Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-08-28
WHY BOYS GO TO SEA.
The Charm of Sailor Uress-Romantic
Notions of Foreign Lands.

Notions of Foreign Lands.
I was but a very little lad when l first went
TO sea-rny age - years and 6 months. Why
went to sea can hardly say. l had GER
tainly no clear views. Maybe the reading Of
story books about the ocean life raised a kind
of laundering in me; but think it was the
desire to shine in buttons, to wear q pair Of
blue cloth trousers flowing at the feet a
little jacket with pretty brass bound sleeves,
q colored shirt with a collar lying well open
at the throat and embellished with black
silk handkerchief tied in q proper sailors
knot, TIE ends twinkling to every breeze like
the fly of streamer pulling at mast. cap
on the bLck Of my head with sparkling de-
vice above the peak OF it representing q
golden wreath encircling flag beautifully
colored with blue and silver silk l say it
was yearning to walk attired in clothes Of
this kind that ended in my going to sea.
My notions of the deep were entirely TO
mantle thought Of coral Islands, green
savannahs, forests of fruit trees, savages
with bows and arrows, great elephants with
little black men riding cross legged on their
heads, blue rivers winding toward the pur-
pie Of distant mountains, with shining white
cities upon their banks where the roofs Of
the houses of the nobility were garnished
with gold and silver and precious stones,
where there were ducks that laid e1neralds
and hens rubies, and where there were the
funniest monkeys in the world too be had for
the asking. l promised one of my little sis
tiers to bring her a box of gold dust and tho
ivory tusk Of an elephant; for another was
to procure bird Of paradise, two hunming
birds and a lizard that wasn't poisonous. To
my brother Tommy, who was two years
younger than myself, I promised real
canoe, and rather think added that If it
was to be managed would present him with
a live savage to go fishing with him in il.
knew geography pretty well, though my
ideas Of distant lands were little confused
when came to think Of their product: but IL
seemed to me that fellow only needed TO go
to sea TO obtain what he wanted The world
was very big, / thought, and when nlnn
sailed into it he was bound to meet with
everything that was wonderful and worth
having. It never struck Inc that I might
make voyage to q place where there were
no elephants, no gold dust, no canoes, no
savages even, merely CIVILIZED black man or
two such as you may meet any day, bland,
clean and shining, fl O London street. In
deed, no more realized the sort OF country
might first visit than I did tina life must
lead IN order TO get TO IL There was great
deal q fruit mixed CD In my ssafarin9
dream; the brass buttons and the badge stood
first, and then my vision was as pleutfuiiy
stocked as big market with coooanuts, ba-
nanas, oranges, dates, custard apples and
other frs. class eating.
] knew something abou. ships; had lived
half of my little lie IL seaport town, and
coUld talk OF bowsprits, quarter boats, dead
eyes and jibs without biindering; DC: Of tbs
hardships Of a sailors life, the food Re eats,
tie work he has 10 do, vas, Ct corse, quite
ignorant Il hiss oftaa amused and Interested
ue since 10 ask boy, say Ct i2j<.. who
has tod his papa and mamma tia. he Is de-
20 SO % $50, what als notions oz tbs
calling are As rule I fad them wonder |
tally ike what mine we're Il Is partly g
idea Of getting Away froa sehool. partly tic |
dream Of becoming fasa eli At crne, partly |
a fancy Of pirates, buried trsaEne, glitter |
ing uniforms and Are czrsoGttes 60 b gos |
somehow and brooght bc0e, tia whole col |
ured with lie light Ct tie torrance which |
shines very g.or.ous,r npoa tie rniais O; |
boys when they are httss, DC: which s.ewiy |
tades a. ooe gets old s,ad oaier. I'll lie .zrrs /
Is gray ruz.a steus oca s. O ccsd Sovexube- 1
iay.-Clark Resell
Dowu s1u-a -'rseio1asre- y r,xa who |
raises a large rzmhsr Ct roeio1x Al ia /
s1elora2res exec. 20 become Srslsonasrvx 1