10/16/2026
Interesting Spanish American War image (1898) of the crew on the on a battleship fixing their uniforms.
NG TAILORS.-There is nothing more interesting to the civilian than what may be described as the domestic side of life on a man-of-war. The natural associations on board are all military. You expect to see the big guns, the stores of ammunitions, the general air of ferocity. But what makes you stop with surprise is the sight of 200 big men on their hands and knees, with scrubbing brushes, soap, and pails of water by their sides, cleaning their canvas hammocks with all the diligence of Normandy peasant woman. It is done well, too, this washing work.
A little farther on are scores of other men seated at long board tables peeling potatoes.
Lower down the deck you come across the ship's tailors - some of them cross legged, professionally mannered with needle and cotton in their hands.
Others with their weather - beaten faces in serious contemplation of their sewing machines. Curious, this spectacle of big handed men used to operating the big monster guns and severe machinery of war spinning around the wheel of a sewing machine! Yet they do excellent work these fighting tailors! Their stitches are small and neat. Their patching irreproachable.
