Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 261, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 November 1918 — CLOTHES OF OUR SAILOR LADDIES [ARTICLE]

CLOTHES OF OUR SAILOR LADDIES

Apparel Is Supplied to Face All Kinds of WeAther. . CLING TO BLACK KERCHIEFS Jackies Must Know How to Care for Their Clothing and Do Their Own Laundry Work if Necv essary. (From the Committee on Public Information, Washington, D. C.) Shifting seas and changing dimes have made the sailor man familiar with every aspect of the combat with weather. Trained to face nature in the open, he is ready for her vagaries, whether they be of the inlandlike peacefulness or the storm-tossed waves of an ocean in all its fury. He krffiws how to dress to meet every condition, and the navy not only ha's , him sufficiently clad, but has the clothes in his sea bag and ready for use when he needs them. The “gob” likes the cut of his dothes and he has a roll and jauntiness about him at all times that proclaims his calling. Fashions come and go and orders may change the habiliments of the soldier, but not so with the man of the sea. His are eternally blue, the pattern never varies and tradition still holds her own In their’making. Years ago in the days of wooden sailing ships when seamen had to climb masts and dangle from the stretched-out ends of yardarms to do their rudest reefing, convenience and custom made necessary the bell-shaped lower ends of the trousers. And time and manner of construction of ships have never wrought a change. The sailor, too, clings to his black silk handkerchief, draped around his low-necked blouse tied across his breast. Latter days have made obsolete the white lanyard that went about his neck, but the silken ’kerchief still remains. Tradition tells that this handkerchief, thus Worn, originated with the British tar, for the blacks once worn in this fashion by men of the English navy as a mark of mourning for Lord Nelson have never been removed. And the sailor has to give a good deal of attention to this part of his costume. The handkerchief is square and four times the usual size. Early morning or just before the call for shore leave is sounded there is heard on shipboard a flapping that sounds like waves striking the sides of the ship. This happens when Jack is getting the wrinkles out of his neckwear. The handkerchief is stretched out and, a man taking a good hold on either side, it is given an up-and-down shaking until it is smooth and glossy. He then folds it in a three-cornered way and, putting it about his neck, ties the ends in a knot that only a real sailorman knows. Fussy About His Hats. The sailor is also just a trifle fussy about his hats, and he has three of them. No one has exactly understood the balance a seaman can get with one of the circular pancake caps he perches at almost any angle on his head. This cap is ornamented with the band bearing the name of his ship or station or simply the gilded inscription “U. S. Navy,” and he is always buying a new one, for the Jack who is alleged to have a sweetheart in every port must have a band for every one of them as a souvenir and a sentimental reminder for the girl he leaves behind himJ The sailor also has a knitted cap for winter wear, one that can be pulled down over his ears td cover nearly all of his sac he needs for deck work, for the continuous watch from the ship’s rail for the sneaking submarine or to shield him from the crow’s nest. But of them all it is his little white hat that he loves the most. With the same skill and equal nonchalance he can perch this on his head at any angle, always with the appearance of just about to tumble off but never falling. This hat he can wash and from the top there is a little stricg, he calls a “stop” so that he can hang it out on wash day. When a boy tosses off his home clothes for the last time he is given a complete outfit by the navy. Every bit of It is “regulation.” He must know just how to fold and store away each bit according to set and immovable rules, and each piece must have his name marked on it with indelible ink. It must always be scrupulously clean and neat. Some' of the ships have a laundry, and if not he must wash it himself. There are also ship’s tailors, but he must, nevertheless, know how to sew, to darn and to mend. Here is’-just what a sailor’s wardrobe includes: Overshirt, two undress jumpers, dress jumper, three white undress jumpers, blue trousers, four white trousers, dungarees (overalls), jersey overcoat, rain clothes, two flannel shirts, two each light and heavy undershirts, two each light and heavy drawers, one blue cap, two white hats, watch cap, two suits of pajamas, jackknife, leggings, neckerchief, gloves, four pair socks, two pairs shoes, rubber boots, mattress, two mattress covers, shoe brush and blacking, pair blankets, towels, pair gymnasium shoes. ■ • Quite a trousseau for the young man now wedded to the sea. Once a week he must unpack his sea bag, unlash

his hammock and open up ids ditty bag and, spreading all his dress possessions out on deck, submit to a scrutinizing inspection. Jack gets his clothes from the navy storekeeper, whether in port or at sea. The service maintains factories where are made the blue and white uniforms and the close-fitting and . warm peajacket overcoat which he wears In winter. At this season of the year he also wears a jersey or sweater, which is sometimes gottep from the storekeeper and just as often is a gift from some organization or the handiwork of some dear girl. More Clothes Were Provided. War has made necessary additions to the dress of the sailor. Duty in the open ocean or the icy waters of the North sett or in the storm surfs of the coast patrol has called for additional and heavier protection. All of this has been supplied to every man in active service, and what is more, the garments were ready and had been issued to the men before they were needed. Recently on a very cold day every station, training camp and every ship was asked if their men were clothed to meet the severe weather, and the answer brought back the cheering word that all were supplied. All of the men of the navy operating .during' the war under conditions where there will be more than ordinary exposufe have been supplied with specially designed winter clothing in addition to that which every man is required to have. The additional articles in this special outfit are two heavy woolen undershirts, two extraheavy woolen underdrawers, two pairs of heavy woolen socks, one blanket overshirt with hood, one pair woolen mittens, one pair of heavy arctics, one pair of heavy leather sea boots. These outfits have been supplied to the entire deck forces of battleships and large cruisers, colliers and other vessels of train and to transports and to the entire crews of destroyers, mine sweepers’, patrol boats, and submarine chasers. It is interesting to note that these outfits, complete and ready for use, were on hand for issue long before needed. The blanket overshirt is a remarkable piece of protective wearing appareL Made of heavy wbol, it completely covers the body and is worn over the other clothing, while an attached hood of the same material gtoes over the head. These suits are made especially for the men on submarines. Over all of this is worn a weatherproof suit which also has a hood. The heavy arctics are issued to men on all ships other than destroyers, and these are worn ovfer ordinary shoes. For men on destroyers heavy sea boots are issued. The clothing is inspected at least once each quarter. The men of the navy, it will be seen, have every protection against the cold and the ice of the sea and land. As Admiral Samuel McGowan, chief of the bureau of supplies and accounts, remarked, in regard to the winter outfit woi;n by deck crews on exposed duty: “If a sailor had on any more clothes than he is now wearing he couldn’t walk.”