Willmar tribune., 1900-11-28
HOW g JACK" IS CLOTHED.


from the garb reaching down to the
hips, similar to thesmids dshipman'sjaek-
ct Of to-day, and with sleeves so tight
that to do any work man was com.
PEELED to take it off. It was "built'' on
the most exact admiralty instructions,
and as it has given Jack one of his
popular names, these Instructions may
possibly be of interest. Itwas provided
that it should be of navy blue cloth,
double-breasted, with stand and fall
collar; seven black horn crown and
anchor buttons, ,seven-tenths of an inch
IN diameter, on each side; sleeves suf-
ficiently long to go over duck Or serge
frock, to reach to the hip; one inside
pocket on the left side; an opening at
the cuffs on the seam with two small
black buttons" When, in 1891, this
blue jacket was abolished, Jack was not
sorry, for it cost him no less than 2s
shillings to buy, and the monkey jacket
or overcoat which was substituted for
it is far more useful, though it is only
worn in inclement weather, says the
Royal Magazine. .
The sailors of the queen are invaria-
bly, well and smartly dressed, and their
clothes. are Of fairly uniform pa atrern-
in accordance with the elaborate reg.
ulations which are issued from the ad.
miralty, with illustrations to show how
the various articles are to be made.
These rules descend to SO many minute
details as to be amusing, and if strictly
followed would leave Jack little room
for personal taste. He is told that the
size of his trousers across the leg at
the knee is to be nine to ten inches,
and at the foot ten 10 eleven inches,
whether he be short or tall; "that
they are to be fitted with waistband,
the tightness of which is to be regu-
lated by 8 1acing at the back. which is
to be tied in bow at the upper holes,
the ends being four inches Who that
sees bluejacket in his delightful hat
of white sennit imagines that the au-
thorities strictly enjoin it's exact 6::-
mensions and weight-ten ounces
or that the making Of the white frocl<
which is worn in hot climates for ''re-
view order" with white trousers, sennit
hat, and side arms, is so much an art
as to call for such minute regulations
as these: ITO be made of drill, an in
side breast pocket on right side, with
collar and wristbands of blue jean, the
collar having border of three rows of
three-sixteenths of an inch of white
tape, half an inch apart, and the wrist
bands to be peaked with two rows of
white tape aaongsthe:uppermargin and
one along the lower, with one white
metal "dead-eye button at each of
the wrists" Apart from all carefully
elaborated tailoring regulations, the
admiralty also issues a series OF
"notes" showing the men how to dress,
which are even more detailed than the
rules governing the cut of their gar
ments. For instance, it is essential
that bluejaeket should never forget
that his neckerchief "must be tied be-
hind under the collar, the blight in front
being confined by the strings, which.
having been first tied together, are to
be- tied tightly ina bow over the neck.
erchief, leaving a blight Of it about
three inches long;" the neckerchief>
should thus be firmly secured to the
frock or jumper. "'@ 80 "'
The men of the navy well know that
the smart appearance of the force de-
pends on all the men being dressed
alike, though when Jack gets the
chance he often varies the admiralty
pattern, the captain sometimes wink
ing at such changes if they render the
men smarter. When, however, man
returns to the naval depot ashore, Of
ficers, with measures in hand, proceed
to take stock of him, and he is quickly
put back to the official line.: Some men
hold peculiar views on the cut of their
trousers, and there is nothing more
characteristic than, this garment,
which fops like sails at the feet of some
men. It was Jack, of course, who 20
years ago gave the cockney coster the
idea of the bell-bottom trousers you
may see on Hampstead Heath on bank
holidays. In the matter of clothes,
sailors and soldiers are not treated
alike by the state. The war Office gives
to every soldier: a complete outfit on
joining the force, and he is periodically
supplied with fresh. clothes without
charge. This generosity, however,
must not be interpreted, even in the
case of the soldier, as relieving Tommy
Atkins of all expenditure for clothes;
many men could tell quite another
story. The exact amount of assistance
which Jack receives from the author
tiles can be summed up in few words.
On joining one of the training ships at
Portsmouth, Davenport, or elsewhere,
lad has placed to his credit sum OF
e5 wherewith to secure the clothing
and bedding that is supplied to him at
government rates, and to assist him,
when his period of service as boy is
finished, in completing his kit for sea.
ny the time he goes to sea he will pos
sess great variety of articles worth
about f13 or e IA. If after IL years
service, which is the minimum for sea.
men, he cares to promise to serve for
a further nine years in order to gain a
pension, he is given another sum to-
help him in renewing his kit. '
H. Identifying the Class. -.
81 don't recall seeing you at college:
guess you must be before my time
Possibly, possibly. Who was at the
head Of the faculty when you were
.there?" !. Ss.#s .#ss f.Ss
a '.Um--let me: see-I don't Just recall