Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 20, Number 97, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 August 1899 — THE HERO OF MANILA IN HIS NEW UNIFORM. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

THE HERO OF MANILA IN HIS NEW UNIFORM.

WITH a fine disregard of Admiral Dewey’s possible wishes, the Navy Department, after asking him to prescribe his own unoform, has proceeded to fashion one for him in the interim. Of course the department has not the slightest intention of slighting the admiral, and it has taken the greatest care to forestall his desires, but the fact remains that history may repeat itself and the admiral modify this dress. When Farragut was commissioned an admiral the style of his dress was left to his own choosing, and the modest old gentleman designed something eminently fitting his quiet tastes. So unpretentious was his garb that it left nothing gaudy enough for his immediate junior, and the result was a subsequent order from the department directing him to cover nearly half of his sleeve wtth gold oak leaves. That the old gentleman was indignant is putting it mildly, and, because of his very positive stand, he was allowed to retain his own dress, while his junior gloried in something showier. ‘ The distinctive markings which the department has chosen for Admiral Dewey are, with one minute exception, such as Admiral Farragut chose for himself, and it is thought that this association with his old master of war may be all the more pleasing to Admiral Dewey, whose tastes in such matters are also refined and quiet. It is highly probable that Admiral Dewey will never need but half of the eight uniforms which the new regulations prescribe for him. When calling on the President or some similar dignitary and at general muster on the first Sunday of every month, Admiral Dewey will wear what is termed “special” full dress—the garb, in fact, in which the accompanying cut shows him. This is his very swellest outfit, and consists of a double-breasted coat, with tails lined throughout with white silk serge; trousers, also of navy blue broadcloth, with gold lace down the outer seams, a goldbanded cocked hat, epaulets, sword and full dress sword belt The coat sleeves will be adorned with two two-inch stripes of gold lace with a single oneinch stripe between, and all surmounted by a single star. It is in this star that the distinctive marks differ from Admiral Farragut’s, his star bearing a small frigate embroidered in silver in the center, while Admiral Dewey’s is plain. There will be a broad band of

gold lace around the collar. His epaulets, like his shouMdr straps, shown at the bottom of the picture, will bear four silver stars of five points each, the outer two being superposed upon gold fouled anchors, the anchors being the distinctive marks for an admiral as compared with the four plain stare of a general. The full dress uniform Is to be worn on all other occasions of ceremony, such for instance as In-making the first visit to other officers of flag rank and on social occasions to which officers are invited in their official capacity. The coat of this uniform is like the evening dress of the civilian, and with the exception of the collar and the buttons down the front is adorned lust as the “special” full drew coat is—epaulettes, sword and cocked hat being worn also. On occasions of “ordinary ewe-' mony,” such as in boarding ships of war, in making the first visit in port upon commanding officers, en parades of ceremony with enlisted men under

wear the “dress” uniform. This uniform is a frock coat plain blue or white trousers, cocked hat epaulettes, sword and plain leather belt. The admiral’s belt for this dress is the same as that prescribed for all other officers, and is of black grained leather of not more than two inches in width. The belt plate or buckle is of yellow gilt and consists of a wreath of oak leaves surrounding the naval coat of arms of thirteen stars encircling a spread eagle <hi an anchor. When calling on foreign officers ether than commanding officers, aud on social occasions when frock coats are appropriate, the admiral will wear the foregoing uniform with the exception of sword and belt On all service duty on board ship, and at all times not provided for by the regulations for the foregoing uniforms, the admiral will wear the “service dress” uniform. Two uniforms are set for evening wear and are described' as “A” and “B.” “A” will be worn in the evening on occasions of ceremony to which the admiral may be invited in his official capacity, and “B” will be worn on social occasions to which he may also be invited in his official capacity. “A” uniform consists of an evening dress coat and waistcoat laced trousers, cocked hat epaulettes, sword and full-dress belt worn under the waistcoat while “B” is the same with plain trousers and blue cap. By the time Dewey has provided himself with all the adornments which an admiring government prescribes be will have parted with fully $2,000 of hard-won pay. Half of the clothes he will never wear, but he must keep them on hand for the coming of the unexpected—the bugaboo of official life and the bane of the man whose figure will change.