The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1891-02-27
A SAILORS LIFE.
How They Occupy Themselves When Not
at Work on Beck.


at Work on Beck.
To say what goes on between-decks
would be to tell the story of the DISPOSE.
sitions and natures of those who go
down to the sea in ships. Some man
dances, and he always finds a mate who
is ready to pat for him. or better still,
to play the banjo or accordion Some
men sing, and singing is always pleas
ant on the water. The sailor has a
strong love for music, and revercntial
awe for him who can bring forth sweet
sounds either by voice or instrument.
So you shall see him when the ships
band practises gather forward to listen
to the attempts Of the official musicians
to master something new againt the
next dance that the officers will give
when they reach port
Some of the men play checkers. and
some of them tell incredible yarns to
credulous youngsters. All OF them
enjoy themselves, and all outbreaks are
prevented by the marine on duty.
What sailors do on board ship has been
often told. They play and work. They
eat in groups, or messes, each mess hav-
ing its cook, who is not really a cook,
but caterer who is paid by the men
for looking after their comfort, for buy
ing the extras, or ''shore grub" which
consists of both necessarieS and lux.
uries that are not included in the gov
eminent ration.
| Life between-decks includes also that
of the~o&e&fs,- but Is Il is only the present
| system of officers messes, of which it is
worth while saying much. Officers are
very much like men Of their class every
where, and most of them are sometimes
dreadfully bored at sea when they are
not actually on duty. They can read,
and they can write in a diary, or get
their mails ready, and they can talk and
play cards; but talking and playing
cards for three years with the same set
of men are conducive to yawning.
The wardroom officers, over whom
the executive officer presides, have de-
cidedly the best of the captain and the
admiral, for they have some society, and
even quarrelsome society is preferable
in certain moods of the human mind to
solitude. But the captain keeps to his
apartment, which is guarded by the or
d.rly and both he and the admiral are
surrounded by mass of chilly Ell.
quette. When the captain grows tired
of reading, he can smoke, and console
| himself with the relic elton that when
he is admiral ne will have his staff mess
with him. When he grows weary of re-
fleeing on the glorics of admiralhood
ne can play solitaire, and when he is
! tired of that. he can denounce his own
idiocy in yielding to such an amusement,
The wardroOm officers mess together
The captain meSses alone, and the adj
miral messeS alone. Sometimes the cap
tain and the admiral live very much to
gether. Usually their quarters, which
are in the ste m of the ship, are so ar
ranged that they can be thrown into
one set of apartments. The admira
and his fleet captain ought certainly Il
be on such terms of friendship tina
living together would be pleasure. bu
there have been instances where Il shor
experience at sea has been quite enouyl
to master what had seemed to be ;
friendship ashore, and to effectuallJ
close the door between the cabins o
the admiral and the captain. Then The
two would not speak until the end O.
the cruise, if they We're compelled to re
main together for SO long time
Henry l.. Nelson, in Harper's Weekly