Excerpt from The Argonaut, Vol. 14: January 5, 1884 (Classic Reprint)
After mess, especially on guest nights, they indulge in a game called by the suggestive name of Tear-clothes, the object of it being to divest each other of their outer clothes by the ripping of seams and severance of buttons in as short a Space of time as possible. Whoever dines at mess with the Grenadiers, Scots, or Coldstreams, is there fore justified in donning an old dress-coat for the occasion. It is not on the whole a very dignified proceeding on the part of her Majesty's officers, bpt, if it takes the place of gambling, the sacrifice of clothing is a good on'e, and the tailors benefit by it.