Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-12-23
STANDARD ENGLISH CLASSICS-THE
HISTORY OLE HENRY ESMOND. ESQ,
THE ENLISTED MEN.
Secretary Bonaparte on Recognition of
the Blueiacket Uniform.

the Bluejacket Uniform.
Secretary Bonaparte has decided views on
the subject of the respectful recognition Of
the uniform Of the American bluejacket In
a recent communication to the President on
the subject he recommended that the Con-
gress make any refusal on the part Of the
proprietor OF theater or other place Of
amusement, an innkeeper or common car
rier, to furnish accommodation to an order
ly and well-behaved person in the naval
service able and willing to pay for such ac-
commodation an offense against the United
States, punishable by fine and imprison-
ment.
'oThe attention of the department" said
Secretary Bonaparte, was called some
months since to the action of one of its
employees at navy yard in refusing to car
ry out contract he had made with an en-
listed man of the navy to let a portion Of
his house to the latter, on the ground that
the intended ledger expected to wear his
uniform. In reply to letter of inquiry the
employee In question admitted this state
ment to be substantially correct but gave
as an excuse that his wife feared her so
cial position would be affected If a man
In sailors clothes were seen going Into or
coming out of her house. On the .admis-
sions contained in this answer I dismissed
him from the public service.
THE uniform of an American sailor is
universally recognized as not only decorous
but picturesque, and Is frequently initiated
In the costumes of children and young wo-
men. The objection on the part of the dis
missed employee or his wife to its use by
person who should live In their house evil
IDENTIFY arose not from any prejudice
against the dress, but from the unfounded
and calumnous notion, unfortunately not
confined to them, that sailor on shore is
presumptively a disorderly and drunken In
dividual and fit associate for rowdies and
prostitutes. need not discuss whether
there was any truth in this idea with re-
speet to the sailors Of our navy; certainly,
1t is wholly false and slanderous at present
The department has tried long and ear
nestly to secure for the service men of good
moral character and reputable antecedents:
and 1t therefore demands and, so far as IT
can. cOmpels respect for these men and for
their uniform from all classes of the COM
munity. 1t might appear at first sight that
an incident such as the one above noted was
hardly of sufficient Importance 20 Justify
mention In this report or action by the de-
partment. but In certain respects this dis
elimination against the uniform has very
serious consequences. Not only does 1t re-
tard enlistments and promote desertfons.
but when ship Of war comes into port
from a cruise lasting perhaps many months
It's enlisted complement, consisting In great
majority of young unmarried men, have a
natural and legitimate desire fer relaxation
and amusement after this long period of fso-
latien and monotony II they are not ad-
mitted to reputable places of Entertainment
they will go to such as are disreputable: IL
the social position of virtuous women is
affected by being seen In their company
they will associate with vicious women, and
the results of this almost enforced debauch-
cry will be deplorable to themselves and to
the service