Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1897-12-09
POCKETS A NECESSITY.
without Them Man Would BE UnabI
to Get Along I'm Life,


to Get Along i'm Life.
The evolution of the pocket is not a
matter of exact historical record, but
there is reason to believe that when
medieval man emerged from skirts and
put on trousers pockets became a fea-
ture of the latter garments. That he
could not have had them before there
Is evidence to show, for do not women
declare, as with one voice, that there is
no place for pockets in skirts?
Perhaps man began with one pocket
and discovered later that he might just
as well have two, so that he could go
about with both hands, instead Of one,
inserted therein. The watch pocket
was, of course, a later development, and
the pistol pocket comparatively re-
cent addition, but pockets he had and
has, and with them the proud satisfac-
ton not only of having place in which
to put his hands, but of having place
to deposit such miscellany as pocket
knife, small change, corkscrew, shoe
buttoner, plug tobacco, buttons, ivory
chips and other articles necessary to his
comfort and convenience. It is true
that he has other pockets in other gar
ments; these have their special uses.
He could get along without them, and
does at times, but without his trousers
pockets he would be lost man. He re-
lies upon them in emergencies. By
thrusting his hands into them he is en-
abled to brace up his moral courage;
the knowledge that they are an ever
ready receptacle for numerous useful
= -, -
strength.
Indeed, it is said that the superiority
of man over woman is proved by his
pockets. However this may be, the
masculine prediction for them is
manifested at very early age. 1t is
very unhappy small boy whose moth
er has considered it unnecessary that
his first pair of trousers shall have
pockets. He realizes at once that he is
deprived of one of the chief privileges
and prerogatives of mankind and re-
fuses to be comforted. He would al
most as soon go back to petticOats as to
wear pants" without pockets. But
when he gets the pockets joy is uncon-
fined. He swells visibly, he struts, he
whistles, he rams his hands to the
looks at himself proudly, feeling that
he is equipped with the distinctive
badge of manhood. And he begins tic
put things in them-a proceeding that
never ceases while life lasts. AS a boy
he may not deposit a greater number OF
articles in his pockets than he does as
a man, but he is perhaps less discreet
in his choice in these earlier years.
Mothers are given to complaint when
they extract chewing gum, string, nails,
toads and other live stock, "rocks" of
various sizes, pencils, knives, apples,
candy and the conglomerate assort-
ment of curios whose possession makes
life worth living to the small owner.
but perhaps the objections emphasize
feminine inferiority.
1t seems, however, that some re-
straint might properly be placed on the
boy with the pocket, now that frag-
ments of dynamite are likely to find a
place in his collection. The youngster
mentioned in current dispatches as hav-
ing collided with his desk with the re.
suit of receiving damage from the eX-
plosion of a bit of dynamite he had
casually gathered up and added to
his treasures is an instance of the
dangers of unrestricted freedom in
pockets. So long as the youthful
fancy is confined to lizards, bugs,
fishing worms and like unpleasant,
but really harmless, objects, pro-
test is needless, but the youthful
collector should somehow be made to
understand that explosives should not
be added to the pocket museum. How
he is to be broken of his propensity to
seize upon every curious-looking object
and put it in his pocket for future refer
ence is not clear, but unless this is done
a new terror will henceforth be added
to the life of the long-suffering mother
who makes nightly inspection of her
small sons garments from motives OF
prudence. The pocket is great insti-
tuition, but it may be overworked.-In'
dianapolis Journal.