What to Give A Soldier.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 4 May 1915, Page 2

What to Give A Soldier.

• ■ ■ "All day long," said the Colonel's wife, "I am answering the question 'What is the best present for a trooper?' and my reply sounds as if I were entering for the 'Sister Susie' competition, for it consists of 'Socks, shirts, soap and cigarettes' (says a writer in the Sydney "Morning Herald"). No matter how (apparently) well supplied the soldier is with socks he can aways do with more and more pairs. Hand-knitted feet on machineknitted legs are most popular and serviceable. It saves time to get the tops of the socks done on a knitting machine, but, as of course everybody knows by this time the feet must be hand-knitted. The little packet of boric powder which Red Cross workers are placing inside the socks will be found useful. Extra shirts never come amiss, and, of course, the cigarette is now acknowledged to be almost as indispensable to the soldier's comforts. "No; the list does not include many fancy articles does it? But the less outside luggage each man is given the better. In some troopships very little is allowed. Soldiers themselves, writing from the front have said that they do not require lots of the 'perfectly useless things' that are sent. Wristlet watches have had great vogue, and, although some objections have been made to soldiers wearing them on the score of their being dangerous in case a bullet smashes the glass which might penetrate the flesh of the wrist, still most of the men like to have a watch. These are not necessarily expensive. Presentation watches—a wristlet watch being the most favoured form of the presentation—are often made of gunmetal, and are found excellent timekeepers and very durable. But the one thing needful, which no man should be without, is a little hussif, made of oilcloth or wash leather, or some other waterproof material. it must be absolutely waterproof or all the good of the hussif is lost. The hussif should contain a few big needles—short darners are the best—with eyes that cannot be missed. The eye should be so large that the camel, would find it quite easy to get through; some strpng thread cut into skeins, of the proper length; a tailor's thimble; buttons, black and white, sewn on the hussif so that they cannot fall out and get lost; a pair of sharp nail scissors and a little lump of cobbler's wax. This article should roll up small. For a present that costs little, but is worth much to him who receives it. the hussif takes first place.'