The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-06-25
IN THE DAYS OF JOHN PAUL JONES.

an interview which gave me time to
study and enjoy the classic portraits of
former naval secretaries which shine on
the walls. Fine looking men, too, they
were, but two portraits possessed for me
a special interest-one of Hon. Richard
w. Thompson of Terre Haute, whose
eighty-fifth birthday was recently ceIe-
brated with such eclat, and the other of
Secretary Upshur Of Tyler's cabinet,
who was killed in the famous explosion
on the Princeton. Long ago, when Sec
rotary Thompson was looked upon in the
Wabash valley as a distinguished ex-
member of congress, able jurist and
party leader, but was supposed to have
retired from office for all time, have
heard him talk of the stirring events
and shocking tragedies of fifty odd years
ago. 1t seems very strange that he who
was thought too old to be an available
candidate for congress in 1870 should
afterward have done four years good
work as secretary of the navy, but as
he used to say, ''They raise tough men
in old Culpeper, Va"
No Naval Secrets.
Secretary Herbert, in response to va
rious questions, 1aughingly replied:
''There is really nothing to say, for ev-
erything goes into the newspapers as
soon as it is known here, and a great
deal gets into print that we do not know.
ALI the facts about the navy are in the
latest official report. It only remains
to say that all goes we'll, and the last
trial at Indian Head proved the armor
plate impenetrable at ordinary range.
No other branch of the government can
have fewer secrets than this one, for we
have none at all. The public shall know
all that we know as fast as it can be put
self awhile and lay the foundation for
some business go to our library, where the
work on the naval records has been well
begun. Allow me to put you in charge
of Lieutenant Reamey.'' And by this
time six or seven more congressman and
others had come in and stood in waiting
Lieutenant Reamey, naval aid to the
secretary, took me up to the record
room, where 1 was made acquainted
with Lieutenant Commander Richard
Rush of the navy, who is superintend-
ent of the naval war records, and
therefore acting librarian. In his So
ciety l soon forgot business and put in
some two hours, with a good deal Of
laughter, in looking over the queer old
documents
Stirring and Amusing.
They have here copies of all the al
legged poetry produced in the British
navy-that is all which lived long
enough to get into print-and of every
song, it is believed, composed over the
achievements of American tars. OF the
whole mess, a few, a very few, are
really sublime, many more are stirring,
and all the rest are highly amusing.
In the British collection only the songs
actually composed and sung by sailors
have been preserved, and the Oldest one
kc11
i'll the reign of Charles II. The poet,
begins with a short summary of all the
achievements of British sailors down to
that time in this style:
Why, I'm singing of French. Dutch and Span
ish armada,
And going to give you each regular date
Since the year that we conquered the famous
Which hap't fifteen hundred and eighty
eight.
Queen Elizabeth. bless the old girl, was placed
ready,
If they landed, to show them some true Eng
lish sport.
But their whiskers were sing'd by bold Drake,
brave and steady,
just to save them a licking at Tillbury fort
Then hurrah for the tars of old England SO
free.
The pride of the world and the lord of the sea.
A little later they were singing a diff
ferent song when the Dutch sailed up
the Thames and burned many English
ships and when for the last time the
roar of foreign guns was heard at the
Tower of London, but the collection
contains no poetry on that Of course all
the songs Of a social nature are full of
reference to Wrapping. Greenwich and
other places where the tars enjoyed
themselves ashore, and the most inter
esting in this line is the oft quoted bur
lesqued piece about the man whose heart
was true TO his Poll 1t opens thus:
II ever a sailor "a fond of good snort