The Washington herald., 1908-07-19


shirt.
Changes Uniform.
In 1880. John Branch. Secretary OF the
Navy. issued an order materially chang
/ ing the uniform OF the United States
navy in all its branches. which was to
take effect on the last OF the year. BY
this order. the full dress OF captains was
10 be OF dark blue cloth lined with
white, double breasted. embroidered IN
gold. in place Of lace; two gold epaulets;
white breeches with small navy buttons
and gilt knee-buckles: white silk stock
ings and shoes with gilt buckles, or plain
white pantaloons and short boots or shoes
and buckles.
The uniforms Of the marines for a long
time and until 1888 was a green coat with
white or bun facings, an undress frock
coat Of the same color, a sword with
white ivory cross hilt and brass scabbard,
and white leather belts. In 1893, Il was
changed. to take effect from July l. Is10
to blue with red facings. Previous to
1880 the sailors wore red vvaistcoats when
in their mastering suit A neat pair OF
stockings and light pumps completed his
full-dress costume
In 1Sl1 George z Badger issued a gen.
erai order regulating the uniform and
dress IN the navy. In which was Included
his celebrated order: The hair Of all
persons belonging TO the navy Is to be
kept short, and no part OF the beard Is to
be worn long. excepting the Whlskers,
which shall not descend more than one
inch below the tip Of the ear, and thence
n line toward the corners OF the
mouth"
The Badger Whiskers."
These were nicknamed "the Badger
whiskers." and caused one officer. who
had a full beard under the chin. but could
raise no hair on the upper part Of his
face, to Willingly remark that his whisk-
ers began Just where the regulations end
ed. and he would have TO be contented
with a smooth face" Fashion, however
proved more powerful than the regula-
ton, and the order was never fully en-
forced. The surgeons full dress and un-
dress Of these regulations had three
stripes. one and a half inches wide. OF
gold lace around the upper part Of the
cuffs. which IN Spanish ports often led to
the surgeons being mistaken for colonies
Chat being the distinctive uniform OF that
grade in the Spanish army, and having
the guard turned out and other hOnOrs
paid them. while their commander. with
three or four buttons on his cuffs. passed
~
origin or cause OF the Introduction Of dis
tinctive bands OF lace on the cuffs Of off,
GERS Of the stan and line OF sll grades.
The uniform prescribed for chaplalns in
the United States navy in $3.50 was "a
plain black coat. vest, and pantaloons. TO
be worn over boots or shoes. or black
breeches, silk stockings with shoes. coat
70 have three black covered buttons IN
der the pocket flaps and on the cuffs
They were not allowed cooked hats.
swords or epaulets, but might wear a
round hat with a rose-formed black silk
cocksde or a blue cloth cap. In 1871 the
chaplain's coat was "to be Of dark blue
cloth. with rolling collar OF black velvet" ="
The same regulation allowed them to
wear cooked hats in full dress and swords
This Uniform did not suit the clerical
gentlemen. FOR IN 1874 Il was modified 10
read ''Chaplains shall wear a black coat.
with a black velvet collar and the navy
button now In use" The same order d.
rected them 20 wear a black silk gown
when performing religious services.
CbapIains Given Freedom.
Two months later the new Secretary.
Mr. Mason. left Il discretionary with them
70 wear the black gown. plain black
coat. or the uniform coat prescribed"
Many changes have since been made In
the chaplains uniform. In 1871 Secretary
Mason ordered the letters p. D." and
M. D., in silver Old English letters.
added 10 the epaulets and shoulder straps
Of medical officers and pursers. These
marks however like the club OF Aescu-
lapius and COTnUCOpid. were thought too
professional and were soon discontinued.
as they led TO endless small witticisms
about Poor Devils" Pony Down. %"
More Drugs and Mad Dog
The introduction Of engineers into the
service caused further changes and addi-
tiOns 10 the uniforms. In 1852 Secretary
Graham issued an elaborate order defining
the naval Uniform fully illustrated with
cOlored plates. These regulations did away
with embroidery and substituted gold lace
for the collars and cuffs Of all the line
officers while Il Was retained on the col
lars and cuffs Of stan officers. In 1856 the
Introduction OF new grades into all
branches Of the navy made q reOrganiza-
ton OF the uniform necessary.
When the rank Of admiral was intro
duced into the navy. Admiral Farragut.
for whom the honor was created. was
consulted as 10 the Uniform, and sug-
gested for his sleeve mark a GOLDEN
br0idered star. with a representation Of
his favorite ship. the Hartford. In silver
in the center HIS wishes were compiled
when there was added TO the cuffs OF the
fun dress a triple row OF embroidered oak
leaves and acorns. which carried the en-
br5idery rearly up 10 his elbow. In 1853 a
modification or these regulations, fully
illustrated, was Issued. and for the first
time a systematic regulation for the en-
brnidery q the sword belts ordered
Caps All Made the same.
The can ornament was also made the
same for all commissioned officers In
November. 1S7S. quite a tempest was
raised by the premature publication OF a
naval general order making changes IN
the uniform. and there was so much feel
ing on the subject that the order was sup
pressed and never issued. A useful service
frOck. trimmed with black braid. was au-
thorized in 1S77. This service Uniform sack
coat was first devised and authorized TO
be worn by the officers Of the Naval
Academy, and was IN 1877 introduced into
the general service
Writing on the subject Of display in
uniforms a well-knOwn writer said The
officers in the first navy were in many
respects different from the present. In
their dress there was but little shozy Of
grandeur They wore small cooked hats.
without lace; hair powdered and curled:
coats with ample skirts and fouI-anchored
buttons. small clothes, hose, and shoes
Their dignity and sternness. when they
aimed at any. was not before their coun-
trymen- but before the enemy. They had
not been bred originally for drawing
room and cOurtly display. but they had no
deficiency in polished circles when called
to the exercise OF their rules and usaEes %