The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1907-09-19

How many housewives would like
to have to cater for a family for 80
cents a head a day? That's exactly the
sum it costs Uncle Sam, and he has
something like 10000 bluejackets to
feed at his man-of-war table.
Even on ordinary days a sailor sits
down to fare no civilian need sniff
at. Eggs, boiled potatoes, bread and
butter and coffee form his breakfast
at one morning Perhaps the next he
has sausages and corn bread.
Roast veal with gravy, boiled pota-
toes, succotash, bread and butter, gin
gerbread and coffee is an ordinary din
ner menu, while fried pork chops, bread
and butter, apple sauce and tea is the
bill of fare submitted by the steward
to the paymaster for the same days
evening meal.
That the fare agrees with him is at
tested by his hospital record. Seldom
more than five to ten men are sick at
time from the ships crew of $50
Not all seamen are brought up near
the sea. Many of them are inland boys
who run away from home for the life
on the brine The books of the VIr-
ginia, for instance, bear this out with
record that of the $50 sailors 800
have enlisted from states as far inland
as Idaho and Wisconsin.
Every minute Of the day aboard ship
is lived according to rule. At $50
o'clock in the morning the sailor is
aroused by the call Of three bells
Thirty minutes is allowed him for LASH
ing his hammock, etc. After that he is
| allowed to take it down only by special
permission. There is no sneaking 1t
off for seductive little maps in the day.
His breakfast is served at $50 O'Clock
five bells. Twelve seamen mess at one
table, one of their own number receiv-
ing an extra stipend of SIS monthly from
Uncle Sam for waiting on his COM
rades.
This assignment is generally made
| in rotation Jack tars have been known
to come to blows in their zeal to Sc
cure it, Then, again, when stationed
in warmer chimes, it was not always
easy to find men willing to oficiate.
Uncle Sam sets seven tables in ac-
cordance with his rules Of class DIS
tinction, which are as fixed and I'M
swerving as the laws of the Modes and
Persians. There is, first, admiraPs
mess, at which the head officer is sery-
ed in solitary state. Second, Captains
mess, at which the presiding officer en-
joys the same lonely distinction. Third
wardroOm officers, or jollification mess,
so called for the good times enjoyed by
the tableful of commissioned officers
below the rank of captain
Fourth, the junior officers mess, con-
sisting of midshipmen, the young grad
uares of Annapolis, who, having been
educated at Uncle Sans expense, are
now getting their first maritime ex-
| perience. Fifth, the chief petty Off
GERS mess, who, by pull, special ability
or act of prowess, have raised them
selves from the enlisted ranks. Seventh
and last but not least, is the general or
mess table where the lusty appetities
of the rank and file are assuaged.
Uncle Sans officers want the fat of
the land and supply it from their own
purses. By special clubbing ar
rangements among themselves an Off
GERS mess is provided at a cost to
each officer of $50 a month. Even a
colored chef is retained.
His souffies and his salads are true
works of art The key of the wine
chest he guards with jealous care. But
all this is a matter of reckoning be-
tween him and the officers. uncle Sam
enters not at all.
Uncle Sans head housekeeper, the
paymaster, indeed, has quite enough
on his mind trying to keep nearly a
thousand lusty men satisfied with their
grub and at the same time keep his bill
down to the satisfaction of the navy
department auditor at Washington. 1t
is no light undertaking.
The paymaster in truth, must be q
man of rare parts, and is rightly es'
teemed one of the ablest and most
honored officers in the service. Take
the qualities needed to make a sue
cessful hotel man. Add to them those
to make the popular leader. Throw in
intense pride and loyalty to the ser
-