The National tribune., 1902-02-20

pound Of meat, generally beef, and in ad-
dItl0n three pence per day for q messing
allowance. With this he must purchase
his tea, sugar, butter, extra bread, cur
rants, raisins, flour, vegetables and milk.
10 those unacquainted with the service
this would seem an impOssibility, and yet
there is enough and to spare.
Each man in every company has a sep
arate messing book, page of which is
used each day. This shows his financial
condition up to date and list of articles
needed, the price being posted inside the
cover. The food is procured from the
Quartermastcr, "Old Bloak," by the Or
derly Corporal of the day, who is held
responsible. The meat and tea are cooked
in large vessels by the cook, "Old Dough, ~
and divided equally among the men.
The soldiers day commences at rev.
eille's mOurnful note, which is sounded in
the Barrack Square by the trumpeter gen
orally at $50 a. m; the time varies, how
ever, with the season and station. Every
man is supposed to have arisen by its
end, as the call is q long one. Should,
however, he take his chances for 40 winks
longer, let him beware, lest he be found
out and punished.
The call is thus described by Tommy:
Ding, dong, get up, you orderly man;
Don't you hear the Orderly Sergeant
calling?
Get up and scrub the room, or the guard
house is your doom,
And you will go before the Colonel in the
morning"
The Orderly, Cooks Mate" is de.
tailed to act as housewife for the day,
and on him devOlves the responsibility of
the cleanliness of the barrack room, serv-
ing of meals, as well as for incidentals
The time from revei,le to 6:45 is spent
by Tommy in washing, shaving, cleaning
his room, buttons and arms. At 6:45 the
first drill of the day takes place. This
is generally a physical drill, monkey mo.
tions," so called, on account of the GU
rious motions it entails. or it may be
doubling around the barrack square,
this Tommy dislikes exceedingly.
He is in good condition to welcome the
bugle call, "COme to the cook-house door
boys: come to the cOok-houSe door" which
is sounded at 7:45, and means breakfast
This consists of tea and bread, with extras
by paying for them. After it is over each
man turns to and scrubs tables and forms
outside, and floors inside, each man do
ing his own work and no shirking, for il
there is one thing that Tommy won't
stand it is this.
The principal parade of the day is at
9:45; once n week this is in the form OF
"rOute marching" 1t must be attended
with equipment "spick and span." With
one or two exceptions, the British sol
dier's dinner hour the world over is at
1880 The second parade takes place in
the afternoon. Tea is at 3:45, and unless
confined 70 barracks the time afterwards
is TOmmy's, to do with as he chooses.
He is never at n loss for amusement.
With some of the men it consists of an
evening spent at the "wet canteen"-tha
regimental public house-of which there
is one in every barrack. A large crowd
p1f tfrh
much is being done in the way of counter
attractions to try to induce men to stay
away, and the amount of druI4kenness is
steadily decreasing, it will be long time,
il ever, before it ceases.
There is also inside barracks, the recrea-
ton room, with the coffee canteen adjoin-
ing, where may be procured for small
sum of money temperance drinks and light
refreshments. A dry canteen" is found
in every barracks; groceries are kept
here.
Should other attractions fail, Tommy
enjoys athletic sports, in which he is an
expert.
The attractions outside are his sweet
hearts, who are always waiting, and of
whom he always has plenty. 1t is Won
lerful the time he consumes in his adorn-
ment His 'quiff," or curl, of which he
is very proud, is now allowed to escape
from under his cap, where it is placed
by regulation while on parade, else it will
he lost; his cap rests one inch from the
eft ear and the left eye.
AT $50 first post" gun fire. All men
not out on passes must answer to their
names at roll call. At 1915 last post. "
The soldiers day is done, and every man
when entering must report name and time
Of his return. This is recorded for future
examination.
The barrack room, Tommy's only
home, is barren place, devoid of every
thing unnecessary. The iron cots are
arranged against the wall. During the
daytime they are closed, the mattresses,
blankets, etc, being folded up. rolled and
strapped. At regulation time the beds are
opened and made. Should man, how
ever, have done his 'sentry co." he is en-
titled to attend to them beforehand, and
take his needed rest. Upon shelf over
head are his clothes, neatly folded; his
"kit" is placed by the side of his bed.
The rooms are heated by steam or crate.
Every man in the army has two de-