The Bryan daily eagle. (Bryan, Tex.) 1895-1898, 1898-05-17


eellent violin or either players.
A young Pole Of noble family shipped
az a landsman on an American war
ship at Gibraltar a few years ago. and
before he had been aboard twenty-four
hours be had all the officers aft as well
as the men forward In a trance over
his violin playing. lie did not have a
violin Of bis own-it was in pawn
somewhere In ltaly-but be played on
a violin belonging 10 an Irish marine
whoSe musical ability eoaslstsd only
IN hls rendition Of The Rlkes o. Nal
low and The Devils Dream" This
young Pole was simply a master OF the
violin. when the ship on which he
served returned 20 the United States
be was permitted 10 leave the service.
and now he Is Trevinck. the we'll.
known violin Instructor OF Chicago
but he was no, Treyinck In the navy.
The musicians DO not ordinarily
bring out their instruments until after
supper But By the time darkness falls
the forward portion Of any American
man-of-war in any port In the world
might be taken for a floating conserya-
tory Of practleers. The clever players
upon whose ears dlscord falls like Wit
riol take 10 the quleter portion OF the
ship below decks for their wO0lng OF
the harmonies. and they are generally
followed by cliques Of the non-players
who yet understand and appreciate
good music. from home. Also. there
Is the usual number Of the vast mouth
organ brigade take their praetIclng sta
lions In close but obliyious JuKtaposi-
ton 20 each other on or under the
togallant fo'c'sle. and play away, each
man maullng a different tune. 10 their
hearts content. regarding no, the Bah
ylon OF unmelodlc musical emissions
all around them. which il simply stun
ming until you get used 10 Il.
The instrumentalists do not furnish
all the music. There are always some
hne voices among a man-of-war ships
company. and some OF the night sing
Ing OF the numerous male quartets up
forward II very beautiful. II conducive
TO homesickness on the part Of the
young fellows not long away 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-wh
imagine that they can sing and there
fore innict Wiasguageable woe upon
those who are compelled to listen 70
them. The man who can't sing. but
who only fanciCs he can. Is invariably
suppressed In time. however. by his
shlpmates-by implement on the
sharp points Of their humor at his ex-
pense. The essentially American char
acterlstic Of parodylng all things
breaks out In the vocal music furnish
ed by the really good singers among
a man-of-war ships company. just al
Il does ashore. There Is nothing r.
reyerent. callous or dlsrespoctiul In the
United States bluejackets funny par.
aphrasing Of the soggy home and moth.
er songs that occasionally become cpl
demlc ashore: rather. their American
sense Of humor lncltes them TO poke
parodyiug fun az the berry maudlln-
ness Of such songs.
The blueiacket who Is a good jlg OF
buck or wing dancer IA always a pop.
ular man on a ship Of war. but he Il
not given much rest by the shlpmates
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 wlth-when one OF the
mouth-organ men aft at the main
gangway suddenly starts up a JIG, al
hands around him begin the patter oil
hands and the yell penetrates forward
for the dancer. II he doesn't respond
within reasonable time an lrregularly
organized committee Of husky blue.
Jackets Is organized TO 20 forward AZ
ter him. and they always fetch him
Thsn he has TO dance as II he were DO
Ing II for wages. but once he gets Int,
his stride be needs no further enoour