Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1888-12-28
JACK TAR'S CHRISTMAS.

In furl the remnant OF topsaii, oiown
almost to ribbons by the fierce winters
Gale that was bowling one Christmas
morning, and began blowing on his frost
bitten fingers and rubbing them IN the
sn,,w which covered the vessels deck. Is
a very good exposition of the practical
side Of our universal Christian holiday
"a frequently seen by the hardy tollers
If tbe sea. Stern necessity sometimes
demands that the work must be
done and the ship made safe
and snug before Jack Tar can
think of bean soap or Christmas pud-
ding and other fixings, and not infre-
ouently. as the sea remembers nothing
and paws no homage to customs, no mat
fer how ancient, Imagination OF grand
hanouet can alone be relied upon to ap-
pease the appetite; as 'hot water and
snoons" are very apt to be about all that
can be obtained in the way of square
meal. and even the luxury Of the hot
water Is often omitted, as the tossing,
restless ship, lurching about from side to
side. makes it impossible to keep any
thing on top of the galley stove, II, in
deed it be practicable thing to keep up
the fires at all. In such case the cud
of discomfort, SO to speak. must be rep
resented. as the song gives 1t, by the
starboard side of an old sou'wester.
Christmas away from home is, how
ever. always kept in some way or
another, even under such adverse cir
cumstances as those mentioned; as a
little something to warm him up lie
quietly given to the half frozen man by
some kindhearted officer as he comes
down from aloft, and before drinking he
manages, as a rule, to pull of his CAP
and to say "Merry Christmas" which is
about all the circumstances of the case
will admit of. Wind and weathe per-
hitting, however, only the absolutely
necessary things are done, and the
Christmas dinner is made as sumptuous
as the paymaster's stores will permit, or
the foresight of the mess caterer in lay
ing in something extra before the slip
left mort has provided. The ration gives
more or less variety Of things that put
up to keep during the cruise, but Jack
prefers the things that are not made
to keep, and, being proverbially improvi.
dent, the day generally finds him
depending OH plum duff as the grand
piece de resistance, and no matter how
much of the resistance there may be
about the compound the relish with
which it disappears is proof sufficient Of
its ability to take the place of other pos
sibly more digestible articles. The bagf
containing the sailors personal effects
are piped up and the men given an op
portunity to overhaul their clothing
write letters or do whatever the limit Of
the ship will admit. Smoking is per
mitted outside the daily regulation hours
and everything is done to make the mel
as comfortable and the day as much of {
holiday as possible, having, Of course
due regard for the handling of the vessel
When, however, the ships are in port
and it happens to be one where there is ,
good market, all that it affords is brOugh
off to grace the board, and the scene pre-
sented on the berth deck of one of ou
men-of-war ON such occasions is lively
and picturesque in the extreme. Tn,
mess tables are screened off with canva
and bunting, and very often evergreen
are used to complete the ornamentation
each mess vying with the others to SCI
which can make the prettiest show. Al
extra dollar or two apiece is usual,
served out, "to put in the mess" tn
aggregate sum making great possibilitie
in the way Of procuring the goo'
things which are not found in the dali,
ration. The tin pot, pan and spoon whicl
form Jacks cover are made to shine lik
polished silver, the mess cooks taking
pride in getting the brightest of polishe
for the occasion. Some more stylish
though perhaps less thrifty, messes, &c
crockery from shore, which sets off til
table very prettily, and possibly to som
Of them seems more homelike and give
an air of paying little more attentio
to the observances of the day; one Nigh
say, l suppose, little better relish, pei
haps, to the feast. But whoever kne,
of sailors not being ready for a goo
square meal at any hour of the day?
One who has watched the rush for til
hatchway when the order "pipe to dir
ner' is given, is quite apt to be convince
that Jacks stomach is as sharp as
sharks" and that he "never was in fine
condition for feeding" at any one tim
! more than at any other. When ever
. preparation has been made for Dime
and the viands set forth, the officers ar,
as general rule, invited to inspect, an
, very often to sample, the good things; til
captain of the vessel generally grants til
J request for bottle Of beer or light wiz
apiece, and in fact most any reasonab
I departure from the ordinary daily GU
! toms is allowed. In the afternoon,
the request is made, large ibert
party goes ashore, and is permitte
I to remain away from the vessel until I'll
. following morning. Boat racing is fir
, 9uently the amusement, especially
there are foreign vessels in the same Dor
and great is the excitement in the int
national contests. Prizes are offere,
] ana as many boats are entered as can |
: spared from the different shits. Wat,
tournaments, catamaran RACES and "
: rlous other aquatic sports arr indulge
IN, as Christmas is not always in the vii
ter season, much of vessels cruisir
being done in the southern hemispher
and the 10th of December often finds IL
thermometer SO high that plunge in IL
brlny is an immense relief.
. Inc great evening amusement is a mil
strel or variety show, which brings O,
an amusing. display of talent that OF
9 would hardly believe possible until |
t nao witnessed some of the charact,
I pieces or listen to the fine singing ofte
q neard In a ships company. The origin
Jokes, which very often spare nobod,
> from the cabin windows to the haw
: poles, are always amusing, ar
8 serve for many a day after
4 hurl at the head of the poor III
!, fortunate whose peculiarities hal
been sufficiently pronounced to cate
: the ever ready eye or ear of the humo
list, who has them carefully slowed avs
until some such occasion as this DIV
nun chance to numerically bring the
q forth. When pipe down. comes. ii
. verdict is that, although away fro
r. nome, relatives and the conventionaliti
, OF the holiday season that ones EARL
years have been accustomed to, the d,