Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 172, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 August 1917 — THE SOLDIER’S PERSONAL APPEARANCE. [ARTICLE]

THE SOLDIER’S PERSONAL APPEARANCE.

One of the most important phases of military discipline is that of the personal appearance. A soldier in camp or in barracks should keep himself spick and span. He should scrub himself in a daily shower, If showers are available, shave Infallibly, keep his uniform brushed and his shoes polished. Naturally drill and other military duties, even in camp, do not enable him tQ remain altogether immaculate, for that would interfere with his work. But, while the day of the “kid-glove soldier” is passed, the constant attention to cleanliness will overcome the grime which attaches to the daily routine and will give the general appearance of neatness. Dust which has settled on the uniform tn a drill has a look which differs distinctly from a large and indelible stain. In the same way, faces and hands which are normally clean reveal this fact even if remporffrtry sotted ; whereas. faces and hands which are habitually dirty cannot give a wholly clean impression even when washed. The habit of cleanliness in the soldier will become second nature, If he Is not an instinctive sloven. He will find that he is not comfortable in the regimental street or on the parade ground unless he Is neat —wholly asidefrom the facftfiat his officers will require IL He will soon realize that an imshaved man in camp looks even worse than in "an office —that a man whose hair is not kept closely cut has a more ragged appearance in uniform than In civilian’s clothes. When outside of quarters or his immediate company street, the soldier’s uniform should at all times be buttoned. The buttons are a part of the uniform, and as such, should be correctly utilized. For a man to go out Into the regimental street or parade ground with his coat hanging open and bls hands in his pockets, or even one or two buttons unfastened, like front teeth missing from the mouth, is inexcusable. A man should go forth only when scrupulously buttoned andsfioes securely tied, leggings correctly adjusted and fastened. His hands should fall at his side in any easy, soldierly fashion, and he should not disarrange

the appearance of his uniform by ramming them Into his pockets; He should not wear his hat on the side of his head, but straight. (If the weather is warm, the prescribed Uniform will allow a man to appear in his shirt, with or without a black necktie, according to whether he is on field Service.) The soldier’s appearance when he meets an officer is important not only in the matter of clothes, but in the manner of his salute. He should never salute an officer with a pipe, cigar, or cigarette In his mouth. He should remove the pipe or cigar, and, while holding It inconspicuously at his side with the left hand, salute properly with the right. He should never chew gum while saluting. He should never salute with one hand in his pocket. In fact, whenever a soldier meetS an officer and salutes, he should feel that he Is under inspection, as, to tell the truth, he Is, for if there is a detail about his uniform or deportment which is irregular, the sharp eyes of the officeY will detect it.