Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-07-10
at all ports, spar-deck balls, here and there

at all ports, spar-deck balls, here and there
fete or a carrival-the favoritism shown
towards the Mediterranean station is not
hard to account for. Yet it is an expensive
station, officers who stretch several points
of influence in seeking assignments to ships
on the Mediterranean station are generally
bachelors who are not put to the dismal
necessity like the married officers, OF send
ing three-quarters of their pay TO their
families growing up ard wearing out shoes
and frocks in this country, or they are mar
ried officers with sufficient private means to
have their families follow them over to
that station to live at a port within rea-
sonable distance OF their ships.
A HospftabIe Crew.
The item of 'mufti," for instance, is a
thing for the " ard room officer attached to
a Mediterranean ship to consider, for
good three parts of his time is passed
ashore with the American colonies, and 1t
costs a naval officer a pretty figure to keep
his civilian dress up to the standard of the
average American oolonist on the Mediter-
rsnean. On the Mediterranean station, too,
the caterer of the ward room mess elected
each month sorely against his Will and
jibed and heaped with rdicule by all hands
in the ward room during his entire incum-
bency) makes mighty swoops upon his
brother officers for entertaining purposes
for the hospitality of the people ashore
must be repaid, and no ship on that station
in any port is ever without the frou-frou
of dainty skirts and the cheerful chatter
of many ship visitors. The ship, for in
stance happens into port wherein lie half
a dozen American steam yachts. Each Of
the yachting parties demands the attend
anca of all of the officers at the most elab
crate dancing and dining functions aboard
its yacht, and in turn, all of the yachting
parties must be invited to the ward room.
Thus 1t is that the ward room officer with
out private means looks rueful when the
caterer presents him with his little account,
made up on the divisional and co-opera-
tive plan, at the end of the month
Next in order among the stations abroad
ton, which includes also Japan the hest
part of it,. If he can catch the flagship or
a ship that is too large to navigate the
Chinese rivers for missionary protecting
purposes, for a cruise on a gunboat on the
China station is thing to be dreaded. On
the flagship or big cruiser the ward room
officer on the China station is in glorious
feather if for no other reason than the
phenomenal cheapness of the thing. To go
ashore in Japan-say in Nagasaki or Hako
date or Kobe. or even Yokohama-and be
quite unable to spend more than the value
of an American dollar in japanese yen and
to be perpetually entertained by as fine,
cultivated American colonistS as can be
found in any of the European ports-this
is what populariZes the China station with
such a large number of naval officers
Most of the other foreign stations are
garded with about an equal amount of in
perhaps, of the South Atlantic station.
where the people ashore Especially those of
Buenos Ayres. Rio and Mcntevideo) nave of
late years fallen into the habit of Being
very gracious indeed to American naval Of
fcers.