The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-05-06
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NAVAL OFFICERS WIVES.
They Never Know Where They Are
to BE Ordered Next.
From the Chlcago Times-Herald.


From the Chicago Times Herald.
No class of women in the United States
are more vitality interested in the out
come of the Spanish 'unpleasantness' than
those whose husbands or fathers belong
to the navy. The life of navy woman,
under ordinary circumstances, is not any
too much of a bed of roses, and when pos
sible or actual war is on the programme
anxiety for the safety of her dear ones
is added to the isolation which is her
LOT in times of peace.
Yet the charm of the sailor boy" is
proverbial, and when to the allurLne
righteousness of a nautical life he adds
the fascination of brass buttons and
epaulettes he has a combination against
which few feminine hearts are proof.
From the day that he first dons HIS little
pointed jacket, upon entering the naval
academy at Annapolis, until admiralty,
heavy with its official dignity, sits be-
comingly upon his shoulders, the imam
of the sea" be he young or old, is wo-
mans dearest idol. This, notwiths landing
the fact that she who is so fortunate as to
win his admiration and love no sooner
gets him than she loses him-temporarily,
Of course-but the separation amounts to
practical Widowhood while it lasts, esne
cially in times of war, when communica-
ton is cut off.
Even when the warshio to which a
naval officer belongs is stationed in a
home port, the obstacles to uninterrupted
conjugal bliss are numerous enough.
Some captains and other officers are 50
fortunate as to obtain government quar-.
ters. and while that lasts life is delight
full but there is no provision for families
of those for whom there is not room and
the officers are compelled TO pay rent foI
their temporary homes. like any Other
men. nor Is it always possible to fins
these within easy reach of the ship.
An incident in the experience Of an off,
Ger on board the receiving ship Minneapo-
lis (recently returned 10 commission at
Philadelphia will show how futile are the
attempts of these servants of the govern
ment 10 establish a home. The ship was
stationed in the North river in the vicinity
of upper New York city, and he conceived
the brilliant idea of renting apartments
for his family within walking distance Of
the ship Accordingly, having found a
place to his liking, he signed lease for
one year. What was his disappointment
upon reaching the Minneapolis the very
next day to be informed that the ship
was to be taken out OF commission alto
gether. and that he would be transferred
to another stationed in Brooklyn, two
hours ride from his newly acquired home
But even so near an approach to one
family as this is rare with the naval
officer, and it Is when his faithful vito
takes up the idea of pursuing her hus-
bands ship from one foreign port to an
other that she begins TO appreciate what
reaL navy life means.
Some women" said the wife of a prom
.net officer, seem to be perfect hoodoos
for a ship The moment they reach it. or
Cers come 20 move 10 some other port
one officers wife used to set us all to
packing up whenever we heard she was
coming for we knew that her arrival was
signal for the ship to leave next day. II
was when my husband was stationed al
san Francisco that l first noticed the Ill
fortune that seemed to attend this woman
Ii was generally supposed that we would
remain in San Francisco all Winter, ana
all the officers families were quartered
near the ship with the exception OF the
one of whom l spoke In a short time II
was announced that she also would come
on, She did so, and the day after her