The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1868-05-08

cOuld witness with Indifference the
terrible conflicts of the elements
when in their angriest moods, OF fail
to be affected when, tired of their
strife, the same elements, like weary
giants, sink exhausted to slumber.
Then, too, there is an advantage IN
the versatility Of their geographical
situation, and In the continual vIcis-
situde of objects and scenery, inviting
their contemplation. The eye in a
moment can transmit to the mind a
more faithful report of objects actu-
ally seen, than it a convey by means
Of a written description, however
graphic, teTse and vivid, That sea
men are generally gifted with an acute
discernment for interesting natural
I Objects, Only .consummate tatu ty
would doubt. We had abundant
leisure for reading, meditation and
anu ement. Everything around,
above, and beneath US betekened sub
Unity, and disposed to seriousness
and
Could give useful lesson to the head,
And Learning wiser grow without his
books,
Regularly every day, when the Cap
tain and the wardroom officers dined,
the ships band discoursed delightful
music, and their recherche perform
auces we're properly appreciated by
the crew; for
I. There is In souls a sympathy with
And as the mind is pitched. the ear is
with melting airs, or martial, brisk or
some chord In unison with what we hear.
Is touched within Us, and the heart re-
plies. s
The Rules and Regulations Of the
ship-printed, framed, and hung up
accessible and conspicuous, to be read
by the crew at all times-were very
explicit and stringent in their terms,
and those who violated them were
subjected to the most merciless dis
cipline. A government, IN order to
be eficacious, must be impartially and
vigorously administered; and govern
ment on board a man-o.war is en-
/ phatically good, as not even the
slightest offense.is condemned. Clean
illness of person, propriety of speech
and behavior. regularity of habits: ia
fine, everything conducive to health,
orderliness and decorum, received
from the executive officer rigid
attention. The whole crew were
divided into two Watchcs-larboard
aud starboard-and every officer,
man and boy In the ship.
in case of emergency, had an assigned
station. knew it, and was expected to
be at his post when summoned thereto
by the usual call from the bugle, un-
less excused by the sick report. Sail
was shortened or extended with
astonishing quietness, precision, aud
celebrity; orders were impaired with
clearless and defniteness, obeyed
with promptitude, and executed with
dispatch. Such exaetitude in the pro-
gramme of duty may, at first view,
appear irksome, and so at first we
found it; but " use doth breed a hqbit
in a man., and this, denuding it of
everything u~npaltable, enrobed it with
circumstances that rendered it at least
endurable.
Respect for the Christian Sabbath
was strictly enforced. All unneces-
sary work was intermitted, and all
profane amusements interdicted.
When the weather permitted, the
crew, clothed in their best apparel.
were mustered on the quarterback.
and attentively listened to the deco
rous services of the Episcopal Church,
which, together with an appropriate
homily, was read to them by the First
Lieutenant, Mr.. Paine. La fact, a
better regulated community did not
exist than that which formed the
crew of the Constitution frigate.
Those who venture on the ocean,
and entertain the hope of finding the
same amount, variety and quality of
pleasure that they were accustomed to
/ enjoy ashore, sadly misealculate and
hence it happens that occasional
voyagers Ventilate their d~isappOint-
ment IN jeremiades so utterly lugu-
brious and uncomplimentary. All
such persons, if their digestion Is
sound, should remember that happi-
ness like knowledge is a flower
which yields its honey only to the
bee; ;" and that it would be as prepos-
ferrous for a captious and querulous
spirit to seek ecstatic entertainment
ahoat as it would be for a pearl diver
to seek his coveted treasures In the
heart of a coal bank. Those, how
ever, who are untramelled with luxu-
urious tastes and inordinate desires.
and have the happy knack of looking
at the bright side Of everything, and
whose minds are a temple in which
contentment sits enshrined, will hard
" fail to find enjoyment even in so
unpromising a situation as on boaFd
of ship.
"There is a pleasure in the painless woods;
There is a r pture on the lonely shore;
There is society where none ~intrudes,
I love not man the less, but nature more"
IN -.LoJ- - Jovs9r~ o,,--o