The daily morning journal and courier., 1898-07-02
NAVAL OFFICERS UNIFORMS.

Whem Commodore Dewey stood on the bridge of the flagship Olympia during the memorable engagement at Manila, he wore what is known in the navy as the service" coat. This is coat of dark navy blue cloth of serge, shaped to the figure, to descend to top of inseam of trousers. There is slit over each hip extending on the right side as high as the sword belt. 1t was single breasted, with fly front fitted with plain flat gutta percha buttons, and a standing collar, The collar edges of the coat were trimmed with lustrous black mohair braid, one and a quarter inches wide, laid on flat. Beside this at distance of one-eighth of an inch was shown a narrow black braid one-eighth of an inch wide with an overland turn hree-eights of an inch in diameter. It is needless to state that the lady readers will understand this much better than the male ones The coat was worn closely buttoned, Commodore Dewey wore a pair Of trousers with stripe of gold lace down their outer seam one inch in width The Commodores rank was shown by his shoulder straps, collar devices, and braid on the sleeves Being a Com modore, he had a silver star and a silver foul anchor on each side of the | collar. On the sleeve was two-inch braid with gold star above. On his head the hero of Manila had new style broad-top cap with gold strap and gold ornaments, consisting of anchors, silver shield with eagle above The visor was trimmed with gold oak leaves.
 Last December Commodore, then captain Dewey went to his tailor in Washington to have his clothes retirmmed, for his promotion in rank, as far as possible. He was forced to buy full dress coat and a frock coat for his rank of Commodore and also a cap. The latter cost $15
 No swell who walks up Connecticut avenue or the avenue, with an income of from $10,000 to S50,000 year, is a whit more particular in regard to the selection of his suits than an ensign in the navy The chances are he has more of them, but they are of no better dbeNiihJ eilld SpSt llo liiOi StSi tiiebll oo l those of a naval officer. One of the | first things that a naval cadet Is taught | Is to keep his uniforms in good condi- | tion. He must have a number of them | for special occasions. The regulations of the navy are most strict and exact ] ing in regard to the dress of it's officers It takes most of a young officers salary to keep himself looking as his superior officer thinks he should appear.
 Naval officers are 50 per cent more particular about the making of their uniforms than those of the army. The reason is plain. Naval officers are con- l tinually cruising about the world and may enter foreign port at any time In order to uphold the honor of the | country which they represent they l must be fitly attired. and according tc | the regulations, which i'll a good sized pamphlet, laid down by the department | he must have at least four or five l different coats, such as the special full dress, social full dress, frock service dress, besides caps, chapeaux, helmets l gloves, boots and shoes of the bes quality of special designs.
 l When the gunboat Helena was il Washington several months ago it was explained to visitors that there was nC ship in the navy that was better fitted for the accommodation of it's officers After everything had been pointed out the young officers would point witi pride to the chests underneath tn, hunks provided for the uniforms, st that no possible damage could resul to them. Electric fans, stationary washstands and other convenience, were all well enough But it was really the clothes chests which caught tn, fancy of the officers most.
 When the United States naval offlcerl lost their belongings in the terrible storm at Samoa several years ago. bill was introduced to reimburse them Estimates were asked from tailors fo the cost of an officers outfit. It wa figured out that that of a lieutenan could be taken as the basis, and tn amount could be decreased or increased according to rank. The wearing ap parel of lieutenant was figured a $1,365, that of an Ensign was fixed a about S1,000, and the Rear Admiral at about S2,000.
 There is a tailor in Washington wht has been supplying uniforms for maya officers for nearly fifty years. Whel Captain Dewey was promoted to Com modore and left for the Asiatic statiol in December he went to his tailor wh, has been fitting him out ever since h.
 has been in the navy.
 T want everything exactly accordin, to regulation" Dewey told the man O the goose and shears. Fix 1t up a quick as you can, and have it as we'll a you can. But above all be careful tha you make no mistake in regard to tn regulations. If I hadn't beem promoted I should not have had the trouble O coming to see you and spending som more money"
 The tailor in question said tha Admiral Porter, while pretending no to be so was a most particular man il regard to his dress. It would have t. fit him exactly. When he becam
 Admiral at the death of Ad
 miral Farrasut, he had an entire full dress outfit made. This cost, ineludin, the chapeau, $765. The chapeau an, coat had oak leaves on them Hi trousers were gold laced, and his gol, sword belt was worked in oak leaves His epaulete alone cost $175
 l "He was a. great man for ioISe