The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-05-22

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States are more vitality Interested in
the outcome of the Spanish unpleas-
antness than those whose husbands or
fathers belong to the navy. The life OF
a navy woman, under ordinary circum-
stances, is not any too much OF q bed
of roses. and when possible 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 alluring
mysteriousness of a nautical life ne
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 dig
nifty, sits becomingly upon his should
ers, the IMAM of the sea-" be he old
or young, is woman's dearest idol.
This, Notwithstanding the fact that
she who is SO to win his ad-
miration and love no sooner gets him
than she loses him-temporarily. or
course-but the separation to
practical widowhood while 1t lasts,
especially in times of war. when COM
munication is cut of.
Even when the warship to which a
naval officer belongs is stationed in a
home port, the obstacles TO uninter-
rupted conjugal bliss are numerous
nough Some captains and other OFF,
GERS are so fortunate as to obtain gov
nme quarters, and while that lasts
life is delightful, but there is no pro-
vision for the families of those for
whom there is not room, and the ofi-
GERS are compelled to pay rent for
their temporary homes. like any other
men. nor is il always possible TO find
these within easy reach of the ship.
An incident in the experience OF an
officer on board the cruiser Minneapo-
lis. recently returned TO commission at
PHILADELPHIA, will show how futile are
the attempts Of these servants OF the
government TO establish a home. The
shin was stationed in the North river
in the vicinity of upper New York city,
and he conceived the brilliant idea or
renting apartments for his FAMILY
within walking distance of he ship.
Accordingly, having found a place to
his liking, he signed a lease for one
year. What was his disappointment
upon reaching the Minneapolis the
very mex day to be Informed that the
ship was to be taken out of commits
sion altogether, 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
ones family as this is rare with the
naval officer, and 1t is when his fa1th-
full wife takes up the idea of pursuing
her husbands ship from one foreign
port to another that she begins to APP
preciate what real navy life
Some women" said the wife or a
prominent officer. seem to be perfect
hoodoos for a ship. The ONE they
reach il. orders come to move to some
other port. One officers wife used TO
set us all to packing up whenever We
heard hat she vas coming, for we
knew that her arrival was a signal for
the ship to leave next day. 1t was
when nv husband was stationed at
San Francisco that l first noticed the
ill-fortune that seemed to attend TINS
woman. 1t was generally supposed
that we would remain in San Francis
co all winter, and all the officers fam
flies were quartered near the ship,
with the exception of the one of whom
/ speak. In a short time II was an
nounced that she also would come on.
She did so, and the day after her ar
rival the ship was ordered TO Santiago,
She followed il there. but before she
could reach the place orders had come
from the government to go at once &c
Honolulu. In the same way she fol-
lowed her husband to China. but she
was not allowed to see him there, FOL
the ship had returned on its homewaro
trip before the steamer upon whicf
she had sailed reached port"
What, then, can be the charms OF
such a life?' cried one of her listeners
us. il worth living? Do tell us some o.
the pleasant sides of 1t. Surely there
must be some, else all the navy would
retire to private life"
THE charms" she said. ARE enough
TO brighten all the dark sid of 1t. II
begin with. you may be pretty certain
hat your husband loves you too mucf
to live without you, else he would no
have married you for he has not tn
same incentive to a hom'
that other men ave. His home is OF
the sea. Then there is the very oppor
tunity TO travel and the experience o
life in foreign countries under the hap
piest possible circumstances. AS sooi
as the officers wives arrive in a for
eign port they receive calls from tn,
members of the most distinguishes
families in the place. They are treate'
as representatives of the government
from which they come, and at once en-
ter the highest social circles.
This means all sorts OF reception
and dinners at the homes OF interest