Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-05-20

the neck. cross them on the right
shoulder. then pass them separately
around 10 the front and rear of your
arm, where they are again united and
fastened together by a slide under the
arm. and then you bring the united
cords across your breast and loop them
to the upper button on the left side Of
your dress coat, and there you are.
Another gorgeous decoration are the
aguilcttcS those golden cords which
depend from the right shoulder knot,
cross on the sleeve of the right arm
and are ultimately Hoped upon the up
per two buttons on the right breast of
the coat. AiguiletteS, are only worn
by adjutants general. aids-de-camp TO
general officers and regimental adju-
tantS. There are one or two old tradi-
lions about aiguilettes that give them
unusual interest. They are adorned
q the dependent ends with silt tips,
which resemble somewhat lead pencils.
and which, must warn the staff officer
of Volunteers-are most provoking in
the ballroom. for they dangle and
swing To the great danger Of thu
bright eyes Of ones lovely partner.
The tradition about those gold-plat ed
UPS ~ that III bitt lIilit lilt tii ttllt't -
actually had d its end a pencil for
the convenience Of the aid. who used
it in noting memoranda of orders while
mounted, flying here and there on TIL"
Weltering field of battle, but as to that
| know not.
They say that in elder and surely
more evil days when there We're many
desertcrs and traitors and spys in
camp it became frequently necessary
in those times of rough and rigid dis
cipIine to harG men, and this grew
some task lay within the scope Of the
duties prescribed for the adiutant who
was kept SO busy at it that he Went
/ about with coil of rope over his
shoulder that he might execute judg-
ments OF his superiors and their
'drummies' without delay. Whether
our adjutants came by their aiguilettes
through such a bloody title or not
| cannot tell, hut surely, from, such an
| ugly and tragic beginning that hang
| mans rope has come down to q beauti-
! full and peaceful end. for it appears
| only on dress occasions and in the ball
! room. and renders its Wearer by far
| the most gorgeous being in the service.
| For the adjutant has his plumed he'll
| met and helmet cord. his aiguilettes
and his saber, his gantlets and his
| spurred boots. and nothing for oTna-
ment can approach him. And in the
evening, at dress parade, when he
wheels his horse in front Of the regi-
| ment flashes his saber in salute ia
! the colonel and in his beautiful voice
| for an adjutant must have a good
| voicc-says Sir, the parade is formed,
! is he not the cynosure of all eyes?
DRESS COATS ARE GORGEOUS.
| The dress coats for all officers are the
| Same, u doublc-breasted frock, with
| standing collar, two rows OF buttons ON
the breast, the number of buttons differ
| ing with the rank; two buttons at the
waist at back two buttons on the lower
| end of the skirt facings and three but
tons on each sleeve. All generals arc
permitted to distinguish their dress coats
| by velvet collars and cuffs. The fatigue
blouse which officers now wear was
a Iopted only TWO years ago. after an ex-
pertinent with a fancifu!ly braided
/ blouse, that succeeded the Oh buttoned
| blouse, and resembled Il band masters
uniform. The new regulation blouse Is
very neat. resembling that Worn in the
navy Ii is Il single-breasted sack with
standing collar. and Sits over the nip
| The collar front, edges, Sits and bot
tom Of the blouse are faced with black
mohair braid ana on the collar the orna-
ments are embroidered in gold bullion
| First the letters ct. s." There is be
lief that this is to distinguish the regu.
lar army officer from the nationa
guardSman. hut that is largely in error
1t is well. of course. to preserve the iden
| titv of the officers Of our army. but it i:
not necessary. | trust. to label them il
order to do this.
The national guardsmen have been so
ing about with various devices, from -
\. g." in Illinois to the full word Ohio