Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-08-17
REEFING THE SAILS.
Success in Life Depends on Knowing
Just When to Do It
DANGER In TOO MUCH CANVAS.
Wreck That 0vertakes Men Who Cannot
Bear to Fall Behind.
TIE COUNTRY PARSONS PHILOSOPHY
WRITTEN FOR THE DrsfArcH.l

than q clipper ship in tull sail, with stiff
breeze on the quarter. How she leaps upon
the bosom of the restless ocean, how saucily
she plunges her figure head into the bound
lug billow, and emerging therefron, shakes
herself like young retriever. Merrlly she
dances and prances along, now upon the
crest, and again in the trough. The helms
man keeps her we'll up to the wind, and, as
he tpins the wheel when she veers point,
he is proudly conscious Of power possessed
by his giant arm, q power that controls and
guides the monster ship. Obeying his will,
the helm answers right royalty, and never
sail but bends to the breeze and does its part
in the onward surge and plunge.
A steamship at full speed is a noble sight
to gaze upon, but sailing vessel seems to
have more life. The romance and heroism
of old ocean still clusters around the oak
and canvas of 30 years ago. Tossing the
spray up to the yard-arms, with every stitch
of canvas bellying to the breeze. we hear the
glad cry of the outlook forward, as he rings
the passing hours, "eight bells, and alfs
weIlI" Homeward bound, the seaman sings
his merry song, or down below. in swinging
hammock. dreams of green fields, ivy clad
cottage. ruddy wife and romping children,
joyously expecting his long delayed return.
.
When Adversely Comes.
But fair winds do not hold. At sunset
the barometer begins to settle down. In the
northwest gray cloud caps the horizon,
and, sail as gaily as she will, it grows larger
and larger every moment. The watch below
l>o flA a nd a III
shorten sailr' There is presently Tapping
and o cracking OF loosely hanging canvas.
Trumpeted commands and sometimes coarse
oaths follow each other rapidly, and finally,
from the companionway comes the moment
Gus cry: "All hands on deck; smart now,
every manP'
"Aye, age, sir" growls the sailor as he
tumbles from his berth, seizes his SOU u'wester
and hurries on deck. The sea is inky black;
here and there patches of crested foam be-
spot its surface like wild white sea birds in
a fright A few minutes and everything is
slowed, Top gallant, glib and spanker.
Reefed everything; yes, double reefed;
mainsail furled, spencer and staysails set.
1t comes like herd of wild bison on the
plains. She groans before the storm,
but. many miles away from lee
shore, she SAFELY rides the tempest
and laughs at borean blasts. None too
soon, however, were those expansive sheets
furled home, for had the gale struck her un-
der full spread she would soon have found
cred, and another would have been added to
the many mysteries that the sea enfolds
within its capacious bosom. It is far safer
to shorten sail than boastingly brave the
tempests of life, or braggingly laugh, as did
the captain of the schooner Hesperus, when
he said:
For can weather the toughest gale
That ever wind did blow.
Men Who Carry Too Mach.
There is more than one rugged reef of
Norman's Woe, gentle reader. All the
wrecks are not in mid-ocean, nor yet upon
its craggy cliffs or sunken reefs. We are
living in times when many men carry too
much sail. The business man looks ahead
and thinks be sees An opportunity. he is
safely sailing along the gulf stream Of
ordinary prosperity. Trade winds are
steadily blowing, and league upon league
is added to the log of gradually increasing
fortune. He stands upon the poop deck of
his apparently slowly sailing craft, and
looking through the telescope Of impatience,
he sees others sailing past him. He cannot
bear it. He spreads more sail.
Speculation takes the place of sturdy,
strong endeavor. The suburban cottage
grows into perfect palace. The horse and
buggy is transformed into a carriage and
pair, The wife discards calicos and mer-
inos for silks and satins. The single servant
is multiplied into three or four. The man
of all work begins to wear a little band of
silver ribbon around his high hat. A coat Of
arms is painted on the carriage. A trip TO
Europe for the family every year, a more
elevated position in society. How grandly
the ship does saill Pile on canvas,
here spanker and there jib:
But a crash comes. She reels and
trembles, this mighty leviathan of enter
prise and push. She has struck the coral
reef of speculation ON the coast of Despair.
"All hands on deckP' But it is too late.
A sad faced wife returns to her home to find
q reg flag hanging outside, and a rude un-
friendly voice inside trying to sell the house
and its treasured contents. Where Is the
husband and fatber7 Ask the Shiny weeds
at the bottom of the river yonder. They
alone can tell the sad story. He carried too
large a spread of canvas. Better reef q lit
tie. Don't you think so?
A Familiar story.
A Young man goes from his country home
to the city. He is his mothers joy and his
fathers pride. A position Of trust and re-
sponsibility suits both his taste and his
ability. Hitherto his character has been
exemplary. But city life into1icates him.
Its whirl is too rapid, and just where he was
thought to be strongest he fails. Evil COM
panions induce him to enter questionable
places Of resort. He knows nothing of the
Quiet detective who is shadowing his move
ments. One fine morning, when his head is
aching, he is called into the Office and
politely informed that his services will be
| dispensed with. He has committed no
crime; is not guilty Of any misdemesnor,
but the firm Of Lucre b Co. know that he
spreads more canvas than the depth OF hold
or width of beams allows and that he must
inevitably founder.
"Better take in q reef, my boy. ere it il
too late. Did you ever try to shorten sail
in cat-boat in q gale of wind? have.
It's risky business, my son. It's always
best to keep the sheet line in your hand, so
that you can let it run when q blow comes.
Luff little now and then, if you want to
make against the wind, but hold her loose,
hold her loose. A ship looks better in stays
than upside down. Better shorten sail
Too Many Sails.
Jack Of all trades and master Of none de-