The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1894-04-06
OUR GALLANT TARS.
4 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 Brayer.
The people of this country are very
fond Of their naval officers, so far as
they know them. 1t would be a 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 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.
1t is one of the conventions Of the
navy to place women upon a pedestal,
and there is no finer convention in the
world. 1t may be because that for so
much of their time they are denied the
delight of seeing women. But they nev-
er forget them.
Every Saturday night in every United
States warship afiOat there takes place a
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 drawer, 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-
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 wivesp That was
ever and always will be the sailors toast.
And when it is given aboard Uncle Sans
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 DO 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 foreign port, or lying at
the dock in the Brooklyn navy yard, so
long as her men are aboard they drink
the toast. 1t 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 long cruise, the officers
deny themselves during the week that
they may have it for this toast on Satur-
day nights.
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
er 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 well 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.
81 give you" (the lieutenant command
er speaks earnestly, and there is a soft
glimmer in his eyese''I give you sweet
hearts and wives. God bless them!'
"Sweethearts and wives-God bless
themv' comes in chorus from the officers.
Then they drink, and if there runs down
their spinal cords 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-
gines, and the swish and gurgle Of the
waters dulling their ears, there is con-
jured before them, like the azure nim-
bus of a dream, 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
the magnet.-New York World.