Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1896-05-29
WEAR NO ovERooATs.
Letter-Carriers, Conductors and
Other Glasses DO Without Them.

H-~t%S' w - NOftAoNACi o'N
Other Glasses Do Without Them.
Man is clothes wearing animal,
says Carlyle in his "Sartor Resar-
tus, but his description of these
garments would have been curtailed
had certain class of men, who never
wear overcoats, come within the linz
its of his observation, says the New
York World. There are hundreds of
men in this city who do not wear
overcoats at any time during the
year.
Prominent among them are the
letter-carriers. They do not wear
overcoats because it is against the
rulesof the post Office department.
A uniform of gray was designed for
them and they have to wear it the
year round. OF course, the summer
uniform is of lighter weight than
those they wear during the winter
months. The only exception is the
rubber coat, which is considered
part of the uniform, and is allowed
on rainy days. The writer asked a
letter-carrier if he did not feel the
need of an overcoat.
ut would be little more comfort
able just for to-day" he said, "but
this weather won't last and so I'll
get through all right without one.
The first winter was in the depart
ment it was terrible for me and /
thought l would freeze, but I've got
used to being without one now and
don't mind the cold weather at all. I"
Another great class of workers
seldom seen wearing overcoats are
the messenger boys. No overcoat is
included in their uniform, either, but
there are no rules prohibiting them
from wearing these garments if they
desire. At times one may see a
messenger with coat over his uni
form, but he is usually new boy or
delicate chap, who cannot stand
the cold, for the majority of the mes
sengers do not care to wear coats.
Since the introduction of the new
uniforms in the STRENGTHENING de-
partment the absence of overcoats
on street sweepers is much noticed.
Prior to this change these men pre-
sented motley sight during the
winter months. On cold days they
wrapped themselves in all sorts of
ragged and tattered coats, and even
tied bagging about their feet in order
to keep warm. Although the uni
form of white duck does not present
a very comfortable aspect, the men
keep warm by wearing heavy short
coats and a pair or two of heavy
trousers underneath, and if they
stick to their work properly they
will never feel the need of a bulky
overcoat.
: Elevated railroad guards, as a
class, do not wear overcoats, al
though one is included in the uni
form. They usually bundle up very
snugly underneath theirshort jacket,
and as they are allowed to pass their
time between stations inside the cars,
they do not find an overcoat at all
necessary to their comfort. Few of
them resort to the overcoat except
ing in very stormy weather.
Sailors never wear overcoats, and,
more than that, they never bundle
UP around their necks. 1t is rare to
see a sailor with the collar of his pea
jacket turned up around his neck.
AS a rule they walk along in the
fiercest breeze with nearly one-fourth
of their chests barred, and, as class,
they are free from colds and diseases
of the lungs.
Many health experts have argued
about the use of overcoats, and the
consensus of opinion is that people
wrap up too much in winter time.
Many men can afford o~ercoats who
do not wear them except during
zero weather. They claim that over
coat wearing is habit and not only
unnecessary but detrimental to
health. A writer in this city has
not worn an overcoat in five years,
and he has not had a cold during
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