The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-08-09
Proposition to Do Away With
Night Shirts Starts Vigorous
Controversy in Navy.
GOOD ARGUMENTS PRO AND CON
Advocates Of the Innovation Call
Themselves the "Pajama
Brigade" and Dub OPP
ponents "Nighties."
RwUB1Jc SPECIAL.

REPUBLIC SPECIAL.
Washington, Aug. 8-Sharp Is the discus
s3on prec;pita.ed in tho navy by a PROPOSE
don to supplant tho night shirt BY roomy
suits Of patamas as tho nocturnal service
uniform Of the American 5acky. Advocates
OF the Innovation have styled themselves
tho PaJanas Bridge" and the opponents.
who cling to the oid-time carmen with q
loyalty based largely on sentiment and ira
dition. have been dubbed the "Nighties."
Just now the "Nighttes'' have the best OF
It but the Brigade declare that when
Secretary Moody and Rear Admiral Tay-
log. Chief Of the Bureau Of Navigation, re-
turn to Washington. the potency Of tho
arguments presented in favor Of the change
viii undoubtedly convince them Of the in
Justice OF the 'Nighties' cause
In the mail Of Rear Admiral Taylor there
came to-day q radiant sample pair Of pa1a-
mas from prominent mercantile firm
which has offered to manufacture jackies'
The prics OF ID per pair. The pajamas
nave been placed on hle pending the Rear
month.
sscrst..y Moody Is also away, and tho
when both these ofnciais return to wash.
1ngtoo and can give 1t their careful atten-
ton; Efforts viii be made by the active
Ps5.%as Brigade" to obtain hearing be-
The .BrEadS' claims that. IN the nrst
place, the new garment Is far more COM
light shirt omoers have discarded night hit
shirts for paJamas. and the men see no rea-
son why they should not keep up the pace
20 the fact that pajamss are in use in sew
factory.
OBJECTIONS OF THE .'NIGHrTEs."
10 Offset these claims. the ..Nighties' con-
tend that the old-time garment is consid-
cradle more '-Eet-in-ah able. get-out-able and
washable than the paJama: that the night
LIE as no patarna ever made can do, and,
finally. that there Is a certain consideration
and that tradition il decidedly on the side
OF the night gown.
Another objection to the introduction OF
ratamas In the navy which a prominent
naval officer advanced. was that the men
will wish to report for early morning scrub
hing duty In BAHAMAS. instead OF in under
Clothes. as Is now customary. The sailors
.underclothes are of blue and make a salts
factory uniform while jacky is busy scrub
bling deck and doing the other morning
chores. The pa5amas can be easily rolled
up and the men will find them a convenient
uniform while performing these duties.
In the washing Of his clothes jaclSy Is
out on deck. scrubs Il with SUD brush rush
thoroughly soaped both inside and out, and
then wrings It and rinses It in clear water.
II II easy enough to put the night shirt
through this process. but the pajamas, It Is
asserted, would be more troublesome and
would not stand the scrubbing SO we'll.
The sample pair Of pajamas now on file at
the department are Of a soft gray color,
embroidered and neece-ltned. But 1t IS like
y that In eses the tnnovation y decided
upon. the fdepaftment will ask that other
designs ~ submitted. Blue or white, 1t is
thought. win prove the most satisfactory
color. and the material used viii be Of a
more serviceable character. The discussion
has reached such point and the question
only the Secretary can render decision.