The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1899-05-30
GIFTS FOR NEW SHIPS.

Christened Will be Expected to Elk
hibit Patriotism by Bestowing Some
thing Handsome--A Silver Servio
Most Suitable.
Fifteen war vessels having been newl,
named by President Mckinley, in homo
of as many cities and states, citizens o
those communities owe the patriots
duty of preparing suitable and hand
Some gifts for the ships in question Ii
every case, without exception, this Gus
tom has been observed in regard to tn,
fighting craft of the United States navy
The sentiment back of the idea is very
pleasing one, and it may not be map
propriate to offer at this time one OF
Two suggestions as to presents that ar,
appropriate for the purpose, some inju
diciousness having been shown in max
Ing choice on more than one previous
occasion.
The question is, then, what shall BIZ
the most suitable gift for each state OF
city to bestow upon her namesake? The
answer is, a service of silver-solid ster.
ling silver, of course, and not mere
plated ware. If money enough is sub
scribed forty pieces will furnish an ad-
mirable equipment for the wardroom
and for the captains cabin, and on this
service as much as $4,000 may be prof
itably spent But one important advan-
tage of silver is that the cost of the do
nation may be scaled down almost in
definitely, in proportion to the means
available-even to'a single piece if nee
essary. A great deal of entertaining is
done on board of a war vessel, and so
an equipment Of silver is extremely use
ful. 1t is cstomary to utilize it only fn
occasions of ceremony, and at other
times it is displayed handsomely on a
sideboard. If there is a good deal of it,
a special case; with glass sides, is made
for it.
In July of last year the governor of
Wisconsin appointed a committee to
provide suitable gift for the battleship
named after that state. 1t was decided
to invest the available funds in a IL
brary for the vessel which was to be
supplemented with large bronze badg
er taken from the coat-of-arms of Wis
consin, ito be placed wherever such Or
naments are located on a ship as it
was expressed in a letter written to the
navy department. The latter replied
that the available space on vessel of
w Ga LII ouCIl puIp Osc WAS usually
quite taken up by the necessary techni-
cal library furnished by the department
and a suggestion was made to the effect
that the committee should buy silver
service instead, with the states coat-of-
arms on each piece. This was done.
For books there is no room at all in
the wardroom of a warship The tech
nical library carried by every fighting
vessel is put in the cabin of the COM
manding officer, where as much shelf
room as possible is always provided for
this purpose, and to the collection, which
consists Of works that have a bearing
on the naval profession, all of the Off
GERS have access. 1t is usual to provide
a library for the crew, chiefly composed
of works Of fiction, which occupies
few shelves or a bookcase fastened up
against a bulkhead in the forecastle.
Such books as are possessed by the
wardroom officers are slowed away in
lockers and other odd places.
The Women's Army and Navy league
has presented small organs to num-
Der of our ships, and they useful, in
deed, being placed usually in some con-
venient spot on the main deck. When
divine services are held the organ is
played, and it is also available for fes-
tive occasions. 1t is for the benefit
rather of the crew than of the officers
and among the jackies and marines
there are always number of must
clans sufficiently expert to manipulate
the instrument. The city Of Minneapo-
lis gave to the cruiser of that name a
grand piano valued at ST.
VI; t,I -
pieces of silver worth $780, the soup
tureen alone costing $4,000 and the meat
plate $3.50
The battleship Indiana received from
citizens of Indiana, in addition to'a Ii
brary, silver service valued at $9,526 |
and consisting of thirty-nne pieces. |
Thirty-two pieces of silver given by San
Francisco to the cruiser of that name |
cost $7,4S6 But the handsomest and |
most expensive silver service was fur
nished for the cruiser Chicago by the |
people of the big town on Lake Michi-
gan. 1t comprises 22S pieces, including
1 dozen and half of everything.
Brooklyn gave to the armored cruiser
named after that city two silver cam
lelabra worth $1,000, soup tureen that
lost $685. and lot of other silver that
un UP the value of the service, exclud-
ng the candlesticks, to $780,
When the Inflated Maine went into
citizens of that common
wealth gave her three silver dishes,
worth 81 900, and several photograph
llbums containing views of Maine seem
~. On March 10, 1897, several resi-
Tents of New Orleans natives of the
Pine Tree state, presented the ship with
loving cup of silver with a moose
orn handle. This cup is now exhibited
n a glass case at the National museum,
aving been recovered from the wreck
n Havana harbor. f,
The proper course of procedure when
ne wishes to bestow gift upon a ship
f the United States navy is to COM
1unicate on the subject with the chief
the bureau Of equipment in the navy
apartment. He is the lawful custodian
all such present, which are taken up
n the books of his bureau as part of
ne equipment of the vessels upon which {
ney are bestowed. 1t is for him to '
ldge what gifts are acceptable, and he G
an refuse them if he so chooses. No :
equations govern. Not long ago +
of bicycles offered to con- t
'ibute a number of wheels for the use r,
{ marines and sailors on shore duty n
hey were declined with thanks. When
sked for suggestion the department
oauc Gi1Vpr iS the hest