Uniforms for Men

MR. GEORGE’S wholesale condemnation of the female sex in regard to dress, in the Atlantic Monthly for November, interested me very much. He imputes the same motives, desires, and greed to us all, in all walks of life. I should like to ask him if he has ever contemplated the Service wife.

He says that he would any day exchange his lounge suit for the uniform of a guardsman. In the light of this statement it is interesting to compare the comparative expenditures on dress of army officers and their wives. Take for example the pay of a junior lieutenant in our United States Cavalry —■ $1700 a year. He is required to have the following uniforms (and with constant wear in the saddle these do not last as a civilian’s business suit does): —

Two olive-drab uniforms: one heavy weight, $50, and one light weight, $45. Olive-drab overcoat, $75, and cap, $4. Two pairs russet boots, $20 each; one pair black boots, $25. Blue uniform, $50, and cap, $12. Mess jacket, $40. Cape, $50. Full dress, $100. Social full dress, $100.

All compulsory! Also there are numberless incidentals, and the officer must own a few civilian suits as well. There is, too, a constant change in regulations. For instance, last year’s cap will not do for this year; and recently the army gave up khaki for olive drab. Gold lace shoulder-knots cost $15, and are easily tarnished and must be replaced. Will there be much left over to give the Army wife a chance to dress extravagantly?

I ask Mr. George to visit any army post. He will find there happy women simply dressed, content to see their lords — well-groomed and gorgeous chanticleers — strutting in uniforms.