Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1894-07-07
PINE BLUEF, RRkHNSHS.


 lains, and there is perhaps something of irony in the fact that the naval con structors are usually credited with no sea service, except ip the case of the youngef4men.
 It is the scheme of the navy depart. ment to send eae4 officer three years to sea and then to give him tour of shore duty. The scheme is not strict lg carried out, and there is no hard and fast rule upon the subject. Pay is from two hundred dollars to one thou sand dollars year more at sea than ashore. and this advantage de- ternines many officers to seek sea service, and especially to shun waiting orders. To put a man on wait ing orders for long period is one form of light punishment for minor mis- deeds. It means loss in pay of from four hundred dollars to two thousand dollars q year. It is the theory of the navy that an officer with family needs more money 1t sea than ashore, because in the former case he must make special provision for his family, whereas in the latter his wife and ehil- dren can share quarters with him.
 There is good deal that is deceptive about the record of sea service, for the reason that much of il is only eonstruc- Live sea service. So long as ship is in commission. unless. indeed, she be mere receiving hulk, the officers aboard are eonstructivaly doing sea service and ship may undergo weeks of repairs with her pennant still flying ana half her wardroom ashore every day. That is an agreeable form of sea service. especially if the work of repairs be done at New York or some agreeable foreign port.
 All sorts of motives. mysterious to landsmen. decide ali officer in his pref erenee for this or that shore duty. Some men eschew the New York navy yard until they have attained sufficient rank to make them feel at ease and free from the fear of imposition. Some seek places at Newport. because such ap- pointments may bring them into gay and fashionable society Others seek to escape from such duty for the very same reason. Some of the billets at Newport carry with them plenty of house room and charming grounds, mat tters to be considered if man wishes to take his place in the society of the city.
 The Norfolk navy yard is popular be- cause an officer may there enjoy at small expense a kindly and agreeable society. There is 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 but it is good place to wear out old clothes. The great navy yards are a source of sorrow to those officers who lack the tact and humor to deal with the politicians that dominate such places. Washington is popular with naval officers. as is shown by the number of retired officers who make it their home. Perhaps New York would be equally so if rents were lower.
 There are few places that all naval officers regard with something like hor- TOT The task of caring for the moni- to1s in 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 fome twelve or fifteen years ago an old punboat that could not in reason be ex- pected to come down, and to that lone- lv spot a few officers were sent from time to time. The man about to be transferred received his relief with smiles of joy and assurances of commis- eration The amusements of the ward' room were expeditions to Mexico and visits to neighboring Texans towns. Luckily for the youngsters of to-day Rio Brava no longer makes even the pretense to Hoat-N. Y. Sun.