SUITABLE ARTICLES AS GIFTS.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 11103, 23 October 1901, Page 7

SUITABLE ARTICLES AS GIFTS.

I An officer who has returned from service in South Africa kindly sends us the following notes as to the things most likely to be welcome, to our men at the front: — "Soap is not issued as a ration, and is always in request, both for washing clothes and men. "Pipe-light«rs—Matches are not issued or obtainable, and I have seen 2s 6d given for a small box of wooden matches. Matches could riot well b9 stpt unless they were tiie wooden safety matches, as waoc matches melt with the heat. If some pipolrghters could ba found that are inexhaustible, they would be invariable. On one march we had to rely almost solely on Corporal Foster's burning glass, and when the sun was obscured had to fall back on the cordite in tne cartridges. ■ "Writing tablets.—The books put in the parcel 'for our boys' in connection • with " "The Press" More Men Fund,' when the 3rd' Contingent sailed, were eagerly Bought for, and were very suitable. "Socles.: —These can be got on issue, bufe only occasionally, and cheap socks that can be worn, turned, etc., and then throwm away, fill the bill best. "Tobacco.—Juno, Diadem, Rubj, Derby, and. Golden. Eagle ure the sort- required, and are a great luxury after the" army tobacco, which is not always available, and few can thoroughly appreciate the mess they call "Boer tobacco,' "Kmves.—Double-bladed. 'pampas/ "Chocolate is always acceptable, as are cocoa and tea tablets. . ,i. "Books. —The . sixpenny edition is the best; "Ink Pencils.—These should have a point protector. ' , , "Curry powder, and mustard, atso boot laces, may be mentioned as acceptable. "Plum puddings or the materials for making the same. If there is any delay feared, it wouid be better to eend the materials, but if the proper steps are taken, twid the puddings are well fortified, it would be more satisfactory to send them /made. . . . ■ • '.{..., "Envelopes.—Theee and the books above ! mentioned should be. as.much in the writ--1 ing material line as ia absolutely necess&ry. "Clothing, razors, bhuikets, and, in fact, all other things necessary, can be re--1 quisitioned, aiid if the O.C. will only stiffen his back and take the proper steps, they can always be got nowadays. It was different when De \Vet was harassing- the , limes of communication, and if men are badly clothed nowadays the O.C. is the : only man to blame." * . « "If your committee wish the men to have an extra grog ration, it is advisable to send tne money to the O.C, with the- expressed wish that it should be spent in whiskey, aatd with the General's consent, issued duly. The best whiskey was, obtainable in Pretoria during last September at o<ss 6d per case, apd ib is most probably even .cheaper now. I can testify that last Christmas- Colonel Jowsey issued a Jxtttle ; of'whiskey to every four men of the'3rd Rough Riders, and they promptly invited the battery and the members of the 2nd Contingent to join them in a smoke concert, and the. same was a real success. . It ! was a great and pleasamt trait in our men J that whenever they gob the wherewithal 'to make merry, * fl «y always tried to get all I hands to come and join in the festivities."