The Press., 1894-08-23
OUR GALLANT TARS.
A CUSTOM THAT WILL ENDURE AS LONG AS THE NAVY ENDURES.

Drinking the Toast to ''Sweethearts and
 Wives'' Every Saturday Night-It Makes
 the Men In the Navy Better. Truer, No-
 bier and Braver.
 The people of this country are very fond of their naval officers, so far as they know them. It would be good deal better for the country if they were better known, for among them are to be found as large a percentage of fine, brainy, lovable and we'll bred men as in any of the familiar professions. There is not much sentimentality in the navy, but there is a deal of senti- ment, which is 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 ''dainty. sham devotion" bestowed upon young women whom they meet at every port they touch. But this is 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.
 It is one of the conventions of the navy to place women upon a pedestal, and there is no finer convention ill the world. It may be because that for so much of their time they are denied the delight of seeing women. But they nev CT forget them.
 Every Saturday night in every United States warship afloat there takes place ceremony so beautiful, so exquisite, that it seems to have escaped from the land of chivalry and wandered into American life. There, fattered and amazed at its welcome, it has remained ever since and made the men in the navy better, truer, nobler and braver, for it must be con- fessed that the officers are. first of all, splendidly American.
 When 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 he does not speak. But once each week he comes forth boldly with his fellows and rever- ently 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 Sam's ships it is 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 40 years. It 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. It 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 as her men are aboard they drink the toast. It is a custom as old as the navy. twill endure as 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 we'll trained. They have the champagne nicely chilled and open it almost without orders. After the dinner is finished the executive off, cer arises. Very likely there is gray in his hair. His face is reddened by wealth CT 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 the lieutenant commander rises they are still. He stands straight with his hand up- raised, the champagne bubbling deli ciously.
 | "Gentlemen, are your glasses charged?'' There is not one which is empty. The officers rise and bow their heads in an- swer.
 "I give you" the lieutenant command CT speaks earnestly, and there is soft glimmer in his eyesr''4 give you sweet hearts and wives. God bless themr'
 "Sweethearts and wives-God bless themv' comes in chorus from the officers. Then they drink, and if there runs down their spinal cords a little thrill, and if their eyes grow moist and their hands shake bit it is tribute to themselves and to American womanhood to whom this toast is drunk. With something in their breasts throbbing like the great en- zines, and the swish and gurgle of the waters dulling their ears, there is con jured before them, like the azure him. bus of dream, a home with a soft voiced woman and the prattle of child, or a slender, girlish figure bending her head to hide the love light in her eyes. On Saturday night the officer at sea feels that he is very near home.
 Every one knows that naval officers are famous for the attractions which they have for the fair. This may show that it isn't the uniform alone which is .he magnet.-New York World. The Forger.