The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-02-10
THEY WANTED TO BE CABIN BoYs
shipping Masters story of the Eff
fccts of Novel Reading.
From the New York Evening Post.


From the New York Evening Post.
Once sailor always a sailor is a pref
ty steady rule. What 1 can't understand
is the existence of a great crowd Of young
men and youngsters who choose to follow
the sea rather than a quiet, comfortable
trade ashore. The romance has been
pretty well battered out of the life on the
rolling wave. by any number of plain
tales and thoroughly accurate descriptive
articles; and 1t seems to me that the
youngsters of this generation should have
the truth in their heads. But they haven't
strange to say, they haven't. The boys
OF forty years ago, when went to sea, and
when the only sea stories to be had were
of kind to fire the Imagination of log
OF, wood, live again in the boys of to-day
lads with the same thirst for adventure.
the same faith in their false ideas and the
same obstinate determination to follow the
life of their choice. The shipping mas
ters meet"
The shipping master interrupted himself
70 listen. There was an uncertain foot
step in the hall, pauslng before the thresh.
old for an instant; then a timid knock
on the door.
Come in" called the master. adding In
a lower voice; MY life on there's one
nowl"
A boy of Is years, or whereabouts. enter
ed and, cap in hand, advanced diffidently
TO the group of gossips about the stove.
He was coarsely clad slight and pale-fac-
ed. and lacked the self-assured air of the
city-bred boy. He looked about him ner-
vously, evidently uncertain what TO do.
and doubtless heartily wishing himself
away from the rough-looking company.
Isis this IA shipping ofice?'' he
stammered.
at is"
Where a seaman gets berth?'
Some of EN- get Jobs here"
We'll IL want to sign articles for a
voyage SOUTH"
See these men'-polnting to a row of
grinning sailors on one of the benches
they'd sign articles for a trip to the north
pole If they had a chance.
The boy glanced furtvely at the ill-look-
ing fellows, and seemed surprised to learn
that there were seafar!ng folk with never
sign of the sea about them.
II thought perhaps YOU might have a
place for a-cabin boy
whats cabin boy?' very sruff1v
AREN'T any cabin boys nowadays.''
"Oh!" exclaimed the boys as though the
simple bit Of information had suddenly and
thoroughly revised his conception of the
needs of the mercantile marine service. 1T
didn't know. Thank you, SIR And with
that he turned and hurriedy made his wav
from the Office.
He's only one of very many" said the
shipping master, taking up the thread of
his story again. Hardly a day passes
even In the winter season, when the fire.
side is most attractive. but one or more
like him sneaks into the Office with the
same request. In the summer the bows who
want to go to sea become a nuisance 7
nave turned away three day for as many
days running Most of them are from the
country districts near New Yotk, and near
~ all the rest from more remote parts
They come to the city for a day or two
and seize the opportunity to execute a long
FORMED purpose either to go to sea, should
the life, upon Inquiry prove to be as al
tractive as they have painted it, or. at least
to learn the way. Occasionally a city-born
boy strays init may be an impudent ur-
chin from the east side-but that is a rare
! occurrence"