New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-09-25

or the tnitCt states Navy Is sil'Iltr Hoe,
withsandng it is not in every instance satis-
factory to the Navy Department or the People.
Under the rresen; custom batlo-shps arc
named after States, the hrst-class protected
cruisers are named after cities. the gur0oats are
named after smaller towns where celebrated bat
ties have been fought, and the torpedo-hoais
are named after Americas famous naval heroes.
The United states method OF naming ships 10
modelled after that Of the British Navy, ;he
name OF each vessel being index TO its class.
capacity. number Of guns. etc. The English,
however. have n larger number Of cldsaes and
divisions which makes their system at first IL
little confusing. The battle-ships representing
tonnage of 1900 are either called amer
sovereigns or are given names having some
special attribute Of the nation preiiHed by me
word Royal" The firs;-class cruisers or ar
mored ships. rs the English call them, are
named after admrals.
The French system Of naming ships is based
on the design of the ship and that Of the SER
vice FOR which it is intended. Italy. Russia ana
the Netherlands follow the English system
closely. especially in naming the cruisers OF
certain class after admirals Spain names i's
vessels after royalty; Brazil after the provinces
or festival day.
MARRIED WOMEN AS SPONSORS
81; is an ancient tradition that no married
woman may haptizc vessel" was the naval Jaw
until few years ago. such an innovation was
dangerous of suggestion. nasmuch as super
.tition would follow the vessel that might make
it as difficult. if not impossible. to get crew as
If she had been launched on Friday ana Oh
the thirteenth Of thc month. In lNSS the wire
Of Naval Constructor Theodore II. wilson WAS
chosen by Secretary Whitney to break the con-
ycntional bottle Of The choicest brand oi chahl-
payne over the Baltimorc's PROV and h"p'i~e
her. But the dav set for the launch was h'SS-
tefiously postponed and upon investigation IL
was found that the postponcment was maze
because certain naval officers had opposed
violation of the ancient tradition that no mar
I.el woman should hap;!2e a new vessel Score
tarv whitney was given TO understand mat
such a dcparturc might have been tolerated IL
his own wife had been selected and some lhtl-
mattel that tho chief opposition 10 Mr.. WILSON
was that IN her carly days she had been 4 gov
,rnc-s However tho launch was put on Tor
, week. and the vessel did not Slide Oh into me
water until october q. 1888. and then the chris
i.ninc was dom not 10y Mrs. Wilson, bat by
comely young maiden Who was acceptable TO he
II + Maryland rs"
About three years after this another coniro-
v,rsy arose over the entertainment upon ihe
"iim,- honored .ustlm' when Mrs. lIaio. Wiic K
Senator Hall. tas select d Co christ,u he ram
Katahdin. The y,ss,. was the invention II
E.ar-Admiral Daniel Ammen and many IL tho
officers of no Nayy .a.med that the courtesy
was due % Miss Ammen, daughter o. the Al
iuifai and .hat jon any event h. should not pe
accorded to a mltr.n Co. erio'm such al honor
able ceremony
Another instance q ruthlcssly setting aside
the hoary PRECEDENT. hallowcd by the supeFstl-
tIon ~ counties generations II soamen hat
the naming = d new ship must De performed 10y
q maiden an Ul-luck VIII surely attend tho craft,
Wa that u selecting Mrs. c. +. Allen To chris
ten The cunboat Marhehcad. Mrs. Allen per
formed tho ceremony however. on August II.
l>p2. and To- her credit and to that Of The
country.
uov tv,r. AND CuEIsTENs HER SHIPS
In England il has been quit customar! 10
have vessels christcncd 10y married women.
The Royai Sovereign. the first Of the great "a'-
,Ic-shlps built under the naval defence act OF
$500 wa christcucd by the Queen herself.
o,,er ,,u,lish var vessels chrisienod 10y ma
irons are IN, foll wing The Edinburgh. IL lNNZ.
L.. ,h.. ru.i,.se 81 Edinburch. the Calliope, OK
samoan etorm ronown. in 1851 10y Lady
Hornhy: The Bcnbow IN 1885. by Mrs. Glad
stone. me Jols,y. ia 1850. by the wife Of Ad-
miral Key. the CampcrdoWn in 1SSI. 10y Mrs.
" - Smith. the lndaunted in 1850. by Lady
George Hamilton. the Narcissus IN lNSI ny
Mrs wilson: the Orlando. in lSSG ly Lazy
Palmer: the Hood in 1891 10y Lady Hood Inc
Resolution in lSg2 10y MIR W. II White the
rrdvuion. in lSpl 10y the Marchioness Of Sails
bury: thu Sappho. in 1891. 10y Lady Colum9' the