Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1898-01-14
POCKETS A NECESSITY.
without Them Man Would lie Unable
10 Get Along In 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 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, later development, and
the pistol pocket comparatively re-
cent addition, but pockets he had and
has, and with them the proud satisfac-
tion not only of having place in which
to put his hands, but of having place
10 deposit such miscellany as a pocket
knife, small change, corkscrcw, shoe
buttoner, plug tobacco, buttons, ivory
chips and other articles necessary to his
comfort and convenience. 1t 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 upAiis moral courage;
the knowledge that they are an ever
ready receptacle for numerous useful
possessions is in itself source OF
strength.
Indeed, 1t 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
a very unhappy small boy whose moth
er has considered 1t 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. lie swells visibly, struts, hi
whistles, he rams his hanos to the
, depths of the little receptacles anc
, looks at himself proudly, feeling that
he is equipped with the distinctive
[ badge of manhood. And he begins t
: put things in them-a proceeding tha
8 never ceases while life lasts. As bo!
he may not deposit greater number o
e articles In his pockets than he does al
:, man, but he is perhaps less discree
$ in his choice in these earlier years
Mothers are given to complaint whei
they extract chewing gum, string, nails
r toads and other live stock, "rocks" o
|, various sizes, pencils, knives, apples
l. candy and the conglomerate assert
y ment of curios whose possession make
/. life worth living to the small owner
i but perhaps the objections emphasiz
feminine inferiority,
1t seems, however, that some re
straint might properly be placed on tn
boy with the pocket, now that frae
ments of dynamite are likely to find
place in his collection. The youngste
mentioned in current dispatches as ha'
ing collided with his desk with the n
suit Of receiving damage from the e.
plosion of bit of dynamite he ha
casually gathered up and added
his treasures is an instance of tf
dangers of unrestricted freedom
pockets. So long as the youthf'
fancy Is confined to lizards, bug
fishing worms and like unpleasan
but really harmless, objects, pr
test is needless, but the youthf'
collector should somehow be made
understand that explosives should n
be added to the pocket museum. Ho
= he is to be broken Of his propensity
seize upon every curious-looking obje
and put it In his pocket for future refe
h ence is not clear, but unless this is do
n a new terror will henceforth be add
nd to the life Of the long-suffering moth
as who makes nightly inspection of h
r. small sons garments from motives
prudence. The pocket is great ins
he tuition, but it may be overworked.-l
dianapolis Journal.