The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-06-19
SOLDIERS, AND SAILORS, FARE.
Regulation Ratioss or Salt Meat. Hardtack ana
Renna Neat In the Long Run.

Regulation Ratious or Salt Meat. EIardtack and
Beans Beat In the LonE Fup.
81 was pleased by tho truth and good sense
Of q recent article in THE Sun under the title,
Virtues of Army Fare " said q man who has
been both soldier and sailor, and whose pro-
fossion OF civil engineer has carried him into tho
widest regions OF North and South America.
''There was not said.in 1t a word too strong in
praise OF pork and beans. The Maine lum-
bermon, who, in the palmy days Of their calling.
before foreign labor came into the backwoods.
were probably the finest class OF men mentally
and physically that ever worked with their
hands, knew the virtues of pork and beans.
Three times q day they ate them. baked in q
pot buried beneath the embers o. tho camp
fire, from November, when they went into Tho
woods, until the logs had been driven down the
rivers to the mill booms, about the first Of June
and those who worked through the summer
as raftsmen and mill mel ate them all tho
year round. These men were the healthicst,
hardest, most energetic class Of wOrkingmen
that the world has seen, and they gave II good
account Of themselves on land and sea during
the civil war. As enlisted men, or working in
the forests of tho Pine Tree State. they did not
co, iplain of their. fare, or fuss about fresh
meat and vegetables, unless, indeed. in the
woods the excitement Of killing q deer went
with the getting of venison steaks.
What 40 you prefer to. cat when you have
G WishI' I asted Of ave. a Veteran iam6erman. now a
Ham and eggs and sour pickles. was his
answer. Il can take them every meal. for o
good while before l get enough OF them
In all Of Spanish. speaking North America:
Panama, the staple food OF tho natives Is fri
joles. a black bean which %softens readily In
cooking, Friiolos are StewOd With pork d;.b lN I'd:
counterpart Of the American baked pork and
beans. The experience OF these southern peoples,
,-~.N - -h1rN l-A nta~ n AZ ann ha0
in in'S Centuries determined to their satisfsction
that beans cooked with meat or fat Is q salts
Then, as to the bareback and salt meat,
which by the yellow Journals and by letters OF
discontinued privates are represented as hard
fare. When an enlisted man has once accepted
the situation and become in reality a soldier or
sailor, tnere is no other ration. except beans.
that he can live on so long contcntedly, and eat
ever with a relish. A tin cup Of tea, a piece Of
salt beef, and two or three bareback ts a supper
quit the service and is living in comparative
luxury with the choice Of whatever the civil Ian
markets afford. Captains Of merchant, ships
| crews on fresh meats and bread, poultry. and
vegetables, which arc worry cheap there. After
fesffA an @0n Ions for t salt p Me fsSMs 81 they Sf e soa'e
back 10 their appetites when, with the sailing OF
the ship hip on mor blue so, mater and The .ei Hll S,scaiI sV Of T srs
dealt out to them. An invnlided sailor whom |
visited in the Calcutta Marine Hospital begged
piece OF boiled salt beef and some ship biqcuit.
of so.called delicacies he wanted none. AS in the
case OF the Maine lumbermen. the sailors ideal
of table luxury on shore Is ham and Gigs and
pickles-and plenty OF 'spuds.. or potatoes.
"A ration which should be introduced in the
army Is Chilli Colorado pronounced colorowl.
the red Depper pod which forms the seasoning
of every Spanish American dish, save duiceS.
or sweets. between New Mexico and Cape
Horn, and iS prepared as e sauce for meats and
are appetizing. stimulating. and highly con-
ducive, to health in n hot and malarious climate.
To our. troops campaigning In Cuba and the
Philippines the issuance of such a ration would
be Invaluable, and the effects upon their health
and spirits would be likely TO shorten. and might
even determine the results Of. q campaign"