Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-02-12
LIFE BETWEEN-DECKS.
Strange Experience of Those Who go Down
to the Sea ia Ships,


Harpers Weekly.
TO say what goes on between-decks
wonld be to tell the story of the DISPOSE
tions al ma ures of those who go down to
the sea in ships. Some man dances, and
he always finds mate who is ready to pat
for him, or, better still, to play the banjo
or accordion. Some men sing, and sing
ing is always pleasant on the water. The
sailor has strong love for music, ard a
reverentiaI awe for him who can bring
forth sweet sounds either by voice or in
strument So you shall see him when the
ships band practises gather forward to
listen to the attempts of the official music
ians to master something new against 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 cred
ulous youngsters. All of them enjoy
themselves, and all outbreaks are prevent
ed by the marine on duty.
What sailors do on board ship has been
often told They play and work. They
eat IN groups or masses, each mass having
is cook, who is not really cook, but a
caterer who is paid by the men for looking
after their comfort for buying the extras.
or ''shore grubs, which consists Of both
necessaries and Injuries that are not in
Guided IN the government ration.
Life between-decks includes also that of
the officers, but it is only the present sys-
tenn of officers messes Of which it is worth
while saying much. Officers are very
much like men of their class everywhere,
and most of them are sometimes dreadful
ly bored at sea when they are not actually
on duty. They can read, and they can
write in diary, or get their mails ready,
ana they can talk and play cards; out talk
ing and playing cards for three years with
the same set of men are conducive to yawn-
ing.
The wardroom officers, over whom the
executive officers preside. have decidedly
the best of the captain and the admiral, for
they have some society, and even quarrel
some society is preferable to certain moods
of the human mind to solitude. But the
captain keeps to his apartment, which Is
guarded by the orderly, and both he and
the admiral are surrounded by mass OF
chilly etiquette. When the captain grows
tired of reading, he can smoke. and con-
sole himself with the reflection that when
he is admiral he will have his staff mess
with him. When he grows weary of re,
| aecting on tie glories of admiralhood. he
can play solitaire, and when he Is tired
of that, he can denounce his own idiccy
in yielding to such an amusement.
The wardroom officers mess together
| The captain messes alone and the admiral
messes alone. Sometimes the captain and
the admiral live very much together
Usually their quarters, which are in the
stern of the ship, are SO arranged that they
can be thrown into one set of apartments
The admiral and his feet cantain ought
certainly to be on such terms of friendship
that living together would be pleasure
But there have been instances where 6
short experience at sea has been quite
enough to master what had seemed to be q
friendship ashore. and to effectually close
the door between the CABINS of the admira
and the captain. Then the two would moi
speak until the end of the cruise. if they
were compelled to remain together sc
long.