Popular Science Monthly
��936
soldier to take care of the clothing and other articles issued to him in order to escape severe punishment. Again, it is not the slovenly soldier who gets along well with his officers and wins promotion, but rather the one who takes good care of his clothing and equipment and keeps himself looking clean and fit. The following suggestions may be of use to the recruit who really wants to "soldier" correctly.
1. Always keep a complete uniform for inspections, parades and ceremonies, there- by avoiding extra details for being un- presentable at these formations.
2. Fold all clothing carefully and with the fewest possible creases, and be sure that it is thoroughly dry before putting it away. See that all buttons are in place, that all spots are removed and all torn places mended so that when it becomes necessary to put the clean things on in a hurry they will be ready to wear.
3. Wash the leggins often with laundry soap and a stiff scrubbing brush. They will dry in half an hour in the sun and may be washed between formations if necessary.
4. As a rule, never dry anything in the sun as the color will fade; but leggins are seldom harmed by the sun.
5. Sweat stains cannot be removed, so do not worry yourself sick over them. The color may be partially restored by dipping the garment in a solution of one part of ammonia to two parts water.
6. Remember that gasoline or benzine will remove grease spots and also that both are highly inflammable. Paint spots can be removed with turpentine.
7. Watch your shoes and keep them re- paired. Keep a whole sole under you and keep the heels straight. Shoes require an oily dressing and saddle soap should be well worked into the leather at least once a week. This removes the old polish and allows a higher polish with less effort. It also helps preserve the leather and assists in making the shoes waterproof.
8. Never dry wet shoes, or any other leather for that matter, with artificial heat or in the intense heat of the sun. Heat a collection of pebbles and put them in the shoes if it is necessary to dry them in a hurry.
9. Use only the best polish. Never clean tan shoes with lemon juice or acid as it has a tendency to rot the leather.
10. New shoes can be fitted to the foot r or "broken in," by putting them on and stand- ing in water until they are well wet and then
��walking two or three miles in them. Take them off and immediately rub saddle soap or oil into them and they will be none the worse for the experience but will fit like an old shoe.
11. Leather goods in general should be washed off with a thick lather of castile soap and clean water. Rub them well so as to remove all salt, sweat and dirt. Oil oc- casionally or rub in saddle soap. A little neatsfoot oil is beneficial at times but too much of it has a tendency to rot the stitches. Neatsfoot oil should never be used on any leather which will come in contact with a horse's hair as it will burn the hair off. Oil should be applied while the leather is damp and should preferably be applied from the under side.
12. Have plenty of socks and underwear and change them every day. If it is im- possible to carry a large supply of these articles they should be washed every night. Sweaty underwear causes chafing and that means misery to the infantryman. Dirty socks or socks with holes or rough darns in them cause blisters on the feet and make marching a thing to be dreaded.
13. Keep all of your buttons buttoned at all times. An unbuttoned pocket, shirt sleeve or neckband has been the cause of a good many days kitchen police being given out as punishment.
14. Watch your shoe, leggin and breeches lacings and put in new ones before the old ones break at some inopportune time.
15. Keep your hat brim flat, just as it is issued to you and don't turn it up or down. Wear your hat on top of your head and not on the back of it.
16. Be as careful about keeping your clothing clean as you are about keeping your body clean.
��Improving the Writing Qualities of Cheap Lead Pencils
THE ordinary cheap lead pencils can be greatly improved, the sharpening made easier and the lead made to wear better, by soaking them in linseed oil. Use boiled oil and add a few drops of per- fume. Immerse the pencils for three- quarters of their length, placing them in a vertical position in a bottle or tin can. Keep them in the solution for seven days. Remove them, wipe off the surplus oil, wash in benzine and let them dry. You will find the writing qualities greatly im- proved by this process. — W. S. Standiford.
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