New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-07-25

hornp!pe beautifully" Not only good to his
mother is the real sailor. but he is fond OF his
wife and loves his children. as know from many
q confidence and half hours talk, which reminds
me of an incident an officer once told me.
1t Christmas time. and. according to the
old man-o'war custom. the long tables in the
sailors quarters laid out with roast beef
and plum pudding, and each mess contributed
decorations from their "ditty boxes'-curios,
shells, photographs, anything to make Il e tables
look pretty The officers made their rounds.
captain first. navigating officer. doctor, and so
on. ending with the midshipmen. As they passed
each table the men saluted the officers accepted
bit of cake, or tasted the plum pudding. ex-
changing the greetings Of the day. and comph-
mentng the sailors upon the decorations. On
one table our married officer saw a photograph
Of two little girls.
Are those your children, Ford?' he asked a
sailor standing near
Yes, SIR" was the answer; were far away
from our little lassies now, sir"
The officer passed on the lieutenant behind
him whispered Il say, do you think you were
quite civil to Ford? You didn't say word about
his table decoration; the poor fellow looked quite
hurt" But our officer in telling about it said:
II couldn't have answered a word. thought or
my own little girls. and when looked at Ford
| saw that his eyes were full OF tears: ] know
mine were. and though we didn't say anything
we understood each other pretty we'll"
AS for the hOrnpipe, l have seen ii danced
many times by real sailors, by better-ooking
men. better dressed than any ever saw upon
the stage. On a man-of-war, after q pleasant
dinner in the wardroOm. when the company as
]
ladies in their cool dresses. and reclining in COM
Portable chairs on the quarterback: when the
stars out and the big tropic moon paints
path upon the quiet sea and along the coast the
cocoanut palms throw their slhouettes against
the sky: when the lights twinkle on shore under
the heavy bread fruit trees; when the SURF
boOms deep and sullen on the coral reef and a
passing canoe sends trail Of song across the
water-on many such a night have looked on
at sailors entertanment-songs, choruses.
speeches. sometimes even tumblng and sleght-
of hand but always the piece de resistance is
| the hOrnpipe.
| have never seen a real sailor fold rope"
or dust the sides Of ship" as Mr.. Jerome de-
! clares stage sailors do, but l have seen them
! busy at curious kinds Of work; sewing on little
| hand machines, for instance, crOcheting, en-
| broderng, and making macrame lace, and II
was always beautifully done. An American
sailor once offered us a bit Of work for a church
bazaar.
Il never saw anything so lovey!" I exclaimed.
| said; and pulling open his blouse he displayed
that garment 1t of flannel, cut square in
| the neck and heavily embroidered in white SILK,
about two inches deep in pattern OF inter-
twined rosebuds and leaves.
OF course | do not say that there are no
drunken sailors, who are very rough. and some
times make disturbances and break the peace;
but consider that, as a general rule the Senu-
! ire Jack Tar is a respectful, clean, smart, ana
| even good-looking fellow; and that the pretty
sailor the stage, who bitches his trousers
wears his cap on the back of his curly mead
laughs at the audience and dances a graceful
! hornpipe, is true study from life. in spite OF
the sarcastic criticisms of Mr. jerome Is. Jerome