The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1874-07-06
BOYS as Sailors.

Many boys determine in early life
that when they come to mans estate,
they will be sailors. Reading works OF
fiction, some Of which are written by
persons who have never been to sea,
and have no practical knowledge Of
their subject, they are possessed with
the poetical or romantic phases OF
sailor's life, without any conception Of
It's peculiar hardships. II the author
OF such work happen 70 have been q
sailor, like Captain Marryat, for in
stance, he shows up the comic phases
OF ship.life, avoiding those which are
serious, and smoothes over the difficult
ties, thus leading his boy readers 10
imagine that sailors life Is full Of fun,
fpolic, and iollity, with the advantage
OF seeing many distant lands and peo-
pies. Boys are easily deluded by such
stories-what Is most improbable SEEM
ing to them true and real. Most boys
are fond OF fun many and nearly all
have a strong desire TO travel and make
their own way in the world.
Bat, from an extensive experience
among sea.iaring men, and from per-
sonal knowledge, / can undeceiye my
young readers, and assure them that
the life Of sailor Ia not what they i'm
agine, and that the position OF a boy
who is learning 10 be q sailor Is peca-
liarly unfortunate. II does not matter
what boys origin may have been, or
what his previous education or manner
Of life when he consents to ship before
the mast, and adopt the life OF sailor,
he must bid goodbye to home and all
Its comforts-to father, mother, rela.
tiyes and friends-to education, de-
cency, and refinement real indie
pendence, and to the restraints OF re-
ligion, Of good society-to brotherly love
and sisterly affection. He will find
none OF these in n ships forecastle
among his Bhipmates, and very little, as
rule, in the ships cabin among tho
officers. He will soon discover that he
will have to serve two masters at least
0he captain and his mate), who are
merciless in their exactions. He will
be ordered to do the most mental ser.
vice, such as backing and greasing the
officers boots, washing their clothing,
slushing down the masts, washing and
scrubbing out the officers rooms, mop.
ping the decks, and other services still
more unpleasant.
/ do not specify these duties as de-
grading, but as contrasting with those
romantic expectations, which lead many
boys to choose a seaman's life. Inslead
OF thanks and kind words for these dis.
tasteful tasks, he gets curses and blows,
and abusive epithets. When in the
forecastle, among his shipmates Of mora
mature years, he is made their servant
to fetch and carry he hears the most
riblld conversation, the most blasphe.
nous oaths. A boy Of good family and
gentle breeding, whose circumstances
may have compelled him to accept such
a position, is soon detected in his lack
OF appreciation OF such conduct, aud
from that moment he becomes the
"butt" OF shipmates-the object oil
their coarse iests and allusions-and Is
looked upon as setting himself above
his fellows; and, unless he has more
than ordinary strength Of mind, and
remarkable independence OF character,
no Is, in measure, compelled, by
kicks, kuffs, and kusses," as the sail.
ors say, TO join in their wickedness, and
become one OF them.