The Honolulu republican. [volume] (Honolulu, T.H.) 1900-1902, 1901-01-23
WORKS HARDSHIP TO
WIVES Of OFFICERS
Constant Changing of
Posts Is Harshly
Criticised.
WAR DEPARTMENT IS REAL MEAN
LADIES OF THE Amy REGISTER
A DECIDEDLY HEALTHY
PROTEST.
They Complain That Their Husbands
Are Switched From Post to Post
Without Notice or Reason-muoh
Money Wasted on Wardrobes.

NEW YORK, Jan. army women
are more prone TO talk than women
whose men ToIks are in any other
calling. They are proud of the pro
fession of their husbands or sons. and
have endured with the bravery al
American women the suspense which
must always be theirs when those
they love are on active service and
are running the risk of death by bull
lets or by disease. That risk was con-
sidered when they decided to marry
army officers. But with the new order
of things, with expansion which has
scattered the army from the arctics 70
the tropics. from the Western to the
Eastern hemisphere there has come
an added burden, which the women
do not bear so cheerfully
If you go among them you VII find
that not one in ten is an expansionisr
They do not object so much TO the
fact that their husbands are sent out
OF the country TO fight insurgents in
the Philippines or to run the risk Of
catching yellow fever in Cuba. De
cause in this increased ACTIVITY lie op-
portunities for glory and promotion.
In the old days before the Spanish
war it was the complaint OF both Of
ficers in the army and their women
folks that there was no opportunity
for advancement, and the changed con-
ditions in this respect have met with
favor from both the soldiers and their
wives. But there is another consider
alton which leads the women to assert
that expansion is delusion and a
snare. This concerns women's dress.
She has found by sad experience that
what is good to wear in Cuba or the
Philippines in January is not good to
wear in Colorado, or even in Georgia,
at that time of year. And now that
army officers are being transferred
from post to post, being brought from
Havana to New York, and then sent
70 st. Paul, and hen back to Havana,
and then possibly to the Philippines,
all within very shoie time, the wo-
men have found it impossible to keep
their wardrobes in harmony with the
army orders
Only recently an officer and nis
wife who had been living in Havana
were obliged to leave Cuba because
of orders issued to the officer detailing
him to duty in one of the northwest
ern posts. They had been contented
in Havana and had grown used to the
life. 1ney had been in the tropics
for more than a year ana their blood
had been thinned so that they dreaded
somewhat the sudden change to the
wintry blasts of the western plains.
Still. there was nothing to be done
but obey the orders OF the war depart
ment, and they came to the United
States on transport. Expecting at
least to serve through the winter in
the United States. the officer bought a
fine new winter overcoat and such
other clothing as is necessary in this
and told his wife to go ahead
and fit herself out with heavy clothing
and furs. She was glad to obey, and
spent three weeks N new York, to say
nothing of $1,000 in procuring winter
She bought tailor made suits |
1t high prices, and among other things |
/ baby lamb fur coat and mum at |
cost of $780, This was a Christmas |
present from her husband. She wore |
he coat three times. went around |
New York in her new tailor made |
GOWNS, and felt that after all it was
mighty nice to be back in the States
instead of Cuba. She and her husband
we're just about to start for their new
lome in the West when an order came
rom Washington reassigning the Of
icer to duty in Cuba. Then there was
rouble- A baby lamb fur coat in New
fork is very fine thing. but in Ha-
ana it is only food for moths. Tailor
made gowns on Broadway are source
4 great joy to the wearer and to the
'eholders. but in Cuba they only cause
respiration and adverse comments.
The woman was in despair. She
ushed lack to her furrier and tried
o prevail upon him to take the coat
nd give back her money. but in vain.
he furrier offered to put the coat in
forage at so much per month, and as
ured her that the next winter she
ToHid be able 10 wear it. provided she
-as in a cold climate This did not I
nit her, because she feared the coat /:
-ould not be fashionable next winter.
nd besides she needed the money. /,
here was another wardrobe II De !
A woman needs lot of ;
hin clothes TO get through winter
! Havana. where there is 81 n'r'n 90 '
iai gayess. and she simply did not
cw what 20 II lasr I In-,S she {
a trying e 10, some u &c rske I
lie coat of her hands at greatly re- /
ueed price in order that she might |
ut the proceeds into muslins. organ I
les and other thin gowns II
Another officer who had been sta
oned in this country for year re- |
lived orders not long ago TO report I
, General Macarthur in the Philip
mes Having expected to remain ]
ere all winter. his wife had bought {
I the necessary clothes, when sud ]
emily came the order transferring him I
J Manila His wife was broken heart {
l. He was only lieutenant with
nall pay. and the expense OF z newt
ltfit TOR his wife in case she accom-
anied hin was too great for him to !