Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1892-07-09

Practical Education of Lnds who Love
to Go to Sen.


About five out of every ten boys long %
become sailors. and it is well for the world
at ltrge that such an ambition is not al
WAYS strangled in its birth hy parents
and guardians; for while ships continue
to he built mariners can not be dispensed
with. The idea Of fitting out school
ship for the practical education of sea-
owing lads who are allowed the hent OF
their inclnations vas an excellent one,
.nd has proved in every way successful.
Che internal arrangeme is of Saint
.lnry's, sloop of war Of one thousand
ons given by Government for tho pur
,osa specified, are so comfortable that
green" boys are mot discouraged with
eailor's life at the outset. The quarters
Tor all hands are far superior to th"s' OF
the regular navy, says Once Week. ~
more space is available for the ere V.
The boys eat their meals on the gun-deck,
from low, long tables fronted by lower
5enches above them are hooks from
which they swing their hammocks.
which are made of canvas. They keel
all their belongings in bag, and ~
they do not wear stiff hats nor var
nished boots, being jammed into a bag
does Their clothes no harm. AS every
sailor must know ho " to sew, instruction
in that useful art is given twice each
week by the tailor. Candidates for adj
mission must not be under the age of fif
teen years nor over twenty. of sound
constitution and have no physical de-
fects. They must also have a fondness
r., Il, 81 of wi
come well recommended as to character,
ct cetera.
The necessary outfit that each lad is
required to furnish him self consists OF
two pairs OF boots. warm undercothing
and socks, one pair rubber boots, ono
dark blue monkey jacket, one black silk
neckerchief, three handkerchiefs, ono
strong jackknife, three towels, brushes.
combs, needles, thread, wax, tape and
buttons. Tie ship provides two suits of
clothes-one of blue, for dress, and one
white duck suit-caps, hammock and
blanket. Each boy must deposit thirty
dollars to defray the expense of the two
suits for all the time he is on the ship
This sum is refunded if he decides not
to stay at the commencement of the
second year.
But the event of the year is the annual
cruise, which generally commences in
May. The time at sea is devoted to navi-
cation and working the ship. the work
being done by the boys, directed and
helped by half dozen regular sailors.
a certain amount of education is neces
sary before they can be taught naviga-
ton. But the rapidty with which boy
will pick up nautical expressions, names
Of all the ropes, spais, ETC., is marvellous
even if he has never been upon the deck
of ship before; furling sail, splicing,
making all manner of knots, bitches.
bends, eyes and gaskets. Then to swim
is one of the first and best of practical
things taught; how to sail boat, how
to steer by compass, take bearings, box
the compass. heave the lead, and to bend,
'url d reef sail. A course on the
training ship would fit any apt boy, after
two or three cruises, for the position OF
mate in some good ship or Of petty Off.
Car upon some mail steamer, as the new
postal subsidy law requires that each
ship carrying the mails shall have al
officer Of the Government on board.