Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1853-09-23
DlESUEhE4ANY
Crossing lbc Line.

[rrsm Chambers Pocket Mi.c.uauyl

SrUss.ns lbc Line.
tnc ceremonies customary among sailors in
crossing the equator, have, we believe. been
more than once described. but vet are not,
perhaps. we'll known to a large portion Of the
public. The following account Of them is the
composition of Il gentleman vino has actually
witnessed, and borne Il part (that of Il suiltrcr)
in them
sailed from Portsmouth in April, lSli, in
an East India vessel OF a thousand TONS
There were seventeen passengers besides lay
scIl-thc only youth amongst them. Tie
most conspicuous Of the number was an Old
corpnlcnt general, who regularly took his two
bottles Of port every day after dinner, and
struttcl upon deck with an extremely comi-
cal oscillation OF gait. He wds accompanied
by his wife, u pretty, lively creature of seven
teen, happy in her recent emancipation from
boardin. school control. Jokes innumcrablc
Were shot oil at the old gentleman, who, with
ii fat good-nature, was always the first to
laugh at thcm himself Even when these
were practical, they did not put him out OF
humor. For instance. Il wa@2i>h officer, OH
serving that. in his after dinner walks. he
was in the habit, when the weather was warIn
Of leaving his hat on the caIstan, took it up
slyly and covered the lining with tar. Soon
alter. breeze getting up, the general tool,
up his hat and l'ut ON, and then continued
his parade between the muimrast and the
cuddy. In timc the heat melted the tar.
which began to stream down his checks ia
unequal lines, to the great amusement of all
who hrhcll it. and were aware of the cause.
Conr,i}iug it to be merely the natural rcrspi-
ration. he frequently lifted hi lat t. wipe
his forehead, but without discovering the na-
turc If the uneucnt. Finally hr went down
to trt. and took his seat ut table with the
grayc.t gravity, when the bursting laughter
of the comlu at length led to Il detection OF
the uick. None laughed more heartily tlan
his own y"latil" spouse and in a little white
tie was able to c'.ioy the joke himself, though
must confess that, for the first five minutes
he seemed little grave.
Another of the passengers was a ScOtcEman,
a captain Of the Bolnbay Native Mijutry.
greatly given to the use of long, romlous-
souuGiMG words, and whose wife, with good
looks and good nature, was pcrpctually cX-
citin- the luirth Of the company 10y silly re-
marks. There was nothing Singular about
the rest Of the company.
We reached latitude o without singl,
adventure of the least consequence. In tn,
morning Of tie day on which We wcrc to cain
that point, the last mentioned lady asked il
size could have Il sight OF the line through tho
telescope \ silk thread was fastened acros,
the bottom Of the glass, and she was desired
to take the instrument into her own hand,
and look cut for it She Immediately cN
claimed th,t she saw it. and after a time
having sal t..'.ad her curiosity, gave back IT,,
telescope, ''4arcltly quite c,ntcntcd.
| We WEI, PREVIOUSLY made aware that, OF
this day, 'orliag to ancient usage, tn,
sailors wcr - be indulgcd in unrestraince
license, a that they We're to employ TIN
| privilege in performing well known piece o
mulnmcry, in the course Of which the msscn
gers would be t.tiroly abandoned, by tn,
master Of the vessel, rs subjects for their un
cOuth and outrageous sport.
was not, therefore, surprised to receive il
my cabin, before | had risen, visit from tn,
ships armorcrs deputy, Il tall, rough lookin;
fellow, with countenance already inllamc,
above it's ordinary red by an extra portion o
grog. From his pocket lac pulled out thre,
thick pieces OF iron, shaped like razors, whicl
| lac laid upon the table. The edge OF the frs
was Jagged like coarse saw; the next wa
somewhat less rough and the third had com
paratiycly II smooth edge
"Therc, young man said he, "which O
these beautiful tempered implements Of IN,
tradc-for am the mi ehty Ncptune's barbc
would you prefer being used about tn
worst part of your fair weather countenanc
-numDcr one, two or three They are al
admirable shayers, and will take oil Il bear,
like yours to a hair
Alas | had scarcely thcn a beard to m
chin. "Why,' | answered il 4 tone Of cX
treme modcsty and good temper, ''as you ar
so polite us to offer me , choice, | ahoul
much prefer the instrument with the smoth
edge
That razor" replied my visitor, ''canno
be used upon mortal chin, unless the lriSi
lo"e of hcing shaved with it Is well paid lor
1t /. daily applied by me to the cimmortal fac
OF my great master Neptune. You can no
OF course expect tn have the beard taken o
yours with the same hcayon- tempered article
unless you pay II handsome fee for the honor
"Oh, very well, ~ said | =, and placed II guinc
IN his Hrimy palm
May, young gentleman, that is the rric
OF number two. never apply number thrc
to the chin Of II mortal for less than tw
gulneas and Il pint of rum
immediately gave him the two guinc;,
and bottle Of brandy, with which he pro
lcs'cd to be- content
! This nautical \rdSo now quilted INC a,r