The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-08-24
TIE AMER1oAx M UEJAoKEr OF 'og.
A ..shipNs Writer" Describes Lirc on = Modern
white Alnn-of-vvsr.

To THE EDITOR OF THE SUN-Sir: In THE
Sun Of Aug. is there was among Its thirty-two
pages Of very interesting reading on article on
jack Tar's Lettcrs Home" Permit mo in this
manner to offer, rs ono Of the ships writer's"
whose duties were therein 30 graphically de-
scribcd, q remonstrance as to tho whole comedy
OF letter writing given.
On all sides tho decision Is accepted that tho
old.timo sailor of delightful "reminiscences is,
like his stories, gone. Acknowledging this loss
docs not mako less desirable the qualities cS-
pcctcd. nor nre they so. There is the same necd
OF those qualities ms there Is OF ships of the new
navy. Nowadays tho opportunity for learning
such seamanshlp as 1912 and 1861 demanded Is
very limited; all time available is utilized in
instructions at guns and thor appliances. and
in the " Irkings of a ship dependent on steam
alone. Sailor nd man-o.wnrsmnn 10 longer
mcas do saline. To be useful on a battlcship is
TO have SON Mechanical aptitude; the greater
tho aptitude I'll. .Joro rapid usually Is the ad.
venCement.
AZ ships are improved. so arc the facilities for
greater comfort Increased. What was q luxury
years ago has now become u necessity, The
proportion of men whose service is long enough
to understand the different environment exist
not large. We American sailors ask, Ms do men
In all conditions and like Oliver Twist, for
more can 1t be surprising II we deem these
improvements necessities
"Shiver me timburs!' and similar expressions.
the requirement OF which was the certificate of
the ancient seaman, no longer echo around tho
forccastle and greet one in crossing tho gang.
plank. Better education and natural civility have
are many Is admitting a truth world known.
The navy, FROM its reputation alone, not to
mention the privations and discipline 1t exacts.
the poor pay and common food 1t provides, IL
not apt to tempt, men Of high education. Those
of this class who unfortunately wander here
regretted and wasted years. Unlike in the army,
commissions are unattainablc. Apprentice boys
swnins' and sunners. but tho percentage mp
pointed is very small. Yet, in spite OF those
Encouraging conditions, the average %intelli-
be the highest in the world: and this, too. with
q native personnel far from pleasing. Lately.
depressing times have betterod this need. but
the OLD conditions will soon return.
Experience alone enables one to judge how
lions affect the social life of the bluejacket. In
many parts OF this country, both inland and
along the coast where ships are seen and sta
toned, the prevalent ideas regarding a man-o'-
%arsInan's makeup are ridiculous. To liken one
in uniform 10 a ball player Is common; to ask
will reach town is frequent; to be refused ,ad-
mission into hotels, theatres. and other public
Now York. where the social grade tends to both
extremes Us much as in England.
Cities honor their police and fire departments,
them al ciVilitics. a Police Com Gomm ans SMse" Of
New York has mentioned blucjackets as being
Is so, how true II is that. clothes will always
make the man. 1t is n Rrievous mistake to as
sumo that men here cannot or do not write thoir
biliets dour and other letters. Whatever cases
there may be OF iliteracy or disinclination to
fuliil this duty exists almost exclusively among
the foreign born, whose letters are as rare as
klondike discoveries, whose friends, like dollars,
disappear when needed, and whose homes are
where chance places them; but longing for home
with these men is common. too.
The amount OF mail handled by a ships mail
orderly yearly, including letters and papers, Is
tlrprlslng; were, the price often asked for the
latter TO become known, it would be considered
WONDERFUL. Whether letters to swcethearts or
families preGominate. the average ages OF ships
crews can determine.
However desirable young men might be for
this service. the reliables," those men that
can be depended upon by reason OF long service.
IN which The looked.for qualities have become
KNOWN, are not numerous enough. Every ship
placed in commission has q crew at least three
tifths of whom are recruits. This must always
be the case until inducements are offered to re-
tain the old.tlnors. With no pensions after long
service. such as the army and Marine Corps re-
ccive. and this service including thirty years at
sea, why should one remain to be thrown aside
when work has become impossiblef Where are
the future Sundays Of rest and comfort to urge
one to continue his unnatural lifel Many
efforts have boon made TO establish retirement
laws by the intcrcession of officers and by the
personal interest and lack of time prevented
active aid, and in the latter. continual move
mcnt prevented strong organization.
II 1hS s reme,n ahese Si ,hs3 10 U6 be near no me POM, let 81
placed no trust is safe. When those that govern
the navy acknowledge that a bluejacket is capa-
BILE OF thinking and acting for himself in times
OF emergency, then will discipline be obtained
instead of lack OF mon full crews for the best
ships in the world will be the rocompense.
CHARLES SILK, Ships Writer.
PORTLAND, Nc, Aug. 20.