The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1892-07-29
LIFE ON A sCHOOLsHlP.
Practical Education of Lads Who Love
to Go to Sea.


Practical Education of Lads Who Love
| to Go to Sea.
About five out of every ten boys long to
become sailors, and it is well for the world
at large that such an ambition is not al
ways strangled in its birth by parents
and guardians; for while ships continue
to be built mariners can not be dispensed
with. The idea Of fitting out school
ship for the practical education of sea-
loving lads who are allowed the bent OF
their inclinations was an excellent one,
and has proved in every way successful.
The internal arrangements Of Saint
Mary's, sloop of war of one thousand
tons given by Government for the pur-
pose specified, are so comfortable that
green boys are not discouraged with q
sailors life at the outset. The quarters
for all hands are far superior to those OF
the regular navy, says Once q Week. as
more space is available for the crew.
The boys eat their meals on the gun-deck,
from low, long tables fronted by lower
benches; above them are hooks from
which they swing their hammocks,
which are made of canvas. They keep
all their belongings in a bag, and as
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 how to sew, instruction
in that useful art is given twice each
week by the tailor. Candidates for ad-
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
for the sea and the life of sailor, and
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 underclothiHg
and socks, one pair rubber boots, one
dark blue monkey-jacket.o one black silk
neckerchief, three handkerchiefs, one
strong jackknife, three towels, brushes,
combs, needles, thread, wax, tape and
buttons. The 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 ir
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 rapidity 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
furl AID reef a sail. A course on the
training ship would fit any apt boy, after
two OF three cruises, for the position of
mate in some good ship or of petty Off
Ger upon some mail steamer, as the new
postal subsidy law requires that each
ship carrying the mails shall have an
officer of the Government on board.