The Lamar register., 1898-04-30

tEan to each other on or under tas
to'gallant fo'c'sTe. and play away. each
man maullng different tune. TO their
hearts content. regarding not the Bah
ylon OF unmelodic musical emissions
all around them, which is simply stun
ming until you get used to it.
The instrumentalists do not furnish
all the music. There are always some
fine voices among a man-of-war ships
company. and some OF the night sing
ing Of the numerous male quartets up
forward IS very beautiful. II conducive
to homesickuess on the part OF the
young fellows not long away from
home Also. there is the usual mum
ber OF men In an American uaan-of-War
ships company-just as a similar com
plement is always tilled ashore-who
Imagine that they can sing. and there
fore infilct unassuageable woe upon
those who are compelled TO listen TO
them The man who can't sing. but
who only fanelgs he can. is invariably
suppressed in tine however, by his
shIpmates-hy implement on the
sharp points Of their humor a. his ex-
pense. The essentially American char
aeteristle Of Parodying all things
breaks out in the vocal music furnish
ed by the really good singers amons
a man-of-war ships company. just as
It does ashore. There is nothing ir-
reverent, callous or dIsrespectful In the
United States blueJaekcts' funny par
aphrasing Of the soGgy home and moth
er songs that occasionally become epi-
demic ashore; rather. their American
sense of humor ineItss them to poke
parodying fun al the beery maudliu-
ness OF such songs
The bluejacket who Is a good ilE or
buck or wSEg dancer Is always a pop
ular man on ship of war, but he Is
not given much rest by the shipmstes
when the smoking lamp is alighL No
matter what he may be doing writing
letters. sewing or patching up his
wearing gear. or engaging in any other
occupation that he wants TO get
through wiih-when one Of the
mouth-organ men aft a: the main
gaugway suddenly starts up a zig. al
hands around him begin the patter OF
hands and the yell psnstrates forward
for the dancer. II he doesn't respond
/ within reasonable time an lrregulsrly
/ organized committee of husky blue
| Jackets Is organized to go forward af-
ter him, and they always fetch him
/ Then he has TO dance as II he were do
/ ing Il for wages. but once he gets iatn
his stride he needs no further encour-
| agemen; or applause, but goes right
ahead until ne is about ready to drop.
the men around him eiapping and
stamping in time with his steps and
making a cheerful uproar not unlike
the dancing bees s;ili TO be seen at
some OF the southern cotton ports.
The ships bufoon Is as well marked
aboard a man-ofwar as !: he wore the
uniform OF cap and belle, and he Is
generally a clever and well-lIked man,
II not very seriously regarded. His
antics in the progress OF the amuse-
ments after "knock-off'' keep his fol-
lowers going. and no; infrequently
amuse the officers aft as much as they
do the men forward. One Of the ships
bufYoon's most entertaining schemes
is to suddenly mount the bottom OF a
bucket or the top Of a chest at one OF
the main gang-ways and to begin a
stump speech with no apparent sense
in 1t for any man who Is not member
of the ships company. but full OF
sharp but good -humored knocks" for
members OF the crew forward who in
dulge in pecuIiarities Of temperament
or manner. All OF the speakers lis
teners understand these allusions
strung through the apparently crazy
address and roar over them.
Thought Her a Vision,