The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1898-03-18

the shipping master, taking up the
thread Of his story again. Hardly
day passes, even in the winter season,
when the Preside is most attractive, but
one or more like him sneaks into the
Office with the same request. In the
summer the boys who want to go to sea
become nuisance. / have turned away
three day for as many days running.
Most of them are from the country dis
tricts near New York and nearly all the
rest from more remote parts. They come
to the city for 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 attractive as they have painted it,
or at least to learn the way. Occasional
ly a city born boy strays init may be
an impudent urchin from the east side
but that is rare occurrence. They
are of all ages and all conditions. A
ragged little fellow of 10 came TO me
one day last summer, and / had hard
work to persuade him that he was hap
pier with his mother than he would be
with pack of scoundrels aboard ship.
The average age, however, is about Is
or little under, and most of the lads
are children of poor parents, whose
story books have led them into the hon
est belief that seafaring life is one of
unbounded possibilities Once in awhile
an intelligent boy, we'll dressed and with
all the evidences of good breeding and
careful education, wants to ship as
cabin boy and is quite ready to take
the first berth TO Offer trusting to good
fortune for his comfort.
81 have noticed with some surprise
that the boys who want to go to sea,
particularly the ones who have the up
state look, are as rule delicate, large
eyed, high browed lads-just such as
spend their spare hours porting over
books of adventure instead of sporting
with their fellows. They talk knowing
ly of shipping as this or that, signing
articles, getting berth, and some
times toss a Delay or an 'avast or a
fo'c'stle' at me. They get them all from
books, and doubtless think to deceive me
with them.
''Of course the boys are turned away
whether they apply at the shipping Of
fees or aboard ship, as many of them
do. The days when the runaway boy
found a welcome with ships captain
were over years ago. They find their
way home again with bit of advice
ringing in their ears so gruffly or so
kindly spoken that they cannot forget it.
ran away to sea myself, and always
have kindly feeling for the youngsters
who try to. If the rickety stair and a
sight Of the rough men who hang about |
here don t discourage them-they usual |
ly do tell them truthfully what the |
life of the Jolly tar is, and they go
away, believing and content. My boy,
l say to conclude, IF had a son of your |
age, would rather know he was safe in |
states prison than aboard ship Gener- |
ally that settles it. A pert boy who had |
the sea mania a couple of years ago, !
however, had ready answer Il knew |
you would say that, he said. Il didn't |
suppose that you d get me berth with (
out objecting first. Now l want to go to |
sea-and I'm going. If you can't give |
me chance, I'll go somewhere else.
He wandered through the offices and |
about the docks for hours that after |
noon, but | saw him turn the corner of |
Fulton street about supper time, looking |
tired and no doubt hungry, and sup |
pose he gave it up. 1t isn't often you
find them so persistent. New York |
Post.