Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-11-04
ten hard to collect, and harder to keep and

ten hard to collect, and harder to keep, and
he comes in for all the criticism on ac-
tention is to suit all he will soon find it i'm
possible, for while one may like onions,
another may find them impossible, and
then and there ensues misunderstanding
for the caterer to settle.
Ten o'clock is the time generally fixed for
turning in,' and all lights are put out,
and woe to the belated one who comes in
after that hour. from the theater, or a
dinner. or a call on the latest best girl,
and turns on a light, for from every side
come mutterings of disapproval, often &C.
companied by the nearest convenient mis-
silica shoe, or cane. or camp stool, and the
late arrival Is compelled to turn out the
light in self-defense, and seek his bunk or
hammock in darkness. But II is when a
crowd Of beach combers' (as those who
go ashore are called) return at a late hour,
reasonably convivial and insist on turning
out the ship keepers" Gas those who stay
aboard are styled that the fun begins, and
the question has to be decided. generally in
a good natured scuffie. who shall succeed.
Harmony and Discord.
Tastes will always differ. and one may
choose to practice the latest agony on a
fiddle or guitar while another desires to
sleep. and in the ensuing struggle victory
Is not always to the strong in muscle, for
a sharp tongue may work wonders in 81
lencing an obstreperous musician.
Some one is always losing clothes and
searching everywhere for them. Then
the unfortunate servants come in for a
'combing down." And sometimes it seems
strange that any one can be found who
would consent to be a steerage servant
for every one wants him for everything.
The best servants are generally japanese,
and on one ship a Japanese servant named
Shiracki was the most popular person con-
nected with the steerage, judging from the
number Of calls made for him. Everything,
from sewing on a button to mixing a drink,
was demanded of him; and 1t was all done
In good humor, but with many q quick
witted retort, that created more mirth
than anger among the officers. When in
port, and grand ball or reception is to
take place on shore, then all is confusion,
with six or eight dressing at once for the
occasion. Some one Is always short a neck
tie or a pair Of patent feathers or dress
shirt and he worries every one else trying
to borrow the missing articles, without
which he cannot go. Then often the scene
after the BALI is almost as lively. If
majority have been out the lights 20 on
and, in spite Of remonstrances from the
sleepy ''shipkeepers." they are awakened
to hear an account of the good time they
have missed.
The bane Of steerage life is the man who
Is always borrowing and never returning
and he Is often such good fellow other
wise that one can hardly refuse cane or
necktie. or hat: but If the cane comes back
in two pieces, or the hat with a hole in it,
1t is hard to make the borrower understand
that new one would be acceptable.
Visitors are generally well received In the
steerage. and cigars from Havana. with
good foreign wines, and a sprinkling OF
good stories. all picked up on foreign voy-
ages, help to confirm the visitors opinion
that life on the ocean wave" Is an ideal
existence. Or the visitors may be charming
young ladies who think ut is just too coy
and cute for anything" and overlook such
an incident as the accidental display Of a
half-filled decanter or a box of poker chips
Ia 40 On1h 1fpfn tn n,,1
and steerage life at best is hard. 1t il
said that Junior officers prayer always
closes with petition for a commission
which will give him a room Of his own.
In some OF the very latest cruisers rooms
are provided for all. but am afraid II an
officer has never been crowded for two
years into sixteen-foot steerage with
nearly as many people, he can never ap-
preciate the luxury of state room six feet
square, and he can never have the happy
memory OF two years Bohemianism in
the "steerage," for in the haze Of memory
the unpleasant features are lost, and only
the good times remain.