The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1891-02-28
A sAlloR,s LIFE.
How They Occupy Themselves whsn Not
Mt Work on Deck.

How They occupy themselves Wheh NOT
mt Work on Deck.
To say what goes on between-decks
would be to tell the story of the disposi-
sitions and natures of those who go
down to the sea in ships. Some man
dances, and he always finds q 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 reverential
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 it's cook, who is not really 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 luxI
uries that are not included in the gov
ernment ration.
Life between-decks includes also that
of the officers, but it 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 tC
solitude. But the captain keeps to his
apartment, which is guarded by the or
derby and both he and the admiral are
surrounded by mass of chilly eti
quette. When the captain grows tired
of reading, he can smoke, and console
himself with the rehe ction that wher
he is admiral he will have his staff mess
with him. When he grows weary of re
fecting on the glories of admiralhood
he can play solitaire, and when he is
tired of that, he can denounce his owr
idiocy in yielding to such an amusement
The wardroom officers mess together
The captain messes alone, and the ad
miral messes alone. Sometimes the cap
tain and the admiral live very much to
gether. Usually their quarters, whicl
are in the ste IN of the ship, are so ar
ranged that they can be thrown int
one set of apartments The admira
and his fleet captain ought certainly t.
be on such terms of friendship tina
living together would be apleasure, bu
there have been instances where q shor
experience at sea has been quite enougl
to master what had seemed to be
friendship ashore, and to effectuall..
close the door between the cabins o
the admiral and the captain. Then tn
two would not speak until the end O
the cruise, if they were compelled to re
main together for so long time.-
Henry l.. Nelson, in Harper's Weekly