Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-09-25
THE FADED COAT OF BLUE.
What is Done With that and the Shoes Dis.
carded BY Togus Vets.

How many people know, or pause tC
think, what becomes of the cast of,
| clothing of the 200 veterans at the Ma.
tional Home? Not many, we venture
to say. Doubtless there are those who
think that the coats, hats, boots and
| other articles of apparel, when the,
have outlived their usefulness, arc
either burned up or find their way int
the rag bags of the army of Israelitt
peddlers who traverse the country
ever on the lookout for just such ma
terial. But no, their impression is
wrong. Uncle Sam has a system re
lating to such things that is all his
own, and as he provides the clothing
for his wards he also finds means to
dispose of it to advantage after it has
become useless to them.
Among the many departments at the
perhaps, to speak more correctly, a
clothing exchange, where is done an
nually more business than in any dozen
clothing stores on the Kennebec. This
store is always packed with goods,yan
the goods are always in style. Perhaps
some one may say that the style at
Togus doesn't change, but that doesn't
make any difference-the goods are al
ways in style. There the veteran can
go and get anything he wants-turn in
his old clothes and come out just as
good as new.
But they can't do this at any time.
Two days in each week are assigned
| for these transformations, Thursday
being designated tissue day." when the
veteran can enter the store in the
| chrysalis state. and emerge as a full
| fledged butterfly. Friday he can't d.
this, for Friday is Exchange day.
| On Friday, if he has a thin place III
| the seat of his pants. or has defaced his
| coat or vest, as vets sometimes will
he can exchange the garment for some
| thing better.
The old clothing that is turned in is
| thoroughly overhauled, and if worthy
of it, is cleaned and repaired, to be
exchanged with some member for gar
ments that are in worse condition
Otherwise it is condemned and sold as
old rags. 1t finds ready sale, ans
one shoddy mill in Massachusetts uses
immense quantities of it. All under
| clothing, stockings, ETC., must bt
washed before turning it in, otherwise
it will not be accepted. Many article:
are repaired after being turned in, ant
the trade in second hand clothing i:
about as brisk as that in the new
article.
Everything goes in as rags, hats in
cluded, except buttons and shoes. TIL,
buttons are cut from the coats ant
vests and sent back to the factory a
Dayton, where they are re-burnishe.
and used again.
Where do the shoes go? Well, ont
would not guess in a million years
Those shoes, worn all out Of shape, 81
that the old vets is literally almost "o1
his uppers," are sold for ten cents :
pair to an enterprising individual ava!
out in Oklahoma, and he pays thu
freight. The buyer revamps them, art
finds ready customers in the Indians
and squatters of that region. Their
have been shipped to him already from
the Home 1000 pairs. and still he Il
calling for more.
The clothing furnished by the gov
eminent is Of good quality and has tn
staying qualities. The ordinary blous
is a good blue cloth and durable, Will
the dress coat is of really fine clotn
both in texture and color. The averag
veteran takes considerable pride i!
keeping his clothes clean, and his shoe
in condition, and their trim appearance
is always noticeable, either at home
on our streets.