The Arkansaw traveler., 1883-08-25
LIFE ON BOARD MAN N-oF-WAR
Boston Transcript.

Q me reader who IS without eNperlenCS oi the numerous phases of navy life, il wlll perhaps be surprising siatemen; that ii is as many-sided as life on shore. From the first year passed al the academy |, Annapolis, to the last year of his active ser.ice. the officer in the United States nay passes through experiences more saGed than fall to the To, of most of his F: ihefs who pass their lives in cities. Iee different grades of rank have each 4ud every one their new experiences, and ship viewed from midshipman' ham mock is a very different thing from the -r.e vessel surveyed from the upper tie <. Then the services are as dissimilar ,s they are manifold. The comfortable shore duty at the navy yards, with its pleasant surroundings of home and family, IS very different thing from sea auly, which carries the officers ,o every na*igable quarter of the globe. The pleasant European stations are a contrast indeed 10 the ports in the West Indies ,na al Cedar Keys. Tie scientific expe- d!uons, whether to the arctic or the tropic mes, are usually eagerly welcomed, as sifirg opportunity for special studies. md are often made interesting by the companionship of the distinguished sci .en,lsts who accompany them.
 oiall of the branches ofthe service none Is more arduous and important than that soane ted with the training of seamen for the navy. And il is of life on board the hool ship New Hampshire that we shall n ;his paper speak. The service is not taforl:e one, and the appointment to one oi he recruiting, training or school ships $ not received very joyously by most officers. The reason of this is not hard 10 seek. The number of officers thought 10 ee requisite Is not large, and the work IS rather heavier than Tn most depart ments of the service. A large mess table Is always more agreeable than a small one. In the case of the New Hampshire, the duty Is counted as shore duty. and this IS the strongest grounds of objections which can be urged against 1t. \ certain proportion of sea duty and shore duty is allotted to each officer and IS the school ship lies quietly anchored on Coasters lslan i, life on board of her Is counted as shore duty.
 Certainly no pleasln,er spot could be chosen than this quiet harbor out s!de Coasters Island and at Newport, k l., wherein to train the hundred and twenty young boys ,o become able-bodied seaman.
 The grea, old line-of- battle ship. with us many decks and multitude of port ha.es. les quietly at anchor, towering peacefully above the mo9eEaaxe>sels halt he. sue. which could in so shor, lime ,iemolish her stately hulk with their iron fams and new appliances Q. warfare. The view of the smiling summer landscape on ,he one hand. and the blue e<panse ot Sea upon the other, Is very beautiful. Coasters Island lately presented by the state of Rhode Island to the government oi he United States. lies near by. and is a;lazed in various ways by the boys lu lhe hours of liberty.
 Life on board the New Hampshire be- gins early enough. A, five o'clock the huys tumble out of their hammocks, run nlng Tn long lines between the decks. Alter the simple toilets. which may be made Tn the wash-room on the upper deck. they are ready for work. The lavatory Is an excellent one, and the tales, posted conveniently where all may read. include strict injunction against bathing within an hour of meal-time hC CiiCt VI eHC idy iS tuC (iCduiiiS ot the decks, which is accomplished before breakfast, which is served at 7:lS o'clock. The deck is provided with long tables, at each of which twelve boys sit down to- geiher, the rations being served out to each individually. Passing between the rows of tables, it is wonderful to observe the mighty appetites with which the youthful sailors attack their wedges of fresh white bread and their great bowls of coffee The sight is picturesque one, the fresh, fine looking youths, all dressed in their white suits, the inevitable nautical neckties knotted about their strong throats, their feet bare-this from their own choice, shoes being provided ihem-and their round blue caps hang ing above their heads, making conven- ,ional pattern along the white beam above. A sprinkling of black faces is to be seen scattered among the white ones but there are but handful of negroes among the lot. Representatives of all the nationalities which find home in this great country are among the boys in the New Hampshire. A great man, German youths, some of whom are ignoT ant ofall language save the Teutonic, ars among the applicants for admission The Hibernian element is not lacking and the delicate, nervous faces of ,h, South American races of Spaniards ar' to be found.
 Al nine o'clock is the sick bell" a which time any ailing member of tn, crew can proclaim his syp,oms to the doc tor and receive whatever attention hi case requires. If he must needs be sen to the " sick bay" or hospital, he is no so very much to be pitied. The sick ba, Is great cabin in the forward part ofth' ship, with comfortable beds, plenty o light and air, kind attendants, and ; glimpse from the windows of blue SC; and sky. At o:eo quarters are called, a which hour every individual on board tn -L s- f~- ..-