The Red Cloud chief., 1894-04-27

\ CUSTOM THAT WILL ENDURE AS
LONG AS THE NAVY ENDURES.

Drinking the Toast to "sweethearts and
Wives" Every Saturday Night-r Makes
the Men In the Navy Better, Truer, No
bier and Drawer.
Tho people Of this country are very
fond of their naval officers, 80 far az
they know them. It would be a good
deal better for the country IL they were
better known, for among them are to be
found as large q percentage of fine,
brainy, lovable and we'll bred men as In
any Of the familiar professions.
There is not much s~entimentality In
the navy, but there is a deal VI senti.
ment, which is a vastly different thing.
Certain cynical young women who have
met officers and who have noticed how
attentive they are sometimes think that
this is merely a dainty, sham devotion"
bestowed upon young women whom they
meet at every port they touch. But this
IL not true. There is more genuine chiv-
airy among the officers Of the United
States navy than is to be found among
any class Of men on shore.
1t Is ono OF the conventions Of the
navy to place women upon q pedestal,
and there Is no finer convention in the
world. 1t may be because that for 30
much Of their time they are denied the
delight Of seeing women But they new
or forget them.
Every Saturday night in every United
States warship afioat there takes place q
ceremony so beautiful, 30 exquisite, that
1t seems to have escaped from the land
Of chivalry and wandered into American
life. There, tlattered and amazed at its
welcome, it has remained ever since and
made tho men in the navy better, truer,
nobler and drawer, for it must be con-
fessed that the officers are, first Of all,
splendidly American.
When q ship is under way, there Is no
woman aboard her. She has no place
there. Maybe each man carries an image
Of one in his thoughts during his watches
on deck. OF these things no does not
speak. But once each week he comes
forth boldly with his fellows and rever-
emily sends greeting from across the seas
to her. From the China sea, from stormy
Cape Horn, from the peaceful Mediter.
ranean comes the message.
"~Sweethearts and wives!' That was
ever and always will be the sailors toast.
And when it Is given aboard Uncle Sans
ships 1t Is q tribute to the sweetness, the
purity, the beauty Of American woman.
hood. There are men who have drunk
that toast every Saturday night for more
than 90 years. 1t is never old to them.
The officers would as soon think Of pass
ing unnoticed an important disciplinary
regulation as passing Saturday night
without this ceremony. 1t does not mat
ter whether the ship is on the high seas,
or anchored In a foreign port, or lying at
the dock In the Brooklyn navy yard, SO
long rs her mon are aboard they drink
the toast. 1t is q custom as old as the
navy. twill endure "a long as the navy
endures.
When the supply Of wine is running
short during a long cruise, the officers
deny themselves during the week that
they may have it for this toast on Satur.
day nights.
The servants are well trained. They
have the champagne nicely chilled and
open it almost without orders. After
the dinner is finished the executive off.
Ger arises. Very likely there is gray in
his hair. His face is Redeemed by wealth |
or and scanned by years, for men who |
reach position cannot be young. But his
heart is still young. They have dined
well, and the content of we'll filled stom- |
achs shines on their faces. But when tho
commander rises they are still. !
He stands straight with his hand up.
the champagne bubbling deli
Gentlemen, are your glasses ~chargedY'
There Is not II which is empty. The
rise and bow their heads in an.
swer.
II give you" (the lieutenant command
Or speaks earnestly, and there is a soft
glimmer in his e~yes(-"I give you sweet
hearts and wives. God bless themp
"Sweethearts and wives-God bless
them" comes in chorus from the officers,
Then they drink, and IL there runs down
their spinal cords u little thrill, and II
eyes grow moist and their hands
shake o bit 1t IL q tribute to themselves
and to American womanhood to whom
toast is drunk. With something in
their breasts throbbing like the great en-
sines, and the swish and gurgle Of the
dulling their ears, there is con-
lured before them, like the azure MIN
bus OF u dream, u home with a soft
voiced woman and the prattle of a child,
'r a slender, girlish figure bending her
lead to hide the love light in her eyes.
Saturday night the officer at sea feels
hat he is very near home.
Every n knows that naval officers
ire famous for the attractions which
hey have for the fair. This may show
hat it isn't the uniform alone which is
he magnet.-New York World,