The Brattleboro reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1907-1912, 1911-01-27
REGIMENTAL coLoRs.
Changes in Army Uniforms Not AL
ways Popular.


We are not yet told what color will b.
substituted for the red OF French sol
diers' trousers, but it is to be something
in the way OF khaki. The government ha.
been long in making up its mind, feelng
a little anxious about the effect of suci
a change. In 1903 we saw companies Of
infantry, a squadron OF cavalry and bat
terry paraded in light gray, with SLOUGH
hats, at the review on the national fete
with the ayowed purpose of testing public
opinion. Ii was almost unanimous, frank.
ly expressed, and the authorities pereeiv-
ed that they had better wait while
Before 1870 the abolition OF the paBtalon
garance would have been almost as effect.
i've as the abolition OF the tricolor TO
make "the chassepots to go off of them
| selves. But France grows more serious
year by year. Appeals to warlike glory
do not find much hearing now, but, on
the other hand, consideration for the pri-
vate soldier has become much more gen
eral since none escape CONSUMPTION. And
the public understands that if battles are
| to be won he must be made as nconspicu-
Gus as possible. So the decree has been
issued at last
| The disappearance of the familiar blue
coat and red trousers will leave our Eng
lish scarlet the last survivor of the old
national eolors in Europe. Russia, in
deed, maintains a regiment of the guard
clad in the uniform OF Alexander the
First, and Prussia has one arrayed in
older fashion still-that OF Frederick the
Great. In each case it used to be the
rule that every soldier should have
''turn-up" nose-the Muscovite copying
the Teuton in this respect, doubtless.
Veterans grumble that the interesting
custom is abandoned now. Perhaps that
variety of nose was commoner in former
times. But these regiments are curiosi-
ties, renowned and glorious, but uncom-
monty ugly. The Austrian white was
seen for the last time at the great review
in 1878, when the Viennese turned out
princes, generals, and | think officers in
command of regiments are still privileged
to wear it.
There is no need to make a conscript
army attractive in appearance. Tradi- |
ton and sentiment demand feathers and
spanges and glitter, but the pressure of
economy would be irresistible even if it |
were not backed by prudence. A soldier
must creep nowadays, not prance as OF
yore. Our scarlet holds its own with diff
ticulty when the estimates mount every
year; it will not survive compulsory serv-
think, however, that science
ure is carried, and standing armies will
be dissolved. Red seems natural to
the British soldier, but it is not very old.
There was no uniform until Henry VIII.
issued an ordinance commanding that all
his foot soldiers should wear blue coats
trimmed with red and breeches with one
leg red and one blue. But the London
always wore white, apparent
y, even ''to their long close, hose and
shoes" One would have liked to see that
grand review of 1889, described at length
~ Harrison, when the lord mayor and al
lermen in white armor, with plumed hats
yerstudded breastplates, and the rest, led
5000 archers pikemen, musqueteers, and
rtillery, all snow-white from top to toe.
Until Henry VIII. asserted the royal
supremacy, noblemen commissioned to
aise forces for the crown dressed them
S they pleased-in their own livery, as a
ule, and they returned to this practice on
ither side when the civil war broke out.
1ampden's regiment was green. Lord
'rookes purple, Essex's orange, Mande-
lilies blue, and so forth It was the men -
ew model, who put stop to this con-
lsion. Why they chose red for the Parli-
mentary army does not appear, but
romwell had already allotted it to his
ronsides. An old tradition explains his
hoice; he found great stock of red
9th at Cambridge, and Communicated it.
newspaper of 1916 says: "The men are
ID coats all, distinguished by the sew
'al facings of their coats-Venice red
reeches grey, or some good colour" So
IT roval scarlet was borrowed from the
supper.
1t would not be safe to mention in all
that green is not the ina
onar' color of Ireland-there are enthu-
asts who could not restrain their feel
gs or their fists at such blasphemy But
urke, himself an Irishman. whose au-
ority is questioned only by the irrever-
IT, declares with some warmth: at is
rtain that azure, and azure only, has
,en the color of ireland since the Eng
h conquest, and it is equally clear that
cen was not much in vogue with the
eat Ccltic.Irish houses from which the
ngs of ireland were chosen" A reader