Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-12-03

army men generally" remarked vet
eran officer the other day, ARE pleased at
the action OF Secretary Taft in providing
for the manufacture and issue OF a new
chevron. Under previous regulations each
of the various kinds of coats required
different kind of chevron. the bars OF winch
were of the hiGh-colored facing cloths, con-
forming to the various arms of the service.
The colors used in dyeing this cloth are very
fugitive Experiments were made to OBJ
tain a chevIon that would stand washins
when attached to the white summer and
cotton khaki coats and finally the color of
the olive-drab shifting flannel was selected
as the best. Bars made of cloth of this
shade, sewed on a groundwork of olive
drab serge, will harmonic with the serv-
ice coats and at the same time are suffi-
GENTLY distinctive. Bars of the same cloth
sewed on groundwork of either cotton
khaki or white duck will harmonic with
the khaki service and white summer coats.
While the distinctive colors of the various
arms of the service have been disregarded
In the new chevrons. 1t Will not lead TO
confusion because the hat cords show the
color of the arm of the service and the
ornaments the coat collars show the
organization to which an enlisted man be-
longs
: =
1.-THE clothing allowance for the Ameri-
can soldier" said an official for the War
Department yesterday. as Of the best. both
in quality and in quantity. the ration fur
nished has long been the surprise and Won
der of military men of foreign nations. and
that the private in the United States army
is we'll paid is shown by comparison with
the pay of privates in the principal armies
OF Europe. In Austria. Hungary the private
gets 73 cents a month, in Russia 90 cents,
In Japan IL cents. in France STA. in Ger
many $3.50, and in Great Britain STA q
month. AS Secretary Taft puts it,. the
best clothed and best sheltered soldier in
the world"
+ X n
One of the messengers In the rooms Of
Chief Wilkie Of the secret service sat
pulling scarfpins out of papers. There were
several hundred loose pins, and more than
that remained to be taken out of the
papers. Those are pins that were seized
a few days ago by some of our men In
New York" said Chief Wilkie. They prob
ably appear to be harmless but II you will
observe you will see that the mounting OF
the pins is a representation of one side OF
4 gold dollar This is a violation of the
laws of the United States. These plainly
say that there shall be no fac-simile of any
coin or obligation of the United States, and
these pins were made in imitation Of one
dollar gold pieces. 1t is true that no at
tempt was made to pass them as money,
but the law was violated, nevertheless,
when they were turned out, and we seized
them so as to prevent them going into cir
culation."
In past years the secret service has seized
many advertising schemes that bore fac
SMILES of United States notes. Nothing of
that kind is allowed to be put into circu-
lation. Newspapers are not allowed to
print a facsimile Of a note or coin at any
time. The secret service has many fac
SMILES of confederate notes that have like
wise been seized. They resemble United
reason are seized whenever they are found.
X \
Uncle Sam is in the pgeon-raising bust
ness for fair right here in Washington, but
he doesn't know 1t. nor does it pay him
any revenue" said the policeman who
makes the newsboys Zine up and be good
in the basement of The Star building.
WHY, there are enough fat, toothsOme
SQUADS Matched out in those caves and
Iecesses almost to supply the Center mar
ket demand" The policeman pointed with
his baton to the tall post office building
with its numerous crevices and other open
work ornamentation, which furnish ideal
places for bird hatcheries.
While he was speaking many old birds
were seen flying hither and thither On the
18th street side of the building. some enter
Ing the homes the government has uncon-
sciously provided for them. others depart
ing in search of food for their young
"sauablets," as a fashionable Washington
caterer has designated them
THE proper designation for those birds
that are born and bred in the apertures
pf ha Opy huil in ha
gate" said a post office clerk who had
butted in. would be Uncle Sans great
uncultivated and ungathered stock of
squablets.
\ prominent missionary bishop of the
Episcopal Church was In the habit of in
Producing among the Esqimaux, who were
his special charges. many things to amuse
or interest them in order that he might
gain their attention to his preaching 1t
happened. however, that In spite of the
various ingenious inventions which he
placed before them these sons of the arctic
regions continued to be impressed by the
white mans canned food more than by
anything else he brought with him. Being
unwilling to eat the blubber and drink the
oil of the Esquimaux the white man al
ways came with many cans of meat and
vegetables
oHt uoS ING piShpp dDoNt referred 10 de-
cided to spring a genuine surprise on the
natives. He had with him on this trip
a talking machine. with records in the
Esquimaux tongue. He gathered his
charges all around him in the little meeting
house. and started the machine agoing
Everybody was certainly puzzled. At last
smile broke in upon the face OF one.
Canned white man. he said in glee.
X X X X
Although this is winter weather l am
nevertheless again reminded that the ma
tional capital is a city OF vines" remarked
man who travels a great deal and who
has just returned here after an absence of
several months. More than any other city
I have ever visited Washington is blessed
with vines You see this form of wander
Ing vegetation nearly everywhere about
town. There is hardly a block from the