The Red Cloud chief., 1891-02-27
A SAILORS 5
How They OCCUPY Themselves When Not
at Work on Deck.

To say what goes ON b~etween-decks
would be To tell the story Of the DISPOSE
sitions and natures of those who go
down tn the SEA in ships Some man
dances, and he always finds "a mate who
il ready 10 pat for him. or, better still.
~ play tn banjo or accordion. some
men sing. and singing IL always pleas
ant on the water. The sailor has q
strong love for music. and a r-ycrrntial
awe for him who IAN bring forth sweet
sounds either by voice or instrument
No You shall see him when the ships
band practises gather forward tn listen
Ia the attempts 81 the official musicians
10 master something new sgsint the
mex dance that the officers will give
when they reach port
Some of the men play checkers, and
some of them tell incredible yarns 90
crednlous 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 messcs, each mess hav-
ing its cook. who il not really a cook.
bu; a 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 tha; are not included in the gov
ernmcnt ration.
Life trtween-decks includes also that
Of the officers, but il is only the prcsn,
system ~ officers m-s~es, Of which IL Il.
worth while saying much. Officers are
very much lik. men II their class every
where. and most Of them arr sometimes
dreadfully bored at SEA when they ar,
not actually IN duty. They can read.
and they can write in a diary. or ge,
their mails ready, and they car talk and
play cards: but talking and playing
cards for three year. with the same ~,
of men are conducive TO yawning.
The wsrdroom officers. over whom
the executive officer presideS have de-
cidedly the b.s: Of the captain and the
admiral, for they have SpSne sciety. and
even q~uarrelsume society i preferable
in certain mopis q. the human mind e.
solitude. Hut the captain keeps 20 his
apartment which - guarded by the or
derry and both he and the admiral are
surrounded by a mass If chilly cfi
quette. When the captain grows tired
Of reading. he can smoke and CONSOLE
himself with the rife ction that when
nc is admiral he will nave his stat ms.
with him When ne gru~s w~sry Of ~
secting on the giories Of admiralhood-
he cal play so.iiair~- and when be IL
tir~d Of that he can d~nounee his own
i6iocy in welding % soch an ams~n~n.
The variroosn officers mrs. together
The captain mes>es alo1e. and the sd-
mira m~>~es alone Sometimes the cap
tain and the admiral lire very nDch to-
g~sher. Usually their cuarteN which
are in the stern Of the ship. are 80 a.
ranged that they can k~ thrown INTO
ne -, of apartments Th~ ADMIRAL
and his feet captain oaxh, Certainly 10
BE- on scch terms 81 friendship tina,
living together would he apiea~zrr- 10.
there have h~cn instances whrre q sAors
experience At ~2 has h~en quite eDozsh
tn master what had seemed "a b~ .
friendship sshcr~ and fo efect1Aliy
close the door between fke cabins %
The admiral and TIE captain Ther the
two woal6 nH sp>.s Until The End -
the cruise. II they were oonpeIledso~
main ,ox~shsr far 20 h.s . zDe-
Henry l. Selson- m Harp~s Weekly.
Gs~$asrveA
The R~r Peter swunn grubosnx his
a.s6<-Eel Hy dear. I kzse made
riersa h<@rts beat ha7plty tonEghss
hare married Ave oou711
Mn S~uzn-El<reEf How can TIA:
- eve csspsesy
Mr. suunn-o yoa haven't epzn.ee