The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1881-12-29
OUR GREAT NAVEE,
The American Secretarce on u Tour of In
speCtion.

wa
speCtion.
From the New York Graphic.
And is this ship!" asked the secretary
Of the marine at the navy-yard II have
heard Of ships from my youth up, and have
long desired to see one. Pray, do they
hoat? Which end goes first? Why not
have one stick instead of three sticking
ont Of tho deck? Why is not that stick
upright like the rest?" asked the secretary
Of the navy Ct the commandant Of the
navy-yard. pointing to the bow-sprit.
That is the bowsprlt," said the COM
mandant. 'Bowsprits never stick 10.
They are meek and lowly in all their ways. 4"
@Whatare these holes for?" asked the
secretary, pointing to the open hatchways.
why have you made such deep excaya.
tons in the vessel?"
~ The ship is built around these holes. 1"
said the commandant, "but they extend no
further than the water. II they did the
ship would sink"
Were you ever in storm at sea ?" asked
the secretary Of the commandant.
"Only once, replied the commaniapt.
1t was typhoon in longitude 81 of the
equator. We were blown clean out Of the
water twice, and spun for miles through
the air like balloon, shall never FORGET
the terrible appearance Of the sea az We
looked down upon it from the clouds. We
got down safely to water ct last, and tied
tue ship to water spout.
~, Oeary, deary me-" said the secretary,
how interesting" And you lived through
II aI' Tell US some more. But let me in
qu1re frst' 10 the capstan Of vessel equal
in rank to the captain?''
0In nr.7inarv fi,po~ - oosI ~
ant, the captain outranks the capstan. But
the capstan always takes command of the
ship when the anchor is weighed"
Indeed" replied the secretary, But
where il your fourth castle? do not be-
hold any castle on board at all.
Fourth castle! Fourth castle! What
do you mean, secretary2" asked the
amazed commandant.
Why, in all sea tales I've read of the
fourth castle, +" said the secretary.
oh, you mean the fokestle," said the
commandant,
The wlat2" said the mystifed secretary.
Fokestle. Fokestle- place where the
crew live. Down there" said the COM
mandant.
why, it's hole. said the secretary.
Captain, do not approve of your keep
inc your men in such dark, damp cellars.
They'll catch the rheumatic"
AID do the sailors really climb up there. I"
assed the SEE rotary pointing aloft-"sur,
these little rope-ladders? How perilous.
They do" replied the commandant.
! must improve on that" said the Sec
rotary. II will save the life of MANY q
gallant tn. Let oil the masts be provided
with hydraulic elevators"
1T shall be done" said the commandant
. Call the officer of the WATCH" suddenly
demanded the secretary; then ren,arking in
an aside, III show him that know some
thing about Ships"
The officer appears.
"Ohioer, said the secretary, show US
your watches. I want to see if they are oil
Sir, the watches were all sent on shore
t9.s morning to be eleansed," replied the
officer of the watch. :.
That's pretty work, growled the secre-
@1y. why, where's the ships jeweler?
now 90 yon suppose you would have the
ment with an enemy?
We should take the sun nrevions,v nra-
Piled the officer Of the watch.
I do not wish YOU to take the Sun n
numbered the secretary. II will not allow
the Sun to be taken on this or anv other
United States vessel. You do not need the
sun: 1t IL vi:lainous, vicious paper-
bright. and edited with q certain amount
Ut Satanic ability. I admit, but demoraliz-
ing to the correct discipline Of the nav,
Il You desire to take anything, take the
Erenin0 Post or the PHILADELPHIA Ledoer
Take good, heavy paper that will serve to
ballast both the ship and your minds. Well.
sir, it you have 10 watches on board. show
us your clocks. You are officer Of the
clocks as well as the watches, are YOU not?"
Aye, aye, sir!" said the officer Of the
watch. 4o
III! What in the world makes you m
egotstical in expressing yourself! WIN
don't you say yes, sir, like o white mani"
said the secretary.
Yes, sir. But am sorry to saw that il
was necessary to reef the pendlums of all
our clocks during the last gale, and they've
not been shaken out yet.
And what's all that hanging for?" said
the eecretary. rs it q naval enpaeemest?"
We are firing the customary salute Of
ninteen guns in your honor" said the Com
mandant.
20, You are, are you. Are there bullets