Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-01-03
PACING TIE QUARTZ. DECK.


How Carpets are Worn Ont i'm tho Navy
experimentation Offsccrs W no Can.
not Keep rifeir SeasS-a EST OF sso~>, %
between a Messenger and n Painter.
few days ago the corridors OF the NAVY de-
partment were occupied by painters busly en-
gagged In touching up the walls and doorways
ana puttane things in shape for the new year.
Some on scaffoldings piled their brushes others
on hands and knees carefully laid on the
ueiicate tintS upon the lower parts Of walls
pillars and doors. They wrre cookbook ing
SCI OF fellows and seemed 10 know what they
were about. They generally kept quiet and at
tended TO business, but occasionally one would
enter into desuitory conversation with mes
senger or Waterman, whose stand, or rather
seat was close by. On one OF these DAYS n
STAR reporter was leaning against one OF
the graceful columns. not Yet reached by the
painters. wondering where ne could find some
good history. While he was thinking he
watched and listened. kneelng painter was
painting the lower Stats or one of the VENT
taiihS doors which opened into tho rooa OF a
prominent official; the colored ma sScnger WAS
sitting bolt upright In his swinging char. but
the uneven manner in which his chin rose end
cropped. showed that he was intent upon his
Work. which was just then taxing a nan '.Say. {"
said tAe painter. without stopping his brush
as 1t he Il been shot out OF 4 gun. He started
TO enter the room, but the painter barred the
way ana SAID. "Sit down; nobody runC / was
Jest goln to ask If these officials that's rot the
Signs OF chiefs OF this and that over their doors
can go ard come when they please"
''fcs. sir. Just about whenever they want 70. 4"
was the reply. why do you ASK 2"
wei. palntsn doors is my Job lest now aud
every time came TO chiefs door peeped in,
and never failed to see me or two men welkin'
ban utaIf e. 4 4 n
they had TO take their exercise
like polar bear. IL they didn't. It
seemed to rae that they would go out
and take brisk walk if they wanted exercise.
and then come back and 20 10 work. Whenever
one was alone he walked with his head hang.n'
down. Jest as II he was tlukin' hard. and paid
10 attention to uothln'. When they was two
they would walk side by side and talitin' all the
time. When they come to within a lew feet of
| the wall. without sign or signal they swiirg to.
facin each other, and. without lcsn step,
walked to the other side. Sometimes they kept
up their walk till finished door | saw the
thing was SO regular that kind o. wondered at
it."
''Oh, see''said the messenger. 'those gentle
men are ali naval officers. and that's the way
they think and confer. II one naval officer calls
on another they can't talk satisfactorily unless
they walk"
We'll, what do they do it for?" asked the
painter 'Why can't they sit down and talk
like other people."
They are SO used to pacing the quarter deck
at sea that they cart get cut OF Tie habit.
was a sailor in my younger days: that Is was a
waiter on one Of the Iaesses and | saw good
oenl OF the life among naval officers. OF course
wien men are shut UP in IA ship fer weeks or
months at time they feel the need Of exercise:
That Is, the officers do; the sailors and the
rest don't. When naval ship is at
sea you can at any time OF dav or night
see officers pacing back and forth on the quarter
deck. That is the way they get their exercise
and they take 1t just as regularly as they do
thelr meals. You see they get SO accustomed
TO doing their so many miles a day that when
tney are on shore duty they wouldn't feel al
nome II they Cidnt continue. especially when
they have anything to talk about. It's all very
well. but it's mighty hard on the carpeta You
could take the signs from the top OF the doors
and tell every room occupied by chief
hy looking at the carpet that is if il has been
down any length of time. They generally have
one side OF the room clear. and from the wall
TO the window there are always two worn places
In the carpet. They always have their regular
track. just as II il was laid out and measured
and they never walk outside OF il. They don't
Know 1t. but it's a fact. have watched them
Tor q good many years. and il don't take great
While 70 wear the tuZz of these Brussels carpets
Inc tact IS carpet lasts just abort half as long
IN naval officers room a. it does in an army
officers room. They didn't use to notice it
when the departments were run separately
but now they are under one superintendent
they'll soon find out the difference They can
Keep naval officers from wearing out the car
pets, though unless they find some way of max
ing them keep their seats"
Just then an electric bell summoned tie mes
senger within. the painter continued his work
with the remark, "a queer lot,-who would
want to walk all the time when he can s.t?" and
The STAR reporter made for an item which he
thought he saw beckoGipg down at the tar end
Of the corridor.