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Show UNIFORMS IN THE NAVY Both the officers and the crews of the older navies used to dress pretty much as they pleased. In Nelson's time an attempt was made :o get the officers arrayed with some sort of system, but the sailors wore whatever they could get hold of. That the dominant colors in dress in the British Brit-ish navy (and resulting in the navies of other countries) were determined by a woman's influence in-fluence Is shown in English records. The Hon. John Forbes, admiral of the fleet, said: "Adverting to the establishment of naval uniforms, uni-forms, I was summoned to attend the duke of IJedford and, being introduced into ;m apartment apart-ment surrounded with various drer-ses, my opinion was asked as to the most appropriate. I said red and blue, as they were our national colors. " 'No,' replied his grace, 'the king (George II.) has determined otherwise, for having seen my duchess riding in the park a few days ago in i habit of blue faced with white the dress took his majesty's fancy, who has appointed it for the uniform of the royal navy.' " While wearing a uniform hims-elf. Nelson was lealous in guarding against further encroachments encroach-ments on the sailor's prerogative in the matter )f dress. About the time of the French revo-ution revo-ution epaulets began to be worn In continental avies; at first only on one shoulder, according i the officer's rank. In 1783 Nelson, while In ranee, wrote to his father: "Tv. o noble English captains are here. They wear fine epaulets, for which I think them great coxcombs. You may suppose I hold them a little cheap for putting on any part of a Frenchman's uniform." It was only a few years after this, however, that Nelson himself was wearing an epaule"t, not only on a single shoulder, but on both. In the United States navy uniforms were prescribed pre-scribed from the outset but with the very wise clause, inserted as a parenthesis, "if they can be procured." By a resolution of the continental board of admiralty captains were to have a coat of blue cloth with red lapels, slashed cuffs, a stand-up collar, fiat yellow buttons, blue breeches and a red waistcoat with yellow lace. Lieutenants were to have a blue coat, red lapels, round cuffs faoed, a stand-up collar, yellow- buttons, blue breeches and a plain red waistcoat. waist-coat. Midshipmen were to have a blue coat with lapels, round cuffs, faced with red, a stand-up stand-up collar, red at the buttons and button-holes, blue breeches and a red waistcoat. Officers of the marines were to have a uniform uni-form consisting of a green coat faced with white, round cuffs, slashed sleeves and pockets with buttons around the cuffs, a silver epaulet on the left shoulder, skirts of the coat turned back (like the uniform of the continental soldier), buttons for the facings, white waistcoat and breeches edged w-lth green, and black gaiters and garters. The marines were to wear green shirts. But It Is highly Improbable that these pre- scribed uniforms were ever worn except Id cases of great ceremony or where the offlcei was sitting for his portrait. The facts in the case seem to be that JohD Paul Jones, Nicholas BIddle, John Barry an other nautical heroes of the revolution achieved their greatness in red or blue fiannel shirts and in any other clothing that came handy; doubt lessly patched by the ship's tailor, not too neat ly, with sail cloth, ly the assistance of a maA line spike and spun yarn. Biaejacket |