Delaware inquirer. (Wilmington, Del.) 1859-18??, 1859-11-12
Life Afioat; or, a Sketch of Exis.
tence ON Board a Man of War.

ny An IDLER.
On terra firma an idler has always ample
opportunities of killing time, as the abuse of it
is called. The sports of the field, the infatua-
tons of the gaming-table the charms of his
mistress, and the midnight reyel, in turn fill
up the vacuum in his mind; and time, which
should be improved by rational pursuits, is
thss killed or disspated by series of debsuch-
cries, or a thoughtless career of imprudence or
intemperance; but alas on these excesses
the dler never rehects-he kills time to his
entire satisfaction. But ii is far different with
such a triher on board ship, during the mon
tony of a long voyage,
Where all around is one blue ocean,
All above us one dark sky,
and where the severity of discipline Restraints
his passions, (although it does not often soften
down the asperites of his corrupt nature,) he
finds it impossible to Kill time; he must suffer
it to die of a slow and lingering consumption
and although some of us are dignifed with the
appellation of "exeeutiyes,i' maintain, we
are all alike idlers, and ! here charge myself
with the onas proband
have been now few years at sea, and am
myself become confirmed idler filter away
time as it were through q sieve, and can kill
the period of ships being in commission,
doing absolutely nothing Let no man there
fore take offence at what | say. confine my
structures to myseli-they are written for my
own edifcaton-no man, therefore, can have
any Just cause of quarrel or complaint against
me, being purely personal. The idleness of
others must, however, of necessity be classed
with my own, (but in general way,) to con-
vince the world that am not the only idler in
it. To my gentle naval readers would whis-
per, "Qai capt. lille facit.'
A sea life, let Nelson's in embryo say what
they will to the contrary, is bore-a blank in
ones existence-and is calculated TO produce
idlers Is it not invariably passed, ii not
strictly speaking idly, at least ingloriously?
i {. eating and drinking, smoking and grum-
bling, disputing and arguing, sleeping and
watch-keeping. The latter, although an i'm
portant duty, is, comparatively, in these lati-
tudes, an idle occupation. Our other duties
are, for the most part, frivolous, and, like an
gels visits, they are FEW and far between"
We assemble in the morning at the breakfast
table, at which a little more than a silent re-
cognition takes place between us; and this
meal passes off silently. In truth it does not
yield much to inspire hisrity. The fare usual
iyconssts of sour, bilious-looking bread, burnt,
-ndA 1rx, mill tan do nf
impure water piece of ships pork, a bone of
hard, salt junk, or if the caterer be a liberal,
the miserable remains of cold fresh joint
saved from the relics Of yesterdays dinner
After this cherries repast, some of the mem
bers disappear for an hour or two Il believe
they generally retire to their cabins, to idle
away their time until divisions j others are
scattered about the wardroom-one yawning
on his elbow on the rudder-head, and idly
turning over the leaves of scrap-book an
other reposing idly on the lockers, his head
Idly resting ON a ring-bolt, in an attitude that
Mrs. Trollope that keen censor of public man
ners, would deprecate severely third is loil-
ing out stern-port, and idly beating the
devils tattoo with his toes ON the top Of
messmates rosewood writing desk the master
10 staring into the log-book; the captain Of
marines (the eaterer) is discussing mess affairs
with the steward one of the subalterns is too
too-tooing it on a cracked flute, while the other
is playing backgammon with the chaplain.
The purser is either deep in the study of the
profits OF the slop-book, OF idly experimenting
the issue of duck under the half deck; the
surgeon idly bends his weary way to the sick
bay, to go through the accustomed routine Of
his duties without scnsibility or sympathy
while the commander is seen prowling angrily
about the decks, aseeking whom he may de-
Your,p or blacklist.
Ii is thus time is idled away until eight-bels,
when the lieutenant, who is to relieve the deck
enters the ward-room abruptly calls loudly
for glass of brandy and water, plays off some
practical joke upon the Young sodger, (the
junior marine oiiicer,) swallows his copious
and potent libation, laughs idly, and repairs to
the deck to idle away four hours more. Sip
ping brandy and water now becomes pretty
general for fifteen or twenty minutes, and the
idle laugh that's speaks the vacant mind resounds
around us. Thus
We keep our spirits up by pouring spirits down,
For time is like the collie, killed by brandy, OF
We at length dispense, aad a repetition of the
came trifing succeeds, to kill time, until din
ner This is meal that all repair to with
countenances expressive of qualification. The
rapid circulation of the grape juice soon puts
every one in good humor, and, if the bill of
fare be but tolerably fair, all pronounce them
selves contented and happy. But nothing bor-
dering on rational conversation even now takes
place, unless the service be the subject, and
this, with arguments touching the merits and
sailing qualities of the Pique, the Vernon, the