New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-09-02
THE BEST MEN FOR SAILORS.
SOME SALTY TALK FROM AN OLD MARINER WHO HAS
PRrJUDICEs.

SOME SALLY JAIh fRoM AN OID hhhiNFh W nv hHo
PRFJUDICEs.
sYes,n said the mate, ave have most all
kinds o. meu aboard at times We gets the same
crew two voyages running, an way an another
pcgs up chaps from all countries. An which nation do
think makes the best sailors r. he asked. echoing THE
TRIBUNE reporters query: we'll amt going TO say as
any nation makes the best sailors. There's bad an
there's good OF all kinds an II don't follow COS chaps
got one kind of skin he's good sailor nor don't
follow COS he's got another he's bad Not but
what there may not be more good ones among some
kinds N among Others an won't deny as I've got
prejudice in favor OF Norwegisns. Those two fellows
sittn aft with the queer pipes In their mouths and their
eyes fixed away the skyline are both Ncrwegians
THEY'LL sit by side like that for hours together when
there Amt call for 'em to work They don't speak
an don't know they think, but they just set and
smoke-an mighty poor 'bacca II is they smoke tooan'
seem perfectly cobtented. An Norwegans IL all alike
There amt more difference between en n there is
between SO many ropes ends. They aint never no
trouble when they're off, but soon as there's work to
be done they're spry as porpoise with 'poon In
him and works WE'LL Thrt's what meant when said
Ihad a prejudice In favor Of Norwegians."
Here there was pause during which the mate aud the
reporter kept their eyes fixed dog which trying
TO itself plank from the pier TO the side of
small schooner. 1t got half way up when the plank
began 10 rock Then 1t stood still and shiyered whned,
shipped and with yep dropped on to the pier and away
but quietly resumed his narrative
Now with Italians I'm preudiced all the other way
nc knOwed an italian as could be shpinaes wth
though I've met many in my tine. As general rule,
howseyer they to keep to their own ships N
any other nation. That brig there's Italian craft
and from mornin' TO night they never stops jabberng
They don't to make rule agn II on their boats
but fist let em jabbe away all dayand when they como
ON 'Merican boat they find 1t different and don't ike
win 10 keep their mouths shut. Consequence Is they
never gets on with the officers the officers with the
an they mostly quarrel with the too from what can
see And then there's Frencbes-they're much the
same aud talks a deal more n they work. An that's
how Is usually KEEPS to Norwegans ana Americans
AN I'm naturally prejudlced In fayorof Americans,
with whom I've shipped twice. but is queer nb
berry kind hick-heads at best U course there's The
IRISH bat no one as ever knew. unless he were a
crank shipped an rishman when he could get anybody
else. haven't had freshman aboard o. this craft FOR
nigh on TO eight years how, an don't mean 10 neither
They may do well enough for what you call politician
or for driving hack; but they won't never be equal to
saiorin' not man among em. Yes, I'm mortal preiu-
diced agin rishmen too; Almost much-well no. not
much-as am agin Englishmen They turns out
good sailors too does Engshmen. but they amt good
aboard along last Irshman eight years ago. and
they allns fgntin' tuem two sometimes the Eng
lIshman would cry out God the Queen and then
TIE Irishman would say, d-nr and they'd fight And
or some such like and the Englishman would say d-nr
and they'd fight Sometimes one would begin and sose-
times the other but they usually fixed up light some
how.
only git more prejudced EN- See this scar over
my eye Well, that come nigh on 70 KILN me and did
20 prejudice n anythin else against English
men II were bout ak Years ago this octebe II don't