Evening Republican, Volume 19, Number 235, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 October 1915 — YANKEE TARS ASK NIGHTIES [ARTICLE]

YANKEE TARS ASK NIGHTIES

70,000 Perfectly Good Suits of Pajamas Are Scornfully Rejected by Sailors. Washington. The “old-fashioned man who wears a nightshirt,” long sought by newspaper humorists, has been found in large numbers in the United States navy. The tars refuse to wear pajamas, and the navy department is therefore “stuck” with 70,000 suits, which will be offered at auction. Two years ago orders were issued that pajamas be provided for enlisted men, for it was assumed that this garb would soon become very popular. Something like 100,000 pairs were purchased, and the sailors were informed that they could draw them whenever they liked. For a time there was no demand, but finally some of the men discovered a use for the garments. About 30,000 pairs were distributed. Then ft was found that the seamen were using the pajamas as underwear. Others wore them while coaling ships.