The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1882-02-18

often mistake for aptitude what is mere
~ inclination. Out of one hundred and
forty-eight boys admitted to the .'St.
Mary's'' nautical school, seventy-eight
were discharged before the end of the
year-cured Yet i'm the code of regula-
tions for admittance TO membership it is
specially stated that boys who make ap-
plication "must evince some aptitude or
inclination for a sea life" And | can
not help thinking that if such bows could
not accustom themselves to the gentle
discipline and admirable routine of that
most excellent nautical school, what
would they have done on board the aver
age merchant-vessel, where they certain
ly could not leave at the first, nor the
twentieth, touch of hardship?
But beyond all this, the would-be
sailor must be strong and resolute, for
the system of four hours off that YOU re
never sure of, and four hours on, that
you re always sure of Ito use Jack
Tar's eXpression), is most exhausting
one in itself. Through day and night,
storm or calm, heat or cold, at the end
of the alternate four hours sleep which
the sailor may be lucky enough to get in
the foul atmosphere of dirty forecastle,
a vigorous pounding on the door sum-
mons him from his slumbers. And on
shlpboard one cannot say in answer:
81 don't feel very WE'LL guess | wont
get up yet awhile" No, indeed. Then
follow two hours at the wheel. or on the
lookout, where he must attend strictly to
business, though drenched, it may be,
to the skin, or shvering in the most
piercing of midwinter blasts. And
leaving this task, he may be sent imme-
diately aloft, where for an hour or two
longer he balances himself on slippery
foot-rope, and, clinging by his elbows to
a swaying yard, battles with the stiff
ened, Stating canvas, his fingers be-
numbed, and his ears and nose almost
freezing.
Through it all, or while about his or
binary duties on deck, he must accustom
himself to hear his name coupled with
harsh words or reproaches, according to
the fancy of those in authority over him.
And do not mean by this the extraor-
binary personal abuse which has been,
and is occasionally at the present day,
carried TO such terrible lengths. On
shore, one may at least defend himself
from word or blow. But remember
that, on shipboard, to even look your
resentment is almost to take your life in
your hand.
A boy may be better born and better
educated than the officers over him, but
the great social gulf between forecastle
and quarterback will seldom be bridged
by kindly, never by familiar, words.
And however hungry he may become for
congenial companionship, he must not
expect to find it in the forecastle Many
of the sailors whom he will meet there
at the present dav are worse than igno.
rant; they are foul-mouthed and profane.
Associated with boys dreams of sea
life is almost always the delightful hope
of sightseeing in foreign lands. But if
he stays by his ship in port-the only
safe thing for him to dO-he is kept con-
tinually at work, from early dawn till
dark. And sightseeing in a foreign city
after dark has numberless disadvantages.
If he is foolish enough to leave his ship
when he arrives in port, he not only
loses the chance of joining her again,
but the thousand allurements on every
hand are almost sure to lead boy,
thus separated from all restraint, into
the downward path.
Such is very small part of the I'M
vanished side of Northumberland sea
life, of which more especially | have
written because so few boys can take
the navy as a medium for sea-going.--
Franb H. Converse, in St. Nicholas.
.