New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-11-16
VAGARIES OF THE M CTICAL LANDSAAN.
,,oxy MIN NUISANCE WAS ABATED-A BELL
prov THAT STRUCK THE HALF HOURS.

NOW A MILD NUISANCE WAS ABATED-A BELL
BUOY THAT STRUCK THE HALF HOURS.
The regular season of sea monsters is practically
over and Il is noticeable that the old serpent sho"ed
mora retiring disposition this summer than has been
his won't The watering places that knew him OF OLD
have scarcely heard of him. Perhaps he feels that he
is no longer the fashion and has Withdrawn TO the
kind sea caves to wait for better times But there Is
one sea monster that has never yet been known 10
desert his post This is the nautical landsman. NO
steamer ever crosses the ocean without MN. "heh
Won see man pacing the deck as II he owned IL, ana
dressed as much like the officers OF the ship as ne can
be without wearing the actual badges OF the company
service that is the nautical landsman The chances
are that he has never been before, but he can
tell more about navigation than all the rest OF the
ship's company put together, barring whatever otnec
nautical landsmen may chance to be on board IL lib
only envous pride that prevents the captain from ask
ing his advice and 1t Is really wonderful now man
can know so much who has had few opportunities to
learn.
Sometimes the nautical landsman is BORE and some
times he is only amusing. One Of the former sort
who crossed the Atlantic one OF the fast lines r
Gently chose to suit OF navy blue, Win prasS
buttons and cap with an anchor embroidered on inc
front of it in red and gold He looked SO much hke
an officer Of the ship that the passengers often mis-
took him for one, and found the resemblance which
several of them accordingly formed an offensive and
defensive alliance to get rid Of the nuisance and they
agreed on this plan Each was to go to the nautical
landsman I'm turn ask him some question, pretend
ing to mistake him for an officer II one application
of the remedy did not effect cure second was to
be tried, and as many more passengers as possible
we're to be induced to help in the work IL beg par
don sir,n said one, but could you tell me about now
soon we are likely to some icebergs' That is, OF
ALL "WlIl
Won kindly explain TO u.s. asked another, why the
water is such bright green behind the ship, when 1t
isn't green at all anywhere elsei' "My friends and
l., said q third, anxious to see the engines are
we allowed to do SOL We should be very glad II III
could come with us and explain how they work, you
are not too busy 1--WE have had dispute about
the longitude of Fastnet Rock" said another, and
we have agreed to leave 1t to You: will you kindly
tell us what it is exactly" Does the captain really
have much to do with the running of the ship or does
he leave it mostly to you 2" and so on all day.
The first day the poor wretch lad to explain TWEEN
tythree times by actual count that he had nothing to
do with the ship The second day he explained II
twenty six times before gong sounded for luncheon
He did not come to luncheon at all. though he had
never missed course before since the third day OF
the VOYAGE when he first began to take uncheon nc
was not In the afternoon he appeared ut anner
I'm a dark gray suit, and when he came on deck nc
wore helmet shaped cap that looked II 1t had be
longed to q set that hung in the barber-shop A.,
A
other day met the captain ana said "Captain you
have the horrible liar UP there on the iookou,
ON the foremost that / ever saw Inc captain
shuddered as his eye at the trgsty seaman
0,,isa and asked How is that" "Why.' said the
nautical landsman. the other night when we were YER,
having that rough weather woke up ana heard mn
cling ont .AlI's wellp and assure you nobody and
nothing was well in my stateroom or In any OF those
hut the nautical landsman Is not found on the sea
alone He delights In the river and harbor excursion
steamer, for he is not seasick there, at least moi
ALWAYS Going down the harbor on q small steamer
a few DAYS ago, single stroke OF bell was heard
What does that mean,' said some ONE Half pas
& = replIed the nautical landsmsn promptly. But
do the bells strike the half hours on these little ex
cnrsion boats 7, asked the first. $50 IL seems. thu
nautical andsman answered, showing his watch. which
indicated Just 30 with tho air Of having solved on,
~ ha mysteries OF the ages. II was that bell bu0,
out there that struck said third. "The wave tina
came along just then was the only one tns monn;
O'clock no doubt two waves would come and srik
S,Honaiiy hut begged the discoverer OF the bell buo,
not TO mention his name II he published the story.