The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1875-06-04
MARK TwAIN's "REMINISCENCES,
- Old Times on the Mississippi -Offiefal
Rank and Dignity OF n Pifot-Nith a
Few Pertinent Illustrations
[From &c AtlAntIc Monthll

Prom the Atlantic Monthly for june.
In my preceding articles have tried. by
.oing into the minutia of the science OF
plotting, TO carry the reader step by step
10 a comprehension of what the science
consists Of: and nj the same time have
tried TO show him that il Is a very curious
and wonderful science, too, and very
worthy Of his attention. III have seemed
to love nv subject, u is no surprising
thing, for / loved the profession far better
than any have followed since, and took
measureless pride in il. The reason j.
plain: pilot. in those days, was the only
unfeftered and entirely independent hui
man being that lived In the earth. Kings
are but the hampered servants of parlia-
menr and people; paTliaments sit in chains
forged by their constituency: the editor of
a newspaper cannot be independent, but
must work with one hand tied behind him
by party and patrons. and be coRtent 10
utter only halt or twO-thirds OF his mind !:
no clergyman i a free man and may speak
the whole truth. regardless of his parish's
opinions; writers OF all kinds are man
acled servants OF the public. We write
frankly and fearlessly, but then we :" modi-
fy " before we print. In truth. every man
and woman and child has a master, aud
worries and frets in servitude: but in the
none. The captain could stand upon the
hurricane deck, in the pomp Of a very
brief authority. and give him five or six
orders, while the vessel backed into the
stream. and then that shippers reign was
over. The moment that the boat was I'M
der way IN the river. she was under the
sole and unquestioned control Of the pilot.
He could do with her exactly as he pleased.
run her when and whittier he chose, and
tie her up 10 the bank whenever his iudg-
ment said that course was best. His
movements were entirely free he consult
ed no one, he received commands fiom
nobody, he promptly resented even the
merest suggestion. Indeed. the law of
the United States forbade him to listen to
commands or suggestions, rightly con-
sideriEg that he pilot necessarily knew
better how 10 handle the boat than any
body could tell him. So here was the
novelty of king without keeper. an alb
solute monarch who was absolute In sober
truth and not by fiction Of words. have
seen a boy Of eighteen taking a great
steamer serenity into what seemed certain
destruction, and the aged captain standing
mutely by, filed with apprehension but
powerless to interfere. His interference.
in that particular instance. might have
been an excellent thing, but to permit it
would have been TO establish a most per-
nicious precedent. IL will be easily guess
Cd. considering the pilots boundless au-
thority. that he was great parsonage in
the old sieamboatIng days. He was treat
ed with marked courtesy by the captain
and with marked Difference by all the Off
GERS aud servants and this deferential
spirit was quickly communicated to the
passengers. too. / think pilots were about
The only people ever knew who failed TO
chow. In some degree. embarrassment in
Che presence Of travelling foreign princes.
But then, people in ones own grade of
life are not usually embarrassing objects. |
By long habit. pilots came to put all
their wishes in the form Of commands. Ii |
= gravels" me. to this day, to put my will |
In the weak shape of a request. instead of
launching ii in the crisp language of an
order.
In those old days, to load a steamboat at |
ct. Louis. take her TO New Orleans and l
back. and discharge cargo. consumed |
about twenty-five days. on an average.
seven or eight Of these DAYS the boat i
spent at the wharves of St. Louis and New |
Orleans, and every soul on board was
hard at work. except the two pilots; they
did nothing but play gentlemen, uptown.
and receive the same wages for II as IL
they had been ON duty. The moment the
boat touched the wharf at either city. thew
Were ashore: and they were not likely to
be seen again till the last bell was rim ging
and every thing in readiness for another
voyage.
When captain got hold Of a pilot OF
part culariy high reputation, he took pains
70 Ike ep him. When wages were four hun