The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-01-22
BOYS IN OLIVE DRAB
That Doesn't Sound Half So Patri.
otto as "The Boys in
Blue"
Nevertheless Orders Are Received
Formally Announcing Change
in Service Uniforms.

The irridescence of the United States
army in its new uniform is not yet ap-
preciated by the northwest. Stray .speci-
mems only Of the unaccustomed colors
have. been seen here, and the complete
picture will not be unveiled until the uni
form order-just received at Fort SHELL
ing from Washington-shall take effect on
July 1, 1903.
The substitution of olive drab for blue
in the service uniform of officers and men
seems likely to embarrass the patriotic
poet. 1.-THE boys In blue" are permanent-
ly retired to battle paintings grand
fathers tales and the foot notes Of his
tory. What word what praise, shall
henceforth rhyme inspiringly with "olive
drab?" "Hurrah for the boys in blue!'
sang the children at recent patriotic gath
erings. But could they exclaim, with
olive drab!' Must the American Kipling
magnetic posterity with some such pro-
cessional as -: $685., 3. .t+.T Ga.f
Eternal glory for to grab
Marched forth the boys in olive drab!
Shall school commencements yet be moved
to tears with elegiacs that relate
Drew his kahki around him,
Stretched forth upon the slab,
Then died the dental surgeon in the glorious
olive drab :: ,
For the army dentist is distinguished
in the new regulations by the fact that he
is one Of the very few officers who will not
be permitted to wear a "full dress" uni
form. His insignia, and one should
imagine, would be a bleeding tooth in
white and red just as the mark of the
veterinarian is 1.-The foot of horse, shod.' p
But a. dentist must be known, instead, by
the white letters ID. So which the en-
listed men have already interpreted as
doctor Of screams" --..- .....
T. The new uniform is to be simple and
serviceable, as becomes the citizen SOL
Al - Il to
Of monarchical fummery will be tolerated.
A second lieutenant, mindful Of his humble
post at the foot Of the ladder of command
| must remain content with nothing more
than full dress uniform, q. dress uniform
a white uniform, and a service uniform
must be satisfied with trousers for one
occasion, ''breeches'' for another, and
| pants for none; with a chapeau, a full
dress cap, dress cap a white cap, a
white helmet, hat, and a. civilian hat
| must be willing to accept seven buttons ir
| each of two rows upon his coat, .the
| distance between the top of the rows to bt
| 8 inches and the distance between the bot.
| tom rows ~ inches" <Fs-s Il. - .T.
| After July 1 the army officer will cas-
| aside his tactics, his strategy, his cam:
paigns of Napoleon" and devote himself
! to that new military wade mecum, 1.-THE
| Table Of Occasions. For IAN he know
not the Table which. has consumed 81
mucn mldnlgnt electricity at the war de-
partment, how is he to remember tina
"drab leather gloves" must be worn will
"dismounted full dress trousers?" How
is he to be positive that a sabre is to b,
displayed when calling upuon member!
Of a royal family and is not to be ii
evidence at "any review, inspection o.
parade?" The Table of Occasions one,
| imprinted upon the army's, memory will
answer all Chinese questions of the sever
| hats; will solve the inevitable conflict be
| tween trousers" and "breeches"; will
/ ward off the threatening cateclysn
| of wearing things at "a formal small din
ner" which any true son of Washington
| or Lincoln would reserve exclusively fo
"a dance" or, perhaps, IAN evening must
/ CAL" So. .s-,,s - ~ 81.
While Newport is Slowly adjusting itsel
| to a. court and coupon etiquette, while tn,
! wives Of new. congressman are harrassin,
| their husbands with 1.-THE Book of tn,
Beau Monde the army Of the United
States will remain entrenched in its ira
1 d1tional common sense behind the Tabl
/ of Occasions and the Schedule of Uni
forms to Be Worn at the White Hous
/ Until p M