The Washington times., 1901-07-07
A BRITISH OFFICERS PAY.
Numerous Expenses to Meet on Two
Dollars Per Day.

Five shillings and three pence is the
daily pay of British officer of the in
fantry when he first joins. When he
rises-to the rank of lieutenant he draws
IS cd Government gives him a lodging
with q table and two chairs in it, a
meagrc allowance of Goals and candles
or gas: and, having done this, expects
him. on his pay, to eiotfre and feed him
self and supply himself with furniture.
There are certain expenses which a
young officer is. by regulation. bound TO
incur He must join the regimental mess.
and is charged for his dinner, whether
he eats it or not. except during periods
of leave. He contributes a months pay
to the mess fund on joining, and eight
days pay annually His daily messing,
if he practices strict economy. comes to
IS. Cd. or Is. day 1t may be stated. as
rule, mess funds are in a state of de-
pIetion, owing to the expense OF carriage
OF mess property from one station to an
other
Government makes no allowance for a
certain weight of baggage, but the Off
GERS pay for the overplus, and as a mess
journeys from one station to another with
its chairs and carpets and earthenware
for everyday use and china for guest
nights, it's pots and pans. its knives and
forks, and perhaps it's mess table, the
bill presented for overweight is always a
big one.
The contract made between a civilian
messman and the mess president specifies
generally an elaborate daily dinner with
two entrees. game when in season, and
dessert as courses in it; certain special
luxuries, such as turkey and ham, being
added on guest nights This appears to
be very extravagant but when the mess
president does the catering and the dinner
is less elaborate there is little if any saw
ing in expense.
The purchase and up-keep of uniform is
of course, unavoidable; but the constant
changes ef patterns and material are a
ca6se not only of expense but of irrita-
ton, and the old service joke that the War
Office and military tailors are in league
Is often half believed to be a truth. Why
cannot we have uniforms that are made
TO stay?" It is an unfortunate fact that
after years of fidgety alterations the uni
form of today worn by British officers is
more expensive and more uncomfortable
than that worn by foreign armies. Should
officers be expected to wear uniform-as
they certainly ought to expect when on
leave or indulgtng in sport or games
three innovations are necessary, If the OIL
der is not TO be looked on as a grievance.
Payment of a soldiers servant at los
month. and clothing him in livery.
washing bill of 15s payment, avera ging
&1 a month, for the entertainment of regf-
mental guests, are other unavoidable ex-
penses a subaltern must incur, and a sub
scriptton to the regimental rifle club,
though not officially insisted on, is prac-
tically given by order
BY the time these expenses have been
met the 5S Sd or Is Sd have vanished.
Some aid the Government might afford
the officer without unduly swelling the
estimates. The plate and silver, best
china, pictures, trophies which the Off
pride in. and under any circumstances
would carry from station to station; but
the pots and pans, the carpets. the ante
room armChairS, the card tables the
ware for daily use, have no special SEN
timent attaching to them, and If the Of
ficerS on changing stations went from one
mess quarter furnished and equipped by
the Government into another similarly
prepared the convenience of the arrange
ment and the saving of expense to the
mess fund would make amends for the
first shock of eating lunch of a plate
without the regimental crest on it,
What would be a boon TO the mess
would also be a boon to the Individual of
fIcer. If the Government supplies him
with a table and chairs it might extend
its liberality and give him a bedstead.
washstand, bath, and chest of drawers,
so that a roll of bedding. his poFtman
teau. and camp equipment would be all
the baggage he would change quarters
with
such expenses as subscriptions TO the
officers and the company cricket clubs.
20 the regimental football club, 10 the
athletic club and perhaps TO the polo
club. are not absolutely necessary. but
il makes a young officer very miserable
to have to say mo" when asked to take
his share in the less expensive amuse
ments of the regiment--Philadelph