Democratic Sentinel, Volume 22, Number 33, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 August 1898 — JACK LIVES WELL. [ARTICLE]

JACK LIVES WELL.

•Oar Sailor Boy Fare Better than Soldiera or Workin«n»en on Land. If thq tnrtft were told, says the wife of a sea captain, I venture to *ay that ninety-nine women out of a hundred would rather see the kitchen and din-ing-room arrangements on board a man-of-war than all the turrets, guns and fighting apparatus that Uncle Sam’s engineers can devise. We all know Just how particular our respective “Johns” and “Williams” and “Alphonsos” are at home, and we are consumed with curiosity to know how they are going to get on when things are not ordered with reference to their own special tastes. The sailors on board our American ships live much better than the workingmen on land, or our soldiers, for that matter. The cook is usually a Japanese and a good man at his business. When in port the sailors have an abundance of fresh meat and vegetables, and when at sea for any length of time canned vegetables relieve the terrors of the old-time regime of "salt horse” and “plum dufT.” The officers have a caterer and steward and a special cook, whose ministrations are worthy of a French chef. The galley is up to date in all its appointments. A large bote! range, with big ovens, fills all one end of the galley. There are great copper soup boilers and coffee urns and rows of bright copper saucepans and pots that fill the visiting women with envy. The cupboards are as orderly and neat as can be imagined, for therh is no slipshod housekeeping on board of a man-of-war. The china and glass used at the officers’ mess are usually delicate and dainty, while the silver shines as silver does not always shine on shore. The sailor has heavier ware, b.ut even that is uniformly better than his soldier brother of the ranks, who thanks Providence for a tin can.