Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-01-29
A CITY OF UNIFORMS
Distinctive Garb Employed in
National Capital.
DISTINCTION DRAW N
REPRESENTATIVES, OF ARMY OR
NAVY IN UNIFORM.
All Others Described as Wearing
"Livery"-A Prevalent Custom
and Its Results.
DISTINCTION DRAW N

| Washington has become a city of uni
forms, or, more properly speaking, city
| of ''liveries,' for, according to an eminent
| authority. there is difference with a
| marked distinction between uniforms and
| liveries. 1t is stated by that authority that
''in our whole-hearted American way we
! make practically no distinction between the
two terms. We speak of uniformed SER
wants and officers In livery.
1t is contended that only persons in the
| military and naval service wear uniforms;
| all others wear liveries. Exception may be
made in the case of policemen and members
| of semi-military organizations, still the
| strictest English authorities would not even
| except these two classes. An army officer
who is noted for his just pride in all mat
tiers military. manifested his disapprobation
| in most decided manner several days ago
| when a lady with whom he was walking
along Pennsylvania avenue referred to one
of the white wings" as "a uniformed street
| sweeper"
| Strangers visiting the city have remarked
the great number and variety of uniforms
| they have seen here Not only on the
! streets, but in the public buildings. the
| depots. the hotels, and In fact, wherever
they may go, it is the same th1ng-plue
| clothes, gray clothes, green clothes, Dfass
| buttons, silver buttons, glass buttons, eV.
| erywhere. soiled and seedy hobo
|
licemen, or bulls officers of the law
| are designated in the language of the tramp
| and crook fraternities, unwittingly gave an
| illustration of the uniform habit here
| the other day. He was standing with sew
| eral companions near a city mission, when
| a man attired in suit of navy blue and
| cap of the same hue, both literally bespr1n-
killed. with brass buttons, came along:
Dem felers wild brass outings is got me
! gessing,'' he said. Now. who knows
whedder dat guy coming along dere is
| bull or a elevator conductor. Den ag1n, he
! might be a member of some new sky pilot
club like de Salvation Army, or motor
| man."
Oats so,'' chimed in his pal, "or he
might be a baggage smasher, bargain
| counter porter or a 'Shaffur' of one OF dem
| buzz cars. Dere's no tellin.''
| II saw a Teller pinched by whizZ bull
| (bicycle pOliceman) de oder day. De bull
! was gentleman in de dark "a negro, an
I fought he was one of dem hotel front
shippers (bell boys. Dis uniform fad is
| tough on de boys who is by de yegg, an
| dat amt no fairy tale"
One Coachman's Appeal.
Referring to uniforms which resemble
those worn by policemen, it is recalled that
! several years ago the coachman of the min
| lister from one of the South American re-
! publics appeared on the streets attred in
| the full costume of guardian of the
| peace. AT that time the police wore high
| crowned Alpine felt hats, like those which
are supposed to be worn by the Italian
| bandits of stage and story.
All the coachman lacked to make him ap-
| pear as fuli-f1edged policeman was a
| baton and badge. Complaint. was made to
| the chief of police that the fellow during
| his hours of freedom from legation duty,
was in the habit of playing policeman
| among the deniZens OF the alleys and
| courts in West Washington. 1t also de-
veloped that he had purchased the uniform
second-han from a former policeman who
! had been dismissed from the force for Sc
rious misdemeanors. Police Chief Rich
! ards thereupon notified the foreign minister
| that 1t would be desirable for him to change
| the costume of his lackey before mischief
| resulted. adding, politely, that the law off,
| GERS of Washington resented their uniform
| being used by servants as mark of SER
| Witty.
The uniform of a law officer" wrote
Maj. Richards, should not be transformed
| into a livery, which is defined as a colored
coat which masters make their servants
wear to avoid mistakes of identity"
The minister it is said, waxed indignant
over the protest from the police depart
ment, and threatened to appeal to the De-
partment of State. The matter was, how
| ever amicably adjusted. and the colOred
coachman later appeared in snowy livery
of sea green. trimmed with red and lavshly
! ornamented with big brass buttons. which
| he said was designed by his lady friend"
The Army and Navy Designs.
| "A
the almost general ignorance of people re-
garding the different designs of army and
navy uniforms which are so prevalent on
| the streets of Washington.
| I'VE meet" he said SOLDIERS and sailors
! and marines. all in the United States serv-
ice: soldiers and sailors of the National
! Guard. letter carriers, firemen, policemen,
| messenger boys, street cleaners, railroad
men. store porters park watchmen, CAP
| drivers footmen Salvation Army soldiers
| and what not. in costumes of different col
! ors and various designs until the senses
| are confused. Now, suppose you see man
| in dark blue. close-htting jacket, with
| shiny brass buttons, high soft-croWned
| cap and light blue trousers-he is a private
| in the army. If his trousers have upon
/ them narrow stripes of some contrasting
| color he is a corporal; if the stripes be
| broader he is a sergeant. If the stripes
| are yellow he belongs to the cavalry; II
| white. to the infantry; II red, TO the ar
| tilery; If red with white edges, to the engl-
| neers: if green to the hospital corps; IL
| black. to the signal corps Two narrow
stripes signify that the wearer is member
| OF the band.
| THE several designs worn on the fronts
| of the military cap or campaign hat also
| show the branch of the service to which
! the wearer belongs The frontispiece OF
an artillerynan is crossed cannon; that or
an infantryman two rifles crossed; cav
! alTyman crossed sabers; an engineer mas
| a castle with three turrets; hospital corps
man Geneva cross. and a signal corps
man crossed flags with flaming torch as
| tho centerpiece. AS TO chevrons, which
are worn on the arms of the blouse. full
| dress at.and overcoat, corporal has two
| stripes. a-sergeant three, quartermaster
sergeant has tie of two bars, an ord
! nance sergeant has a star inside the
| stripes. first sergeant has diamond IN
| stead of the star and sergeant major an
| arc of three bars.
Shield in Front
"All naval officers wear caps with the
| American shield in front, and officers of the
rank of commander have the front of Their
vizors covered with gold lace On a naval
officers sleeve is the principal means of
telling his rank. He has from one stripe OF
one-half inch gold lace or white braid, ac-
cording he is an ensign in service or
| summer dress up to one two-inch stripe
| and one-halfinch stripe of gold or white
| braid, according he is rear adm raj in
| service or summer dress Warrant officers
| wear the same cut of uniform officers
but instead of a shield on their caps wear
| the gold foil anchors crossed, and instead
of gold or white braid on their sleeves wear
devices on their collars, as follows: Boat