The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-04-17
THE WOMEN OF THE NAVY
OFFICERS WIVES REALIZE A DARK
HOUR is APPROACHING.
Girls Rather BE in the Navy than the
Army Oh Account of the Social Adj
vantaGcs and the Authority.
New York Press.

New York Press
This is a sad time for u.s. said the wife
of a famous naval officer to the writer.
''All we can do is to wait and hope. None
of the women of the navy wants war. Its
opportunities for promotion and the win
ming of glory do not compensate for the
terrible suspense and anxiety which We
have to endure. Three of my family are in
the navy and my earnest desire is to hear
news of peace, although Z am trying to be
prepared for whatever happens"
While her husband is looking for war or
ders from Washington, she and her chill
dren await the issue of events in the little
New Jersey town which is their present
home. This is the attitude of all the
women whose fathers, brothers, husbands
or lovers are in the navy. Their interest in
the chances of war is more keen and per-
sonal than that of any other class OF peo-
pie, for a declaration of war with Spain
means immediate naval action. Those who
are with the Southern squadron are in es-
pecal danger. Ever since the blowing up
of the Maine and the subsequent mobilizing
Of the fleet in Southern waters, the crying
of every war extra" on the street, the re-
ceipt of every letter and telegram, and the
circulation of each new rumor of conflict
have caused quickened heart beats and in
creased nervous tension in officers families.
The suspense which the whole Nation has
found it hard to endure has been most cruel
to them.
''But if war comes we will bear it as
bravely as any one" asserted a little
woman who has husband on war ship
and a son at Annapolis. "All of US that
marry into the navy know that we have to
take such risks, and we wouldn't be true
officers wives if we were not willing to
bear them with courage"
There is a peculiarly strong bond of SYM
pathy and interest uniting all naval fam
lilies, and those women whose husbands are
not in danger of being called into immediate
action are solicitous for their friends who
are in critical positions as well as appre-
hensive Of the time when they will be called
upon to face similar danger.
This is the seamy side of a life that has
many alluring features. There are other
seams, such as frequent and prolonged sep
arations, the perils that an officer encoun-
tiers in unhealthy ports, and the ever pres
ent inconvenience of small pay. But with
all of these drawbacks a naval officer is
considered a desirable husband, and is
petted and feted and flattered by woman
kind from the time he enters the naval
academy as STRIPPING until he becomes
pompous old admiral. The army and the
navy are both attractive to women-the uni
forms, the manner of authority, the def
erence paid by subordinates, the respectful
recognition everywhere accorded to officers
in both imbuing them with a fascination
that the plain man of the business or pro-
feSSiOnal world WOofullY lacks.
But the navy is even more desirable than
the army, natrimonially considered. Why?
sort of II cannot tell you, DIR. Fell" reason
There is, however, prestige that belongs
to the navy which the sister branch of serv-
ice lacks, and which more than compensates
for the fact that the pay of naval officers
is less, compared with what he has to spend,
than that Of the men in the army. That is
a grievance to navy women. 1t is unfair.
they say, because army officers are usually
quartered in their own country. Their fam
lilies are almost always with them, and thus
they escape the necessity of keeping up two
establishments as the navy officer frequent
ly has to do. When d naval officer is sent
abroad on detached service he may send for
his wife and let her enjoy the advantages
of the place with him. but this expense has
TO be paid for out of his own pocket, Off
GERS are often the recipients of delightful
hospitality in foreign ports, and etiquette
demands that they make some return for
the attentions they receive, and this entails
considerable private outlay.
But all the same" as one woman ex-
planned Il had rather be in the navy than
in the army. The army women so often
are dumped in some desolate, out-of-the-
way spot. and there they have to stay for
years, seeing nothing of what goes on. They
have to send their Children away to school
and when they are through school they
have to send them to stay with Eastern
relatives where they may see something of
society, unless they want them buried alive
on the Western frontier. We have our
troubles, too, about having to live where
we don't want to, and being separated from
our children. but our chances of seeing the
world and of having social advantages are
far better than those of the army women
1t has been suggested that the necessity
for frequent separations heightens the fas-
cination of married life in the navy, but
that is probably a jealous SANDER, since
officers wives join their husbands whenever
circumstances make it possible.
Those who are stationed at the navy
yards or in other government positions are
considered fortunate, as this insures GER
tain degree of permanency. The officers
quarters in these places are partially fur
vide the lighter and more personal sort of
furnishings, but there is no guarantee that
one may settle down here for any length of
time especially in war times, when an Off
Ger is likely to be called upon at any mo-
ment to report elsewhere for duty and his
family must give up their quarters TO his
successor and find a new home for them
selves. The same thing is true Of a com
mander of a war ship
Sometimes he is assigned to a place in
which there is every apparent likelihood of
his remaining for year at least. In an
J1clpdIlOn Oh lIllS event lie Hires a. MUSE III
the neighborhood and moves his family into
it. Forthwith the mandate comes for him to
sail for some other port and his domestic
plans fall to pieces.
1t is said that some officers seem to be
marked for misfortune in this particular,
not by the intention of the government, but
merely by their own unlucky stars. AS soon
as their wives appear and they propose to
settle down to the life of an ordinary lands
man the police!ike order to move on ar
riveS.
Il believe that Mrs is a hoodoo," re-
marked one officers wife to another.
whenever she appeared. we knew that we
should have to pack our belongings, for the
order to move port was sure to follow. Poor
woman we all felt sorry for her for her
life is largely spent in pursuing her hus-
bands ship from one port to another, but
we dreaded her arrival"
Hops and all forms, of gayety which en-
liVen life on shipboard and make one proud
and happy TO be in the navy have, of
course been given up since the Maine was
destroyed The whole navy promptly went
into mourning and grieved Il family for
the loss of one of it's members.
PECULIAR SCHOOL SYSTEM.
Tha o.. Plan. Which Con-