The Republican journal., 1874-01-29
StOwaWay


In the melancholy catalogue of the I'M
fortunates engulted in the Vile du Hayre
we read that there We're six 'stowaways. .
This term is sufficiently curious to call for
explanation. A 'stOWaWay" is an indi-
vdual who, at the last moment. Just be
fore the vessel leaves the dock, sinks on
board, creepS below, and conceals himself
in remote hooks and corners Of the lower
deck OF the forepeak Sometimes he gets
into the hold, but there, if the matches are
battencd down, he runs the imminent risk
OF being smothered At all events, he
crawls into his hiding place, and crouches
there like Il rat behind the wainscot,
quaking for fear of discovery. And de-
lection must sooner OF later be the doom
of the stowaWay SO well is the practice
of smuggling human baggage known TO
sea-going folks that prior to Il large emf
grant ship sailing, there is generally or
ganized Il picket of sailors headed by one
Of the mates, and furnished with lanterns
and rattans, who make Il tour of eXplora-
ton among the packing cases and provis-
ion casks. Hunting for stowaways' is a
most exciting sport the wretched default
ers are started" from their holes, round
the captain, and are then contumaciously
kicked over the side. Some stowaways,
however, generally contrive to pass unno-
ticed in the search and siN-the number
found on the Vile du Hayre-may be CON
sidered fair average among a hundred
and fifty passengers. The ship, in any
case, can not be many days at sea before
they are discovered.
Every fresh hogshead of beef OF biscuit
that is unheaded diminishes their chances
of immunity; still there have been known
instances of the unfortunate creatures be-
ing inadvertently ,iammed up between and
behind heavy piles Of merchandise, and
so suffering a living entombment rivaling
that of Constance de Beverly in horror
Stowaways dragged from their hiding
places when the ship is in blue water have
to take their chances; and a vary calami-
tous chance it is If the culprit be a
woman she has not much to fear Jack is
proverbially gallant, and an active woman,
may make herself very useful in the cabin
and cook house. But when the offender
happens to be a man he has emphatically
q bad time of it. He may consider him
self very fortunate if he is allowed to earn
the worth of his bed and board by per
forming the most menial drudgery, and al
the end of the voyage from this port the
captain can, if he chooses take the stow
away before magistrate and have him
punished for fraud. 1t usually happens
however, that the skipper, when the run
is over, is glad to get rid Of his unprofita
bic passenger as that passenger is to be
well out Of the ship. The former says
nothing about the pecuniary loss his
owners have suffered, and the latter is
quite content to be silent with regard tc
the numerous attention conveyed through
the instrumentalty of marlinspikes an(
rope's-ends with which he has beel
favored by the boatswain. What the
French authorities would have said tC
these waits and strays on their arrival Al
Havre is uncertain, but the poor fellows
need fear no frowns of human justice now
They drowned.
Working love is better than emotivf
love. 1t is well to have both, but it is no
every one who has steam enough to WORK
the engine and blow the whistle too
There is love which never speaks; i
spends itself in work like sunshine shed
ding its rays on the ground and bringing
up the beautiful flowers, softly and quietly
This practical life l accept. [Beecher