Santa Fe daily New Mexican., 1897-03-16
MAHAN'S BIBLE GLASS.
Mr.. Barnacle Relates Strange Tale About
the Retired Captain.

MT. bArnhcle helaCes Strange laie AuouS
the Retired Captain.
"Sink Inc, but hope he'll float higher
in literatoor than he did in the deep sea
Sunday school trade" Mr.. Barnacle OBJ
served, with much feeling, as the lubber
Joined the mariner in the sailor boarding
house.
"Already this here skipper-the one
with the best slowed brain locker in any
navy-has launched one book labeled,
The Influence of Sea Power on History,
but l don't overhaul no remarks in 1T
about his Bible class, which was one Of
em.'
"Where did you ever attend Sunday
school3'' the lubber asked.
"Under this Captain Alfred T. Mahan,
U. s. N. Didn't you see in the papers
recent where he had quit the navy to ship
as an ablebodied thought writer in Har-
lem9'
''To be sure,' said Bill. "His figger-
head was also posted at the same time, and
proper good likeness it was too. How
sumever, Bible lessons amt in his line
leastwise, not with the kind Of pupils he
had, wot was mostly pirates in spirit.
hope the captain strikes smooth sailing as
a author
"When Mahan gives this here pink Sun
day school, he was lieutenant commander
of the United States sloop of war Wachu-
sett, since broke up in the Mare Island
navy yard. While peace was raging fright
full in Peru in 1883, Mahan comes to Cal.
lao and relieves one Pierson, wot had bully
ragged the crew for a year, and cusset
plenty besides. For five months PiersoI
had allowed no able s(amen closer IN shore
than the ship herself, wot always anchored
we'll out With gin only 60 cents per bot
tie half league away, and all hands kept
on board, suffering in the Wachusett hung
thick with mutiny till Mahan takes COM
mand.
Being skilled to sail a true gospel
course, and without posting no why's or
no wherefores, the new commander pipes
all hands to psalms and prayers the first
Sunday in Callao.' Down in the berth deck
forward we rigs proper Sunday school
with capstan bars resting on deck buckets
for seats and alter made of mess tables
and flags. Commander Mahan pitches the
tune, and, with two Swede gunners chok-
ing solemn groans out Of accordions, VT
MARBLES Pull For the Shore, Sailor, Pull
with great-wot is it you calls it'
enthusiasm-gusto?' suggest
ed the lubber
'"Bust me If it wasn't moro like gale-o.
Sailors wot was sunk in crime to the eye
brows perches on the foremost bars and
howls similar to regular chorus girls, and
when the order comes to stand by for
prayers their knees hits the deck like sol
diers grounding arms on stone payements.
Mahan is much pleased and prays fcrvent
for his pious crew. Amens is frequent and
likewise sobs by mariners wot is deep and
crafty.
Next morning this here Bible clas'
bears down on the skipper, proper humble
and meek, and says:
"'Please, sir, may we have a spell
ashore?'
"'Didn't 1 see you at Sunday school?
the skipper says.
"'Aye, aye, sir; our thoughts flows il
spiritual channels, they do, replies tho
able seamen.
Then you may all go ashore for ter
hours, as we sails tomorrow.
"We all departs for ten hour liberty,
| Bill said, with reminiscent chuckle,
Uuu IL > lou udts Delore sOIll6 vi en- Sots
back. Bloodhounds and police in Callac
is in pursuit day and night, and conflicts
with clubs and knives mars the able sea
men terribly. Nine sailors arrive shor
| handed in features, and some of the clas
is stripped to the hide, having sold the
| togs for more gin. Wy, the mariner wo
served out psalmbooks and wanted to pas
the hat in Sunday school reports like I
] bundle of goods with newspapers ROLLED
around him.
Ibid the Bible class meet again?"
"Well, they has the mess tables, likewise
the capstan bars and buckets, but the
pupils is derelict. Them wot was to stove
up to crawl out on deck stood by for the
gospel drill, but they didn't have no gusto,
So the skipper, being took flat aback with
disgust, allows this here Bible class to BIT
null and void. '-Charles Dryden in New
York Journal.