The Washington herald., 1910-04-21
Bob Burdette on Soldier Clothes


A blithesome note Of criticism comes
from distant Honolulu in the form OF an
article contributed 10 a Los Angeles paper
by Robert j. Burdette. the former Bob"
Of the once famous Burlington Hawk-Eye.
and the present retired Rev. Robert j.. Of
the Pacific Coast. He is inspired to write
Of the enlisted men OF the army and
navy by the spectacle Of the presence Of
soldiers and sailors at the Hawaiian port.
and he does it with the style OF keen.
discriminating, and philosophic humor
which distinguished his writings thirty
or more years ago in the Iowa town
which became known then through his
newspaper
Mr.. Burdette has no fault to find with
the uniform OF the salormen. who are
trim and spick and span In a dress which.
he says, has become almost hallowed.
and certainly haloed. with the romance
and associations Of generations OF sailors
and history and art" It is different. he
finds, with the soldier, who from the
days Of the old continentals, has been
badgered by military and civilian tailors
He goes on:
"One can readily believe that an Eng
lish tailor designed the khaki which now
incloses but does not cIothe the form Of
the United States infanuyman. II fits
like IL. The man who wears Il looks as
military and soldierly as a tramp. His
trousers are cross between the riding
trousers Of an English fox hunter and
the trunks OF a pugillst. His Jacket. with
It's clumsy ht-it does look like a fit-and
tapped pockets, was copied with certain
notifications. not improvements. from
the old Pennsylvania 'wamus which was
made by the mother of the family with
the economical design Of having it fit all
the male members Of the family without
alteration. The khaki uniform may be
possibly is-ideal for service But a man
must hate to wear il when he isn't dig
ging at a fOrtihcaton or grooming a
horse 1t isn't even a livery It's a suit.
or. rather, a 'nonsuit'
Whenever the commentator meets a
soldier in the khaki uniforn-which IS
not really uniform With itself-he lifts
his hat in respectful salutation and his
heart throbs as ne says to himself: There
is a man who loves his country with a
love that is worship.
For many a man, who would walk into
the cannOn's mouth for the sake Of truth.
Of Righteousness and great principle. II
he felt that he was dressed for the char
acter and looked the part will falter at
the doors of a fashionable hotel dining
room, back out and go hungry rather than
follow the head waiter down the long
room wearing a necktie his sister en-
. broidered for him. with his hair combed
by his wife, and a pair OF trousers made
by a seamstress who goes out and does
family sewing by the day. Next to a
good conscience and profound religious
! convictions. there is nothing that puts a
CHESTER attitude on a man. that better
squares his shoulders and nerves his soul
for brave deeds, than welI-seIected and
perfectly fitting clothes. We commend
/ this great truth to the attention of the
I United States government"
| It is a fact that the sailorman has a
uniform which has the basis Of utility
and is a means Of identification the world
over. It Is also true that the army uni
! form has been the sport OF the ingenious
tailor, although It is also the result of
profound military thought in things sar-
/ torial. II is, however, practical uniform
which possesses a quality of great value
to the wearer in that it is the least con-
spicuous garb the military body has
ever worn. TG. that extent. it does not
make the soldier the deadly target for the
enemy characteristic of the glitterine
dress Of the brass-buttoned. bIue-cIad
soldier Of the past That is a considera-
/ tion which really counts for more than
faultlessness Of attire. Criticism might
more properly be directed against the
regulations which require army officers
to maintain expensive official habiiiment.
a part of which IS purely ornamental with
an excess of show that well-nigh impov-
erishes an officer WITHOUT enhancing. IN
any degree. military efficiency. At the
same time, Mr.. Burdette's amiable ex-
pletive will be read with appreciation.