Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1891-04-10
SEA-GOING FOR HEALTH.
HOW TO GET READY FOR 1T AND
WHAT TO EXPECT.
Things Worth Considering Before IA Start
Is Made-Take n Sailing ship IL
You Want n Complete Change
OF SURROUNDINGS.

a change can be more readily made by
an ordinary citizen than by going TO
sea in IA sailing ship. To go TO sea in
a passenger-carryin steamer is not TO
make IA long voyage. Moreover, the
change in diet is not apt to be worth
mentioning. because passengers on
steamers commonly live higher than
they do at home.
The first thing. then for man TO
do who wishes TO make II long sea voy
age is To decide how long voyage he
should make. and then choose a des-
tination.
The cost OF such "A trip will vary
with the tastes or desires OF the pas
senger. He can go for nothing. very
often, if he will work his passage as n
sailor, and if the ordinary shore citi-
zen wants change in life so complete
us to be absolutely stunning let him
try working his passage around the
Horn, for instance. But where he
would be "A real passenger the cost in
sailing ship can be put down at from
81 to s. n day for the passage.
For clothing, the passenger can
carry such old suits as he has on hand.
no matter how old or worn out they
may be. The typical skipper mends
his sea toys with a palm needle and
sail Irvine. and eats mustard on his
! duff he will not care how the passen-
ger dresses; neither will the passenger
care after IA day at sea. 1t need
scarce be said that suit TO be worn in
port should be carried, and the passen-
| ger will make no mistake If he carries
the best he has, no matter where he is
! going. For underwear. woollen goods
and II plenty of them may be needed
even in "A voyage to the south because
either at the start or on returning.
winter or summer a cold gale may
give one chill off New York or any
northern port.
Certain other things should he in
cluded in an outfit. Naseline is one
thing, and adhesive plaster another
Long fish lines for deep sea fishing
might come handy in calm or for
catching gulls, We're the passenger so
disposed. a dozen or two wire screw
hooks will come handy. Above all
things an abundant supply OF light
no better or cheaper choice can be
made, perhaps, than a stack Of old
numbers of any tirst-class magazine.
These cost ten ccnts each at q second |
hand book store.
When all the preliminaries are over
the passenger goes down 10 the pier |
and climbs on board and carries his |
outfit into the cabin. He will find the !
cabin door or hatch, as the case may |
be. pretty low, so that he will smash |
his derby several times going in and |
out before he gets accustomed 10 it. |
The stateroom will be found narrow. |
and so will the bunk The light will |
be dim, but not frequently this will be |
an advantage; he will be les. likely to
see the cockroackes and the soiled /
condition OF the walls. lie may even |
want to 60 to shore and buy a
curtain TO hang over the port that |
gives him light, and sometimes he /
will want curtain for the bunk as |
well. He will put up the wire hooks |
and hang up his clothing, and stow his |
reading matter in the bunk under his |
mattress. Then he will go out on |
deck and watch the seaman get the |
ship to sea. They will hcave up the !
anchor, perhaps singing n shanty as |
they do so; they will make fast a |
hawser to big ttmbcrs while a tug |
takes the other end OF it; they will set |
the sails, and away she goes. 1t will !
be most novel and interesting OK
perience TO the traveller.
But once outside the trouble OF the |
passenger will begin. He will he sea |
sick, OF course, but that il of little !
account, even though it last a week. |
1t will do him good. But there are |
other things to worry him. For in. |
stance, he is now shut up ia very mar |
row limits with a set of men who are |
accustomed TO a manner of life wholly |
different from anything he has ever !
seen. They are men who have !
'crawled in at the hawsepipcs and !
worked their way aft. =" have been com
mon sailors before they were officers,
and still have the habits and tastes Of
common sailors. 1t must not be
thought that all ship officers come
under this description, but a majority
Of them do. Yankee shippers are
more frequently gentlemen-men OF
good habits and breeding than those
of any other nationality. but the pas
sengcr Is pretty sure to find things roll
his stomach when at the table o,her
than the motion OF the ship. The
table manners OF the average sailing
ship cabin are on level with those To
be seen the cheapest New York res
taurants.
The Captain and the mates will
almost invariably try TO make life
pleasant and agreeable for the passen-
gers; they find life at sea monotonous
and lonesome and are glad 10 have
another kind of man along. They are
not unlikely 10 be oppressive in their
kindness-to interfere with the passen-
ger when he wants TO be alone. Should
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