The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-11-29

There are not many holidays on
board a man-of-war, SO that when one
does come around IL is appreciated by
all aboard at it's full worth. Thanks
giving is one of the gala days of the
year on board the vessels carrying Un-
Gle Sans flag. The jackies celebrate
il i'm the good old fashioned style. which :,
means that the dinner Is the chief fea-
ture of the Jollihcatiop. 5.en. II asr-
The extra expense attached TO tbs
layout with which the ordinary raiions
are supplemented .is all borne by the
men themselves! f .e
Ordinarily Jack is a notorously inn
prOvident creature who sees no reason
for worrying himself about what he Is
TO eat tomorrow so long as he has
enough for today. but for special ceie-
brations like Thanksgiving, Christmas
( and Fourth of July he makes a little
( unusual effort and saves something to
put into the common treasury for the
occasion. His comrades are generous,
however, and II, as sometimes happens,
his pockets are light when the con-
tributions are being taken up, he is not
allowed 10 miss the feast, but may have
his share charged up against him. 70
be paid when convenient.
One way by which the men save mon
ey is by committing their rations. The
government is extremely liberal in the
amount Of food furnished. so that the
daily ration provided for each sailor is
more than he can eat under ordinary
circumstances. The value of a daily
ration is put down as 30 cents. When
men want to save for some occasion
like Thanksgiving, 1t is common
practice for ten to draw rations for
only seven If the mess consists OF 80
| men, the value Of the commuted ra-
tions would thus amount 10 S2.I0 per
day. This is multiplied 20 a considerable
sum by the time pay day comes around
and Is used for extra luxuries for the
holiday dinner.
When sailors go in for anything, they
seldom do 1t by halves. and a Thanks
giving dinner on board an American
warship is well worth seeing. The dec
orations of the messroom and tables
would often do credit TO a much more
: pretentious assembly. American fags
, and bunting Of all sorts form the main
part of the embellishments. Instead OF
the enamel cloth. such as Ia used Tor
ordinary days. spotless linen ~ iald on
J the board. and if the ship is in port the
! celebration can be made very elaborate
for i'm that case the men can buy or
borrow many ornaments 10 beaauiy the
tables and flowers can be had too.
Enormous turkeys stand watch at
each end Of the tables at the beginning
of the feast, but they Become fearfuiiy
) wounded early in the action, and their
places are supplied later by relays OK
mince and pumpkin pies. Spuds, as
all sailors call potatoes, are plenty, ar
fording ample proof of Jacks tradi-
tional fondness for this vegetable. be-
sides tea and coffee, the only drink IS
beer. The men are allowed TO nave TINS
not only on special occasions. by the
way. but at any time when they have
money to pay for II at the general can
teen. At dinner time on almost any
day a few of the men may be seen Win
open bottles of beer before their places
at the table.
When an American ship Is III lor-
eign port on Thanksgiving or other
holiday. there is even greater ehthu-
siasm than when at home, for the men
are proud Of their country and are ahA-
ious 10 show their love of their native
land and its institutions before the Tor
! ..s=