The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1907-09-19
A WARSHIP'S CUISINE


;9'5%s5%Y%s5#s5%s# s5#ss'EssE'.. sE'so%'s'E
vice, seasoned with untiring zeal for
the kind of mixture Uncle Sam has to
find before he appoints his paymaster.
When he is loading up for an eight
weeks cruise no wonder his brow is
knotted. Making out the next meals
order while in port is one thing. Sim
ply a confab with his steward as to
whether it shall be 500 pounds of fish
of $50 pounds of pork and a barrel and
a half of beans.
BY the ships regulations every man
is allowed daily stipend of one and
three-quarters pounds of fresh meat.
For the long voyage however, it's
different matter. The stipend must be
reduced and more salt meat consumed.
The ships cold storage capacity is TO-
600 pounds
Here is where the paymaster's real
opportunity of generalship enters
Everything his men will need for the
next sixty days must be planned to
meet that capacity. And meantime
there is ice to be manufactured, with
out infringement of Uncle Sans pro-
hibition against any form of ammonia
plant aboard there is some 10000 gal
Ions of distilled water to be purchased
Git is cheaper to buy this in port than
to have it distilled aboard) and some
5000 pounds of meat to be inspected.
No hotel kitchen could be more up to
date in its equipment. Electricity plays
no slight role. There is electricity to
heat the irons in the up-to-date laundry
for the officers clothes.
Electricity turns grinders for the
Hamburg steak. Electricity mixes the
dough in the ships bakery, where 1000
loaves are baked daily. Electricity, too,
heats the coffee in the great brass cal
drons lin construction exactly like the
French drip coffee pot on your own
table, madam, only each of these holds
$50 gallons.)
Nor is any hygienic device overlook
ed. The paymaster is responsible for
the health of his men. The very cups
in their water tank must be germ
proof After drinking each man is re-
quired to rinse his cup in a special
tank filled with anti-septic solution.
When under the weather he is per-
mitted to use only such medicines as
are supplied by the ships doctor. Even
the contents of the canteen, his own
private supply shop where he buys
his luXuries, are carefully inspected by
the paymaster, with a keen view to ex-
Guiding liquors or any other article
deemed injurious to the health of his
men.
The man-o'-war seaman must be a
jack of all trades. Very early in his
career he learns to sew on his own
buttons-in some cases even makes his
own clothes. For the sclumsier finger
ed there is the ships tailor.
Uncle Sans price for the material
and fashioning of the regulation navy
blue sailor suit is 81. Once the uni
form is provided, every man is held
strictly accountable for the condition
of his wardrobe. The more enterpris-
ing of the boys have their own sewing
machines, and very deftly do they
learn to ply them.
Cleanliness is another maritime vir-
tue early instilled Friday morning
is general wash day-Occasion for
swabbing down decks and scrubbing
of clothes and ships canvas. 1t might
seem to be a case of water, water,
everywhere" but as a matter of fact,
fresh water for cleaning purposes is
the scarcest article aboard.
At sea a bucket day is each mans
allowance, doled out to him by the
master-at-arms. On that stipend he
must keep his clothes, himself and the
contents of his locker immaculate or
stand in danger of a reprimand or the
curtailment of his privilege of going
ashore.
And so his life goes. At every point
hedged about with red tape and routine
but within those limits as care-free
and happy-go-lucky as the dancing
waves about him.
Should there be war tomOrrow-all
the better. That means action. AS to
any national issues, why bother his
head about them? The jack tar is
hired to do Uncle Sans bidding. In
return Uncle Sam does his thinking
for him.-Home Magazine.
but l know that if l took charge OF
80 .-,,11 I.,,;I1 49, rog1 To y