Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1890-12-23
JACK TAR'S CHRISTMAS.

war. 3lefIee CIlstInas. me no sabey i1e!
as he came down from the foretopsail
yard. where he had been lending hand
to furi the remnant of a topsail, blown
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
snow which covered the vessels deck, is
very good exposition of the practical
side of our universal Christian holiday.
as frequently seen by the hardy toilers
Of the 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 pnd-
ding and other tixings, and not infre-
Quently. as the sea remembers nothing
and pays no homage to customs, no mat
ter how ancient, imagination of grand
banquet can alone be relied upon to APP
pease the appetite: as .'hot water and
spoons are very apt to be about all that
can be obtained in the way of a square
meal, and even the luxury of the hos
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. if. in
deed, it be practicable thing to keep up
the fires at all In such a case the cud
of discomfort, so to speak, must be rep
resented, as the song gives it, 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 is
quietly given to the half frozen man by
some kindhearted officer as he comes
down from aIoft, and before drinking he
manages, as a rule. to pull off his cap
and to say Merry Christmas" which is
about all the circumstances of the case
will admit of. Wind and weather per-
hitting, however, only the absolutely
necessary things are done, and the
Christmas dinner is made as sumptuous
as the paymasters stores will permit, or
the foresight of the mess caterer in Law
ing in something extra before the ship
left port 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 IMPROVE
dent, the day generally finds him
/ depending on 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 bags
containing the sailors personal effects
are piped up and the men given an OPP
| 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 men
as comfortable and the day as much of a
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 a
good market, all that it affords is brought
off to grace the board, and the scene pre-
sented on the berth deck of one of our
men-ofwar on such occasions is lively
and picturesque in the extreme. The
mess tables are screened of with canvas
and bunting, and very often evergreens
are used to complete the ornamentation,
each mess wing with the others to see
which can make the prettiest show. An
extra dollar or two apiece is usually
served oIt, ito put in the mess" the
aggregate sum making great possibilities
in the way of procuring the good
things which are not found in the daily
ration. The tin pot, pan and spoon which
form Jacks cover are made to shine like
polished silver, the mess cooks taking .
pride In getting the brightest of polishes
for the occasion. Some more stylish,
though perhaps less thrifty. nesses. get
crockery from shore. which sets off the
table very prettily, and possibly to some
of them seems more homehke and gives
an air Of paying little more attention
to the observances of the day: one might
say, | suppose. a little better relish, per-
/ haDS to the feast But whoever knew