The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-08-22

have nearly all passed many years more
ashore than at sea. Much the same Is
true Of the chaplains. and there Is perhaps
something OF irony In the fact tnat the
with no sea service, except In the case
or the younger men. . .
II is the scheme OF the Navy Depart
ment to send each officer three years 10
sea and then TO give MN tour OF shore
duty. The scheme Is not strictly car
ried out. and there Is no hard and fast
rule upon the subject. ray Is from R2o
10 81 900 a year more at sea than ashore,
and this ADVANTAGE ue9el'hlneS many
officers 10 seek sea service, and especi-
ally 10 shun waiting orders. To put
man on waiting orders Tor long period
is one form Of light punishment foi
minor. misdeeds II , mems loss N
The theory " the navy tina: an officer
with a family needs more money at sea
than ashore because IN the FORMER ca
he must make special provision Ior ~
and children can share quarters with
There is a good deal that IS deSceptiyye
about the record OF seq SerVlce TOT tne
reason that much OF II IS only cOnstruc-
i've sea service SO long as a ship Is
in commission. unless, indeed she be a
mere receiving hulk, the oiicers aboaru
are constructively dong sea service
and a ship may undergo weeks or re,
rairs with her pennant stu flying and
baif her vardr6om ashore every day
That is an agreeable FORM OF sea service
especially II the work OF repairs De dohe
at New York or some agreeable Foreign
Xii sorts Of motives. mysterious to
landsmen. decide an officer In his prefer
ence for this or that shore duty. some
men cschew the New York Navy Yard
until they have attained sufficient rank
10 make Them feel at ease and free from
the fear Of imposition Some seek places
AT Newport because such appointments
may bring them into n gay and fashion
able society. Others seek 10 escape
from such duty for the very same
reason. Some OF the biilets az New
port carry with them plenty Of house
room and charming grounds. matters
go be considered II man wishes 20 take
his place i'm the society OF the city.
The Norfolk Navy Yard is popular
because an officer may there enjoy a.
small EXPENSE a kindly and agreeable
society. There is a pleasant little naval
station at New London. and there are
charming quarters for an officer Of rank
at the several naval hospitals. Duty
at League Island Pa, Is pretty dull.
clothes. The great navy yards are
source Of sOrTOw to those officers who
lack the tact and humOr to deal with the
politicians that dominate places. Wash
ingtOn rs popular with naval officers,
as is shown by the number of retired
officers who make II their home. Per
haps New York would be equally so II
rents were lower.
There are n few places that all naval
officers regard with something Ike hOr-
ror. The task Of caring for the mont
tors I'm the James river near Richmond
is courted by nobody. and Pensacola IN
summer time Is not an object Of envy.
There was stranded up the Rio Grande
some twelve or fifteen years agO an old
runboat that could not in reason be
expected 20 come down, and % that lone
ly spot "A few of GERS We're sent from
time % lime. The man about to bc
transferred received his relief with
smiles Of Joy and assurances Of com
misrration The amuscmcnts Of the
wardrOom were expeditions to Mexico
and visits TO neighborug Texan towns.
Luckily for the Youngsters Of to-day
the RIO Bravo no longer makes even
the pretcnce 10 float.