HOW "TOMMY ATKINS" LIVES.

Hot Lakes Chronicle, Volume 2, Issue 125, 5 June 1895, Page 4

HOW "TOMMY ATKINS" LIVES.

TJje following letter appears u the Edinburgh Evening Dispatch: 131u, —As you are kiud enough to occasionally inform your readers how things military proceed in and around this district, probably yju may bo good enough to give space to the following example of how " Tom my Atkins" of the Army Service Corps supports the inner man. It is a copy of & week's messing sheet, taken at randon from a system introduced by Major J. Staepole for the benefit of the men of the Army Service Corps companies under his command at Chelsea Barracks. London : Monday.— Breakfast — Tea, bread, butter, fish. Dinner—Roast beef, potatoes, mixed vegetables,and treacle pudding. Tea —Tea, bread and butter. Tuesday.— Breakfast —Tea, bread, butter and brawn. Dinner —Roast beef, potatoes, turnip*, and plum pud. ding. Tea—Tea, broad, butter and jam. Wednesday"; Breakfast Tea, bread, butter, and boiled bam. Dinner —Roast beef, potatoes, cabbage, aad marmalade tart. Tea—Tea, bread and butter. Thursday.—Breakfast—Tea, bread and butter. Dinner—lrish stew, potatoes, and plum pudding. Tea—bread, buttc r and marmalade. Friday.— breakfast Tea, bread, and butter, and sausages. Dinner— Roast pork, cabbage, potatoes, apple sauce and apple tart. Tea—Tea, bread and butter. Saturday.--Breakfast—Tea, bread, and butter, and fish. Dinner—Meat pie, turnips, parsnips, potatoes, and rice pudding. Tea—Tea, bread, butter, and ham. Sunday's diet varies, and is agreed on after the general opinion of the men has been ascertained. In addition, good soup four nights a week is prepared for the men from the benes of the roast meat and other unused material. And, sir, how much do you think it costs " Tommy" per week for the above substantial meals? The large amount of 2s id, or, as "Tommy" puts it id per day. How tho soldier of ten and mora years ago must be surprised at pre> sent-day feeding as compared with the dry bread and tea for breakfast, soup and meat for dinner, from New Year's Day to Hogmanay, and dry bread and tea For evening mea', to which ho was accustomed. He might well ask himself, who profited from the grocery books, etc.. in those times. _ Probably if the above shou'd meet.' the eye of some old veteran he might shed some light on the doings of twenty and more years ago.