New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-02-11
JACK TARS AND SHAKESPEARE
ENTERTAINING A ROYAL AUDIENCE.

ENTERTAINING A ROYAL AUDIENCE
The slowing away Of several hundred in
the comparatively small space of ships decks
and keeping them in good health during the two
to six months OF their cruise has been sanitary
problem which has takon navlgators several CEN
turtles to solve hundred years ago the great
peril Of protracted cruise OF a war vessel was
not so much the guns of an enemys cruiser as
the danger arising from scurvy. Even as late as
1872 the health of the crew was the first consider
alton OF navigators. and 1t this danger that
Captain David Porter regarded with the most anx-
iety when contemplating his famous cruise or
twenty months in the Pacific Ocean against Brit
tsh commerce. Several cruises of American men,
ofwar In the War OF 1872 and even as late as 1sio.
cut short by the appearance of scurvy among
the men, The sailing OF the new cruiser
New-York. with nearly 600 men aboard. for Brazil.
with provisions and coal enough on board so that
she could keep the six months II necessary.
was an example Of the greatest and most recent
triumph in nautical sanitary skill
Sea captains have always recognized that a Ger.
tain amount of amusement in the leisure hours OF
the Is their best assistance in Keeping the
in good health and spirits. and for this rea-
son considerable liberty has always been allowed
aboard Ship by the most exacting discipline
rians In the United States Navy 1t has frequently
happened that ships companies when enlisted for.
a long cruise organized dramatic companies among
themselves and gave entertainments which were
always enjoyable II not classical. In the unpub-
States H-gun Potomac IA sister ship Of the famous
Constitution. although built twenty years after
ward) when she made her cruise around the world
in 1881 1888 incidentally severely chastising tho
plratica Malays OF Sumatra) is given an Interest,"
ing description OF dramatic company when was
organized soon after the frlgate left New-York.
early in October. 1891 Captain John Downes. the
commander of the frigate. who was in the Essex
when she made her heroic defence against the
English cruisers in Valparaiso. 1914 was opposed
af fnfsfa tfn~
'greenhorns" when the ship crossed the line"
but he gave every announcement to the aspiring
dramatsts THE Great and Only Original Poto-
macs"
Before the cruise over the players became
so proficient in their parts that they were asked to
play before the King and Queen Of the Sandwich
Islands and this they did satisfactorily that
Immediately after the performance they proceeded
to get gloriousy drunk at their majestes orders
and expense. Some of the officers OF the Potomac
declared that the players more amusing
wandering around the Royal Palace under the in
fuence OF liquor after the show" was over. than
they had been in the most excrucatngly funny
parts of the drama. The play was Romeo and
Juliet" which was considered one OF the strongest
plays in the repertoTy OF the "Grea, and only
was first suggested as one which the nautical Thes-
Plans should h b hfk wa the for t na and
several other female characters in the PLAY, But
for mot fearing to tackle anything not even fr-
male character in Shakespearian play and there
tomac H' crew who We're willing to take the part;
The ships tailor was called into the service r ana
he insisted fairly good limitations OF dresses.
and the would-be Juliet got into the situation with
The next problem was that OF scenery. In fact:
from Elusive when the lines OF perspective and the
IN n rne nn pch D OF ne ship
But JACK was not ong ss TO st soea b hns and
Borrowing borrow ' a hint from the Chinese. he caused
placard TO be set up in view OF the audiencs an
church interior" or This is r house. Sc, ,s as
accommodating imagination OF the brny audience
When the Great and Only. ORIGINAL Potomacs".
Queen OF the Sandwich Islands, however soma
stretch Of the imagination as canvas pettlcoat
on srapping bronze-fased YOUNG sailor for
coal on an old pastehoard shirt-hoA This is
ans Ssr SGaS Romo
the play also gave the sober minded men OF the
s nsnS fore aithonsh he was rstcass
seaman and could throw harpoon further than
faT from Gt''a being ideal hero q the play
tall Tank and lie nok to an the
from the start and liked srrs and aS the o sea s
E Kings ;p palace with brny Fragrance But aside
i bony hands each OF which lacking three nm
and entirely brny aesp nn the wnr
the ideal Instead OF the graceful mantle to throw
his left shoulder ne nad borrowed a fuil-
dress coat from the captain these coats were
made up with brass buttons In those days., and In
spite of the many insists In It. he seemed to his
simple minded shipmates a tolerably good hero.
And. strange to say. the dusky monarchs OF the
Sandwich Islands never before having heard q
Shakespeare play or In fact, any play) seemed
70 have been impressed with the same idea es-
pecially when Juliet drawled out with rasplng
nasal twang Romeo Romeo. wherefore art thou.
RomeoY' At this interesting period OF the play
their maiesties eyed the players with great inter-
est In fact, their heavy lips protruded their eyes
fairly rolled. and. starting from her seat In her ex
citement, the Queen asked her spouse in an audible
whisper which was Romeo.
This not the last performance OF Romeo
and Juliet" given by the Great and Only Original
Potomacs." although. 1t must be said. It. was the
only time they came near bringing down the
house" The American and English residents at
he Sandwich Islands insisted more than ono
performance OF the play. To show their entire app
probation of the performance. their matestes VS.
ted the frlgate several DAYS afterward ana par
cuary expressed their admiration for the stat.
wart Romeo and juliet. who at that moment nap.
,ened to be squatted on the gun deck engaged IN
he prosaic and undramatlc task OF mending their
rousers. as all thoroughbred man-o'-wars-men
mould do.
Busy.-It the tiny daughter Of clergyman
" this city who recently asked to accompany
Ter mother a walk. -
No" was her positively spoken answer Il can't
TO-"
why not?"
II have to help papa"