Evening Republican, Volume 16, Number 40, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 February 1912 — RANK OF OFFICERS’ WIVES [ARTICLE]

RANK OF OFFICERS’ WIVES

It Was Observed When the Women Journeyed to the Fleet-—Were Divided Into Sets. San Francisco. —Rank was observed among the wives of the officers of the Pacific fleet on their recent journey aboard the Wilhelmina to Honolulu to« join their husbands, according to the officers of the Matson liner. The better halves of some had their own little whioL parties, while the spouses of officers of lower grade were just as exclusive at their afternoon teas. The party of navy women was head- 5 ed by the wife of Rear Admiral Chauncey M. Thomas, commander-in-chief of the Pacific fleet, who showed her graciousness in a little incident observed by the other travelers on board the Wilhelmina. , Among the passengers was a slip of a girl, the bride of a water tender of one of the big war ships. She hailed from the middle west and It ffl» her first experience ab sea. She looked upon the big world with open-eyed awe and joyful anticipation of a country girl on her first trip from the old farm “down home.” Therefore she knew nothing of the formalities observed in circles where gold braid prevails. Learning that Mrs. Thomas, like herself, had a husband on board one of the vessels in the faraway waters, she rushed up to the spouse of the rear admiral and gushed happily: “I’m awfully glad to meet you. My husband Is an officer on the boats, too.” “Yes, he’s a water tender,’’ she continued proudly. “And what is your husband?” “He Is the commander of the fleet,** Mrs. Thomas smiled kindly. “Oh, that is very nice. 1 hope they’re friends,” said the water tender’s wife. ’ -• Mrs. Thomas and the bride were friends on the voyage > to the islands, say the Wilhelmina’s officers.