Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1879-02-20
Experience of q Young Man Who
Knew All About a Boat.

It is told of that distinguished soldier.
Sir Philip Sidney, that being about to
wash his hands after q hard-fought battle,
he had just takeu up the soap and turned
on the warm water, when he perceived
particularly grimy soldier at his side.
= Handing the soap to the soldier. with the
now historic words: THY necessity is
yet greater than mine," Sir Philip turn
ed away, and went, unwashed, to bis
virtuous couch. Cold and cynical indeed
must be the man who can read this an
ecdote without thrill of admiration and
a sudden mist of tears. t'"i'f
The experience Of boating party in.
our harbor one Sunday early in May de-
serves to be set forth, since it cannot fail
to teach valuable lesson that people
should not pretend to know what they
do not know, unless, of course, they are
lawyers and are required to give legal
opinions without consulting the authori-
ties. There is young man residing in
this city who, until recently, was in the
habit of spending his Sundays on the
south shore of Staten Island. He is
rather unoojectionable young man, but
he has fondness for being regarded as
an authority on aquatic sports. People
who do not know him very Intimately,
firmly believe that he is yatchman of
great experience, and even those who
know that he does not own yacht and
who never personally saw him aboard any
vessel except Staten Island ferry boat,
think that he is an accomplished and
fearless sailor, and always apply to him
for information as to ocean steamships,
naval vessels, yacht races, rowing match
es and subjects connected with the canal
business.
On the Sunday in question he was sit
ting on the piazza of Staten Island cot
tage, conversing enthusiastically with
seven young ladies and three young men
of the delights of yachting. Neither Of
the three young men had ever been in
sailboat of any kind, and the seven youpg
ladies we're, of course, ignorant of nauti-
cal matters. Presently, one of the ladies
expressed the ardent wish that Mr.. With
ers-the nautical young man--could take
echoed the wish aud asserted that sail
would be perfectly splendid. Mr.. With
els himself greatly regretted that he had
not thought to hire boat at Clifton, and
added that it really did seem hard to be
kept on shore when there was such nice
breeze blowing. Just then casual small
boy, who was listening to the converse
ton, remarked that there was big cat
boat near by which could be hired for the
day, and volunteered to seek out the own
er Of the boat and hire it. MIR. Withers
began to object that perhaps the ladies
might suffer from sea-sickness, but this
objection was overruleG, and he was as
sured that under the care of so ekillful a
sailor everyone would feel perfectly we'll
and happy. 49,.
1t was with many misgivings that the
nautical young man companied the
party to the boat. Luckily, the owner
was at hand and acceded to Mr.. -eWithers'
APPARENTLY careless remark that the sail
might as we'll be got UP while he ran
back to the house for his other coat.
Thus, when Mr.. Withers returned he
found that the boat was ready to be cast
off, and that all that remained for him to
do was to take the helm and to order the
boatman to shove her off.
ssThereswas q nice fresh breeze and the
boat ran before it in the direction of
Sandy Hook. The young ladies were
delighted, and amused themselves by
singing lively and secular songs. Mr..
Witbers stood at the helm and WIS sur
prised to find that managing boat was
80 much easier than he supposed itwould
be. The three other young men were
secretly flied with envy, but as they
knew, nothing whatever about boats. they
could not venture to icriticise Mr.. With.
ers' sesmanship.
The breeze freshened, and as the boat
reached the middle of the, bay it began
to roll heavily" About the same time the
sky grew dark, and the fishing boats be.
gan to seek shelter. One :of the young
men remarked that it was about time to
''put about" which sentiments were
warmly echoed by everybody except Mr.
Withers. That unfortunate man undoubt
eddy would have desired to put about
only he had not the remotest idea of the
nature of the maneuver. The young
ladies' still sung songs; but it was noticed
that they now confined themselves to the
melodies of Messls. Moody and Sanky
which they sung in q subdued and seri
GUS tone.
Fresher grew the breeze, and the young
ladies grew more and more alarmed
Again and again was the suggestion made
that they ought to put about" but Mr.
Witners, maintained, painful silence
Presently fishing boat drove rapidly b.
them, and the skipper loudly suggested
that unless they wanted to visit som,
unknowr locality, vaguely described a
the property of one David Jones, the,
had better put q; reef and run for tin
LEI of tie shore:A Accordingly q demant
was made on Mr.. Withers that he shoult
immediately adopt the fsherman,s advice
To the utter CONSERVATION of the CONF any
Mr.. Withers replied Z that if apybodz
knew anything abedti managing the boa
~ he did not care TO do it any longer: that
in fact he knew nothing about sail boats
and that he had never been in one before
Whereupon he abandoned the helm, ant
leaning over the side of the boat he com
named with Mature for several consecu
tive minutes. sEod .H@s"o%9 EEsisSsg
BY dint Of cutting away every, rop
that seemed Is hold anything, the tire
young men managed to get the sail dow1
They then got out the oars, and ate
one hour of hard labor, during whicl
Mr., Wlthers lay in the bottonm the boat
tormented by his conscience and hi
stomach, they managed to reach d cove
n x -