The Parker post., 1912-04-13
FEEDING THE NAVY
Uncle Sans Sailors Are Best
Fed in the World.
Even Without Chicken, Which Has
Disappeared From the Menu, the
Food Given Jackies Is Fit for
an Epicure.


more than $4,000 a year. With what
is left, however, the American sailor
man remains by far the best fed OF all
seamen atioat Salt horse and hard
tack" have long been meaningless
terms in the navy of the United
States Those long gone cruises In
the old sailing ships across the Pa
citic, through the Mediterranean and
round the Horn, sometimes meant
three months between ports. In mod
ern swift steam driven craft a naval
cruise seldom means so much as
three weeks between ports. Even the
eggs of the wardrOOm and the cap
tain's cabin were fearsOme thing at
eight in the morning, after a ship had
been six or eight weeks out, and the
old Bowery tale of the solicitous col
ored waiter, who said to the guest de-
manding poached eggs, Boss, you bet
tab hab dem aigs scrambled; dem
aigs look a heap bettah scrambled;
fac is, boss, dem aigs amt ve'y
fresh," had it's humorous appeal to
the officer of forty years ago or fifty
years ago, and even in more recent
times
good deal of the food that had
to be accepted in the wardroOm OF
the cid navy would be promptly re-
jected in the forecastle of the new.
According to the theory and practice
of the navy to1ay the sailor is quite
as much the ward of the nation as
the Indian ever was. Strict regula-
tiOns prescribe his diet, and the ex
ecutive officer and his subaIterns live
up to such regulations with conscien-
tiOus cars. All holidays and Sundays
are occasions for feasts in the fore
castle, and any complaint as to the
quality or quantity of the food re-
ceives prompt and considerate atten-
tion. Scientific specialists in conjunc-
tion with practically experienced Off
GERS of the navy have studied the
question of the sailors diet with min
utest care. 1t is known just what
foods may safely be taken aboard in
hermetically sealed containers, and
how long they may be expected to re-
main in wholesome condition. The
proper proportions OF meat to vegeta-
bles and of various kinds of each has
been carefully studied, and the navy
is still watching the effect OF new
combinations upon the health and Ell
ticiency of the sailor. inspection OF
the sailors food is a thing of daily
routine When the waiter from the
cooks gallery comes on deck at early
morning with a platter containing a
served to the men, the officer OF the
deck tastes something of each article.
and if he feels bit peckish after his
lonely tour OF duty, he sometimes
makes a full meal of the sample,
and sends his compliments to the
cook with the certificate that the food
Is what it should be. If he finds any
thing to criticise he does it without
hesitation. and should the defect be
serious he would order a substitute
breakfast for the men. AS a matter
of fact the breakfast thus provided is
good enough for anybody and far bet
ter than most folk ashore are accus-
toned to eat
Admiral Edward Vernon, popularity
known as Old Grog, because OF his
grogram breeches, or possibly his foul
weather cloak OF grogram, was the
patron saint not only of the British
tar, but of the American, for he it was
who introduced into the British navy
about 1745 the grog ration OF spirits
and water Lawrence Washington,
who served under Admiral Vernon in
the unsuccessful attack upon the
Spanish American city OF Cartagena
n 1741, returned home to call his
patrimony on the Potomac Mount
Vernon in honor OF the man who in
vented grog. The United States navy.
in forswearing Great Britain and all
her works, made an exception in favor
of grog, and it was regularly served
to the American sailor from a tub i'll
front of the mast within the memory
water grog and three water grog, so
named for the proportion OF the dilut
ing fluid, which was sometimes d
more dangerous liquid than that il
was intended to mollify IN due course
the grog rations in the American navy
was commuted for increased pay, and
now no hard liquor is served TO the
forecastle except upon the surgeon
and the man caugn.
spirits aboard ship is sent
to the dungeon and placed upon ex-
ceedingly low diet
Tobacco for smoking and chewing
s provided for the sailors of the navy
n vast quantities The government
buys tobacco of excellent quality at
he lowest possible rate. So excel
ent is the sailors tobacco that a good
many Off buy it for their own use |
PUBLIC STUDYING AGRICULTURAL