The herald., 1898-04-07
After breakfast, which is always a

After breakfast, which is always a
substantial meal, Jack, who has been
working in his suit of white, puts on
his blue uniform and appears in 1t at
sick call. This call is for those who
have slight ailments who are examined
by the surgeon and prescribed for and
sent to the hospital.
| After sick call, the sailor has to pol
ish the bright work of the big gun and
the small arms until $50, when the
whole crew is called to order for in
| spection by the Captain. At this in
| spection any sailor who has a griev-
ance may voice it to the Captain and
be sure of hearing and of fair treat
ment.
After the inspection, there is drill for
a half hour or more. 1t may run up to
an hour and half, and if the Captains
| breakfast disagreeS with him, it is
quite as likely to be the longer period.
| Brutality in the Navy now finds it's
vent in drilling the men until they are
nearly dead from exhaustion: and
! Captain who overworks his men can
usually be told by the number of deser-
tions from his ship.
After gun drill, or drill with the small
arms, the dinner call is sounded at 12
O'Clock. An hour later the men may
be ordered to man the boats. Some of
them may be put at repair work, which
is always going on aboard ship, or at
other duties. There is always plenty to
keep them busy till O'Clock, when the
supper call is sounded. At 6 the men
are called to evening quarters, when
everything is examined to see that it
is secure for the night. Then the sail
ors sling their hammocks and for the
| intervening time until 9 o'clock they
may amuse themselves as they like.
Some of them spend the time playing
cards, some in athletic games, some
with concertina or violin, some in
smoking and 'yarning." The sailor is
a great talker and he seems to have
as much to say at the end of his three
years term as he had at the beginning.
In this particular, he is different from
the officers in the wardroom, who get
heartily tired of each other before a
cruise is ended.
Jack is not only great talker, but a
great eater, and in many cases a good
share Of his SIG month goes for food
to supplement his regular rations. The
ration is reckoned at 80 cents day and
it consists of good, substantial food in
hbdt a idIuSIietl 6loiiOAC "ohio COA-
slider liberal quantity. Under the regu-
lations, fresh meat and fruit cannot
be served oftener than four times a
week unless ordered by the surgeon;
but this is no privation, for the old tar,
accustomed to a diet of hard tack and
salt junk, often complains if he is
forced to eat soft bread and fresh
meat.
On all ships some of the rations are
commuted-that is, drawn in money.
At one time it was in the discretion Of
the Captain to commute any Of the
sailors rations, but the regulations now
limit combinations to one-fourth of
the whole number, and require that the
fresh food bought with this commuta-
ton money shall be served to all. When
the ship is in port, the sailor fares al
most as we'll as the recruits on the re-
ceiving ship. He can use any Of his
pay for delicacies that he fancies and
he is permitted to buy bottled beer and
drink it in moderation. No grog has
been served aboard the ships of our
Navy in many years.
GRANT HAMILTON.
! Copyright, 1898. by Bacheller Syndicate