniform on state occasions. Neverthe
less. he should conform with the usages of
the country to which he is sent If he does
not wear the uniform to which he is en-
titled by his rank.
The consular regulations Of S96, In sec
tion 49,. covers the subject, as follows:
Diplomatic officers are forbidden by
statute to wear any uniform or official
costume not previously authorized by Con-
gress. Consular officers are not authorized
by law to wear any uniform, and the pro-
hibition imposed by statute on diplomatic
officers Is hereby extended to consular Off
GERS. 1t is provided, however, that all Off
GERS who served during the rebellion as
volunteers In the Army OF the United
Stetes and have been honorably mustered
out of the volunteer service shall be en-
titled to bear the official title and upon
occasions of ceremony to wear the uni
form of the highest grade they held, by
brevet or other commissions In the volun
teer service. They may also, on like occa
sions, wear the distinctive Army badge Of
the corps or division in which they served.
These provisions are held to apply to COR
sular officers. whose discharge from the
volunteer Army bring them under It's
terms