Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1898-05-06

ton to each other on or under the
togallant focs1e, and play away, each
man mauling a 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, If conducive
to inconsistencies on the part of the
young fellows not long way from
home. Also, there is the usual num-
Der of men in an American man-of-war
ships company-just as a similar com
plement is always filled ashore-who
imagine that they can sing, and there
fore infict unassuageable woe upon
those who are compelled to listen to
them. The man who can't sing, but
who only fancies he can, is invariably
suppressed in time, however, by his
shipmates-by implement on the
sharp points Of their humor at his ex-
pense. The essentially American char
acteristic of parodying all things
breaks out in the vocal music furnish
ed by the really good singers among
a man-of-war ships company just as
1t does ashore. There is nothing ir-
reverent callous or disrespectful in the
United States bluejackets' funny par
aphrasing Of the soggy home and moth
er songs that occasionally become cpl
demic ashore; rather, their American
sense of humor incites them to poke
fun at the berry maudlin-
ness of such songs.
The bluejaeket who is a good jig or
buck or wing dancer is always a pop |
ular man on a ship of war, but he is
not given much rest by the shipmates
when the smoking lamp is alight. 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 with-when one Of the
men aft at the main
sangway suddenly starts up a jig, all
hands around him begin the patter of
hands and the yell penetrates forward
or the dancer. If he doesn't respond
within a reasonable time an irregularly
organized committee of husky blue
Jackets is organized to go forward af-
.er him, and they always fetch him.
Then he has to dance as if he were do
ng it for wages, but once he gets into
lis stride he neeGs no further encour-
lgement or applause, but goes right
lhead until he is about ready to drop,
he men around him clapping and
stamping in time with his steps and
making a cheerful uproar not unlike
he dancing bees still to be seen at
ONE of the southern cotton ports. -
The ships buffoon is as we'll marked
board a man-of-war as If he wore the
inform of cap and bells, and he is
generally a clever and well-liked man,
not very seriously regarded. His !
mites in the progress of the amuse-
nents after "knock-off' keep his fol-
overs going, and not infrequently ,.
muse the officers aft as much as they
o the men forward One of the ships /,
uffoon's most entertaining schemes +
J to suddenly mount the bottom of +
ucket or the top of a chest at one OF I
ne main gang-ways and to begin h
lump speech with no apparent sense
/ it for any man who is not member
the ships company, but full of
harp but good humored knocks" for
embers of the crew forward who in
Ilge in peculiarities of temperament
: manner. All of the speakers lis o
ners understand these illusions y
rung through the apparently crazy J
ldress and roar over them.