Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1891-01-09


own aristocratic cognomen. Every
Sunday he inspected all parts of the
vessel, and officers and men trembled
before his searching glance, for the
smallest speck OF dirt was sure to
tring a thunderstorm upon their
heads.
venus was no cowgirl, but the
goddess OF beauty, and his majesty 8
ship that bore her name should be a
floating palace, and not a pigsty.
Understands"
They could not we'll help under
standing this broad hint, and would
have been heartily glad il the exam
iuation had stopped at this point,
but next came the inspection of the
men themselves, and any one whose
dress and bearing were not iautless
could spare himself the trouble of
asking for leave of & bsence, Tor the
next month ut least.
Much as the captain loved neatness,
however, he was still more particular
ON the subject of good behavior, and
especially sobriety, not too CON-
mon virtue among sailors.
A man coming on board drunk att
er leave of absence might rest as
sured that he would not set foot on
shore again during the cruise, and
the captain took care that no one
should have any opportunity OF be-
coming intoxicated on board ship.
He occasionally allowed a glass of
grog during bad weather and very
hard work, but at other times not
even the steward dared take drop.
But. despite all its precautions, the
captain had on several occasionssus.
pected that some of his men were not
quite sober. He at once doubled the
watches on both main and gun
decks, and the boats crews of the
other vessels in the harbor. AS well
as the Samoans, were greatly sur
prised when, on approaching the
Venus, they saw n man armed with
a naked sword thrust his head and
shoulders from every portfolio and
examine them very minutely. The
deck watch too stared hard mt the in
nocent boats, iorsection | OF the regu-
lations said: ''See that no liquor is
brought on board"
1t might bc supposed that the men
who went on shore could bring back
any quality oil spirits very easily, if
they had not been thoroughly
searched on coming on board. The
captain made them turn out their
pockets and even take of their shoes,
but he never found any liquor and
always went away muttering: Il
can not understand t.
One day the improvised fair on
the gun-deck was especially lively.
The Samoans had brosght oornl
and shells, stuffed birds Of gray
plumage, and artisticnly wrought
mats, weapons and idols. Others OF
the natives displayed heaps of
oranges and lemons, cocoanrts.
bananas, and pineapples, and AL
though they sold these very cheaply,
they made a good profit. for the
fruit was either taken from wild
trees to which no one laid claim, cor
obtained by night without the for
mnlity of payment. The good
natured fellows were equally careless
about collecting the price of what
they sold, and, ii they detected q
sailor slyly abstr acting a pineapple
Or two. they either pretented nor IN
see the theft or laughed as it were
an excellent joke.
Not so the pigtniled sons of the
Celestial empire. however.
Adroit racals themselves they were
suspicious OF everybody else, and
their sharp little eyes kept n constant
watch upon wares and buyers. They
carefully tested every piece of money
offered in payment. which SO dis