Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-12-28
JACK TARs AT CHRISTMAS.
The Day is One Most Dear to the
Sailors Heart.

From the Philadelphia Times.
The average sailor may forget his birth
day, work on Sundays and on other holidays
observed on shore, but Christmas is always
dear to his heart, with the many pleasant
recollections of bygone days. If the vessel
is flagship, with a chaplain on board, serv-
ice Is held In the morning, a little more
solemn than the usual Sunday observance,
and after a muster and inspection no more
work or drill Is given TO the crew 1t Is
when in port that the day is spent as 1t
should be. After cleaning the ship early in
the morning. and the sand has been cleared
out of the scuppers, the usual breakfast OF
baked beans, or "burgoo," is partaken OF the
same as any other morning, the holiday not
beginning for a sailor until the ensign has
been hauled out to the gaff end and masts
and spars decorated in whatever manner
the crew may have decided. At o'clock
officers in full uniform inspect the decks and
MEETINGS, vainly endeavoring to find the
slightest speck or dirt or grease, or perhaps
a shoe brush out of its place. Each division
then forms up in double ranks, bright cut
laSSeS presented and is inspected by the
commanding officer, who passes through.
If the man-of-war is on the home station
the "bumboat' man has made arrange
ments on the previous day with the ca terers
of the messes to furnish them a grand din
ner at much per head. This costs each
man about one dollar, for which an elaborate
meal can be provided. Every imaginable
board before six bells, and fruits in abunds
ance are piled up in the ports and gun spon-
sons. Every mess table is garlanded with
evergreens. according to the taste of its
members, and the petty officers make them
selves more private by means of flag screens
and plenty of bunting.
A lucky mess is the one whose invitation
has been accepted by the bumboat woman.
Promptly at eight bells she is placed in the
seat of honor at the inboard end of the
swinging boards, and, after little speech,
all hands set to and vie with each other in
attending upon the only female on the deck.
The tin and cracked enamel ware has been
dispensed with, as crockery is furnished by
the same party providing the eatables. The
only drawback is that the plates cannot be
changed with every course, as our men-of-
war, however modern they may be, are not
perfect in the way of pantries forward.
But Jack enjoys it as he jumps from
sweetbIead patties to roast turkey, skips
to boiled ham and helps himself generously
to all the vegetables a steward can procure.
The plum pudding, however, is his delight,
as the officers are not so strict on this day
in regard to the bringing on board of liquor,
and sauce without brandy would be to the
man-of-war's man no sauce at all.
1t would be useless to try to prevent the
use of liquor on this or any other day, and
have known cases where ships had enough
liquor on board to float dingy, and the use
of it was abused simply because the officers
had started to put their feet down on the
smuggling of strong drink. One captain
allow shore boats to come alongside. One
of the caterers ordered a dozen loaves of
bread, which were brought off in the market
boat on Christmas morning. Each one of
these loaves contained a pint bottle of three
star brandy. Another ordered the baker to
make huge cake, Surmounted by a candied
ship. The whole affair, when opened up at
dinner, consisted of thin shell of crust
over tin mold filled with something more
exciting than mere flour. eggs and sugar.
Mince pies have been known to come from
the shore to the mess table strong enough to
knock the whole mess silly.
When the sailors gather about one of these
extensively laden tables on Christmas day
they do not seem to appreciate the various
goodies as the landsman would imagine
If the older men had their way that nicely
Drowned turkey would have little chance
when placed side by side with their favorite
salt noss," and plum pudding would not be
'in it" with good Cracker hash" which is
a dish understood only by seafaring men.
To tell the truth, they do not believe in these
stomach disturbers, and for this reason dys-
pepsia is almost unknown to them.