Omaha daily bee., 1910-04-10

ing this Injunction will be liable to be re-
neved from duty.
This reused the navy "widovs.' as they
are called, to the highest pitch OF resent
ment, and they revolted. The wife Of an
officer serving in Alaska took up her
residence at Sitka, where her husbands
vessel often stopped. II was a plain viola
ton OF the secretary's regulation, and the
department asked the officer for an ex-
PLANTATION. His reply was substantially as
follows:
MY wife will not go home. I have asked
her to do so. and she refused. I ordered
her home and she would not not go. Please
advise what further steps | shall take to
comply with the wishes OF the department.
The archives Of the department unfortu-
nately do not tell the sequel Of this inter-
esting incident.
Similar instances we're reported from
various parts Of the world. Secretary
Chandler made an effort to enforce his
unusual order by suspending from duty
three officers on the Asiatic station.
Finally, however, William c. whitney, who
succeeded Mr.. Chandler as secretary Of the
navy, realized the hopelessness OF enforcing
the order. The navy women were victorious
and the obnoxious order was revoked on
June 30, 1855.
Navy Widows Round the World.
In recent years, however. there hasn't
been much friction Of this sort. When the
battleship fleet made its world cruise many
navy widows followed it and participated
with their husbands in the festivities at the
various ports. Practically all OF them were
at Old Point Comfort on December l6, 1857.
to watch with unconcealed regret the big
war vessels disappearing in the distant
haze. A few days later when rumors came
from the fleet by wireless that il would re-
turn to the Atlantic ocean by way of the
orient and the Suez canal there was more
Juggling at the heartstrlngs. The navy
women were well represented on the Pa
cific coast when the fleet had completed
its cruise around South America. When
the battleships stopped on their cruise
across the Pacific the navy women We're
there, too. At Toxic they donned the native
costumes and greeted their husbands even
more cordially than the Japanese. At Glib
raltar, where the fleet made its last stop
before crossing the Atlantic, a small
crowd OF navy women waved farewell to
the departing vessels.
One Wife's strategy.
Several years ago the wife of a promi-
nent naval officer thought she would like
to spend some time abroad Without hei
husbands knowledge she used her influ.
ence to have him assigned to duty as nava.
attache at one of the American embassies
in Europe. Finally the orders were issued
and she told her husband how hard She
had worked to obtain such a desirable as.
slgnment for him. Unlike most naval Off.
GERS, he had been able to save a small
competence out Of his salary, but he was
by no means wealthy enough for a socia
campaign required of naval attaches al
foreign capitals. He demonstrated with
her, but she was too enamored with the
social side of Eavy life TO give up her am.
billion. After one winter abroad the finan.
cial phase of the question began to appea
10 her more strongly as their savings grad.
ually dwindled. She realized the tremend
Gus cost az attaining her hobby. Her re
sourcefulness, however, was equal to th'
occasion, and after considerable cabling t.
friends in Washington her husband wa
transferred TO a less expensive post o
duty.
There is a large colony of navy widows
in Washington, whose husbands are serv
ing in different parts of the world, Will,
they do not shirk their household dutie
they seem to have plenty of time for rec
~reation. Many own automobiles and ar
expert chauffeurs. Others go in for tenni
and golf. There are others who prefe
bridge whist and euchre. With all thei
amusements and forms of recreation, how
ever, they ali live in expectation Of tn
day when their husbands will have shor
duty in some habitable part Of the globe.