The Washington herald., 1917-11-07
What to Send to Sammy
Over-the-Water.
BY LUCILLE CAMERON.


you'll just have to get the gift in
the mail for that boy in khaki who
is possibly stationed in some muddy
first-line trench waiting for the order
to "go over the top"
And there are just loads of ap-
propriate things. Let us think. hard
as this exercise is.
OF course, this Sammy of yours
likes good things to eat, so no mat
ter what else you send him, ship
along something to tickle his pal
ate. But be sure to send cakes or
candy in moisture-proof tin contain
ers, else they will probably be stale
or hard by the time they reach him.
Large supply Here.
There are delicious fruit cakes and
boxes of assorted chocolates and
crystallized fruit already packed in
round tin boxes for sale. not to men,
ton big glass jars packed full of gay
candies that are a delight to the eye
and contain enough for him to treat
the company. Then there are tid-bit
boxes fixed up with an assortment of
mints. caramels. jujubes. crystalliZed
ginger. chewing gum, and the
makins'." Sometimes the troops may
run short of meat and be forced to
subsist on concentrated rations. A
| few cans of timed meat will be
| priced in emergencies OF this sort.
Boxes OF figs and dates would also
doubtless be appreciated.
When he comes back (We don't
dare let ourselves think that he
| mayn't, he'll like to have some kind
of a record of his doings over there.
So why not send a camera. one of
the pocket kind? And don't forget to
send along plenty of film. Then there
are the little line-a-day diaries, with
| just enough room for two or three
! sentences for each day. Or you may
send him a regular diary so that he
| can write out all the thrilling in
cidents.
Wrist watches Popular.
Some of the big street shops are
! showing wonderful wrist watches in
square or octaGonal shapes of gold
| or silver, mounted on leather or
strongly woven khaki straps. Be sure
that you get an unbreakable and non
inflammable crystal If you buy one
of these.
Any man would greet a gold or
silver cigarette case or a gold mount
ed amber cigarette holder with much
cordiality. Or you might send flask
OF silver and alligator skin. Though
what he'd fill it with, I don't know.
II your particular soldier is COM
missioned, an extra set of shoulder
emblems or an officers leather belt,
would always come in well. Field
glasses will also be welcome to an
frl,t Ill % ha
United States Signal Service being
especially desirable.
Then there are the innumerable
kinds OF comfort kits. 1t is well to
select one, however, that contains
/ hair, tooth and nail brushes, comb,
! steel trench mirror, soap box, shaw
| ing stick. talcum powder. tooth paste,
cold cream, towels and several small
| boxes to hold miscellaneous knick-
knacks. You can get these, kits in
khaki colored canvas lined with gay
| plaids.
Needle and Thread Gifts.
| Sometimes Sammy will have to sew
| button or so on, at which crucial
| time a small housewife containing big
needles, coarse thread and plenty of
assorted buttons will be appreciated.
Two young ladies, Army Anne and
Navy Nancy" who carry these ar
| ticles and an abundance of plain and
safety pins also, are being shown by
Woodward &c Lothrop. They are very
brightly dressed, and while they win
add to the gayety of trench life you
need not be Jealous of them.
When your boy goes over the top
he may be able to help himself or a
, wounded comrade very effectively #
| he has a first-aid packet containing
assorted bandages, adhesive plaster,
absorbent cotton and antiseptic.
Khaki cases, with compartments
duly labeled hosiery" "handker-
chiefs" and SO on, are new and very
practical. And, by the way, I saw
some very goodlooking handkerchiefs
of khaki tinted linen. with silk cross
bars.
Very novel was a well-known brand
of safety razors and blades in a sill
yer case with the American eagle
and shield of arms embossed on the
cover.
Writing materials in a case OF the
omnipresent khaki were also seen.
Books on War.
II you want to send a book to your
| soldier which treats of military SUBJ
jects, there are scores to select from.
Some of the standard ones are the
! Officers Manual, Trench Warfare,
/: Small Arms Firing Manual. Elements
OF Field Artillery. Or you may send
Sammy a dictionary of rapid-fire
French phrases. If you don't mind his
learning to parlez vous Francais.
Still, you know it's possible that
the boy who is living In the end