New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-11-21
JACK TAR'S THANKSGIVING.
AN ELABORATE DINNER FOR THE MEN
ON UNCLE SANS WARSHIPS.
HOW THEY GET THE MONEY TO PAY FOR IT
COMMITTING RATIONs TO SWELL
THE "sLUsH FUND"

THE "sLUsH FUND"
Thanksgiving is one Of the gala days Of the
year fer the crews Of the warships They cele-
brate 1t in the good old-fashioned style, which
means that the dinner is made the chief incl
dent About this all the interest Of the holiday
gathers. and the feast is noyed in anticipation,
in realization and in "reminiscences The
pense of the extras which supplement the ord-
nary rations on that occasion is borne entirely
by the men. Ordinarily Jack is a VIGOROUSLY
improvident creature who sees no reason for
worrying himself about what he is to eat to-
morrow so long as he has enough for to-day
but for special celebrations like Thanksgiving,
Christmas and Fourth of July, he makes lit
tie unusual effort and saves something to put
into the common treasury for the occasion.
His comrades are generous. however, and if, as
sometimes happens, his pockets are light when
the contributions are being taken up, he is not
allowed to miss the feast but may have his
share charged up against him, to be paid wien
convenient.
one way in which the men save their money
Is by committing" their rations. The amount
OF food furnished by the Government is ex-
tremely liberal, that the daily ration provided
for each sailor Is more than he eat under
ordinary circumstances. The value of daily
ration is put at 30 cents. A common practice
Is for ten men TO draw ratons for only seven.
III the mess consists Of thirty men. the value
OF the committed rations would thus amount to
81 40 a day. This is multiplied. by the time pay
day comes around. to a considerable sum, and
is paid back 10 the men with their wages Part
or all OF it. at q time like THANKSGIVING Is de-
voted to buying the luxuries Of the dinner The
fund kept or raised for this purpose has always
been known as the "sush fund" The term
dates back to the early days of the Navy, when
the men were allowed to the pork drip
pings and other grease, odd ends Of rope and
all kinds Of waste about the ship. and sell them
to junk dealers for whatever they could get.
"Sush" the general name given to the
waste stuff. and the money which it brought
in was the 'slush fund" This disposition OF
the refuse is now taken out of the mems hands,
but they still continue to call their dinner fund
by its ancient title
A Thanksgiving dinner among the men-of-
wars men is a festivity well worth seeing. Moth
ing is done by halves. and the messroom decora-
tons and the table furnishings would do credit
to many more pretentious assembly. The
messrooms below are brightly lighted up. and
their usually bare walls are gayly draped with
American flags. Instead Of the everyday enamel
linen II the ship is in port. the celebration can
be much more elaborate. because the men are
then able TO buy beg or borrow from their
friends on shore any number Of ornamental
articles with which TO beautify the tables. Vases
OF flowers are artstcally arranged about. and
great cake with a fanciful superstructure OF
icing IL a favorite adornment. Enormous tur-
keys stand watch at each end Of the tables. at
the beginning Of the feast. but they become fear
fully wounded early in the action. and their
places are supplied later by relays of mince
and pumpkin pies "Spuds.' all sailors call
potatoes, are plenty. affordng ample proof OF
Jacks traditional fondness for this vegetable.
Besides tea and coffee. the only drink is beer.
The men are allowed to have this not only on
special occasions. by the way. but at any time
when they have money to pay for it at the gem
eral canteen At dinner time on almost any day
a few Of the men may be seen with open bot
ties OF beer before their places at the table.
When an American vessel Is in a foreign port
there is II possible. even greater enthusiasm in
celebrating the National holidays. for the men
are proud OF their country and its institutions.
and are delighted to be able TO show of any OF
its customs to foreigners.
There Is at present an unusually large number
OF ships at the Brooklyn Navy Yard. ard
portionate jollity. While the scarlet meal-pen-
nant is flying from tne various masts, outsiders
may imagine pretty accurately. though they
cannot see the good cheer that the messroom Is
affording.