Evening star., 1903-08-29
SON REBUKEs FATHER.
Instances Of the Power Of Nav!
Etiquette.


From the New York Tribune.
1t has been said OF the American navy
that the officers are more exacting in the
observance of etiquette and the proper
courtesies than those Of other navies. and
that the minute distinctions of punctilious-
ness are more marked among the officers
Of the navy than among the officers OF the
army However true this may be. it is
not to be denied that officers Of the mill
tary and naval services are apt to be more
scrupulous and exacting in etiquette than
are civilians, and there have been some
humorous incidents related OF this prac-
tice of naval officers.
1t would seem. perhaps, that the smaller
the vessel of the navy of half a century
ago the more emphatic or more exacting
were the officers in command In what they
considered was due to their rank and sta
ton. An incident of this character. related
by one of the older officers couple of
evening ago lat the club" was that during
the Mexican war the fleet In front OF vera
Cruz was Joined by several gunboats OF
the most diminutive type-improved affairs.
An officer of one of the larger vessels
had occasion to visit one of the little fel-
lows in his official capacity, and, ranging
up alongside In his barge (Which. by the
way, was nearly as large as the vessel he
was officially visiting). he stepped over the
port quarter, when the lieutenant in COM
mand ir a tone of offended dignity, in
formed the visitor, who was his superior
by two grades, that his vessel had gang
way on the starboard side, and that 1t
was not only proper, but that the navy
regulations prescribed. that officers Of and
above certain rank should board by that
gangway.
The young officer added that, while his
vessel might not be much bigger than the
visitors barge, SO long as 1t was In COM
mission and he was in command he did not
propose to have any of the usual rules OF
/ etiquette disregarded. The visitor fully
comprehended the intent of the rebuke, and
he at once returned to his barge and went
around to the StarbOard gangway and was
received by the piping of the boatswain's
mate.
1t happened that this same lieutenant was
subsequently rcbuked by his own son. soon
after the latter received his first commits
sion The son was on duty at the New
York navy yard, and the father was In
command Of a vessel that had just been
put into commission, and he was anxious
to get his provisions and stores on board
that he might get away his cruise.
Going through the navy yard to call on
the commandant of the station the cap
tain saw his son in uniform walking toward
his headquarters in the storehouse, and he
shouted Henry" two or three times with
out getting any response. Finally the son
turned about and said in dignified tone:
Are you addressing me. sir?''
Yes" replied the father; Il sent in
requisition for my stores, and 1 wish you
would hurry it through, so that can have
the things delivered as promptly possi-
BILE. for am anxious to get to sea-"
Very WELL" replied the young officer 81
Will look into the matter; but please bear
in mind that when 1 am on duty 1 am to
be addressed as mister or by my military
title; when l am at home or at some off,
cial affair 1 Henry or anything you
- please"
That the father recognized the propriety
of the rebuke by his son was shown by
his often telling the story afterward at
his own expense. Henry or anything
you - please" is still alive, and is yet
in the navy.