The Press., 1898-10-27
LIFE IN A WARDROOM
TIE OFFICERS QUARTERS ON BOARD
 A MAN-OF-WAR.

A MAN-OF-WAR.
 Where All Except the Commander Eat.
 Live and Have Their Social Being-NavaI
 Etiquette IsOlates the Man Whom All
 Others on Board Must Obey.
 The wardroom on man -Of-war is the living place of all the older officers of the ship, with one exception. the con- manding officer. He lives by hiraself, has his own cabins, his own mess, his own servants. Naval etiquette and cus- tom have established this habit of isola- tion for the man on the ship who has command of all the rest. The reason is undoubtedly to be found in the very fact that he represents extraordinary power. Under these circumstances any attempt to forget the superiority of his rank by means of a common cabin or messroom for him and his subordinates would only result in embarrassment on both sides.
 This does not mean that he may not be sociable, for much depends upon the man. But it is safe to say that any show of effusiveness among those who live abaft the mast must come from his side, if he wishes it to be general. The situa- tion is delicate one.
 In the freer air of the wardroom we find from 10 to 20 officers living togeth- CT, the number varying with the size of the ship. Their ages may range from 25 to 50, and they are of all ranks above that of naval cadet, and of all corps Engineer officers, line officers, medical officers, marine officers, one pay officer and one chaplain, may all be included ill the wardroom of a large ship. These men live in staterooms arranged about common space, which is known as the "wardroom country'' This assumption of space of prairielike dimensions is comparatively truthful in the cramped quarters of ship. In this ''country'' exists the social life of the wardroom Here these men of varied caHings, yet all of the seas following, live, move and have their social being.
 A day spent in wardroom by land lubber would reveal many interesting differences between naval officers aud their brethren on shore. To begin with, they are more cosmopolitan in their speech. The men in our wardrooms are
 
 Union. Local discussions find but an uninterested audience, or even a derisive one, so that a naval officer gets accus- toned to speak and think of all the 45 states as belonging equally to him. Out side of his own country he is so great a traveller that very few civilians can keep up with the way he skips in conversa- ton from China to Peru or to Tasma- mia. Other characteristics that are quickly noticeable are his simplicity, his cheerfulness and his heartiness. The wardroom is constantly resounding with laughter. The men ill it are healthier than men who live ill houses. They get up earlier in the morning and go to bed earlier at night. Most of our wardrooms are bustling with officers at o'clock in the morning.
 A glance at the breakfast table shows the senior line officer presiding, and tho other officers placed near him according to rank. At the other end of the table is the man who has been elected by his messmates to direct the catering of tho mess Between this early meal and tho breakfast proper, which comes at half past 1 1 or 12 o'clock, there is not much life in the wardroom, for the daily mil itary routine is full of drills and exer- cises which keep most of the officers on deck. There are drills with great guns and with small arms, drills in clearing ship for action, drills in handling am- munition and many others-all of them rooted in the one idea that you must preserve your own life by destroying that of your enemy.
 AS soon as an officer returns to the wardroom from one drill and begins a conversation or perhaps huns song he is interrupted by the bugles on deck and must buckle on his sword and return to another drill.
 At every call to quarters all officers must report themselves ready for duty. The chaplain and paymaster, having much less to do with drills than the other officers, are usually the first to be back in the wardroom, where there is other work for them. The medical off cer has gone forward to the sick bay to look after his patients.
 When the midday breakfast comes, there is the first breathing space for a little leisure and relaxation. But the drills for the day are not yet over, and at 1 o'clock the hustle is resumed throughout the ship. A sudden call may come for collision drill, or fire drill, o1 battalion drill. If at sea, floating tar get may be dropped overheard, and fo1 an hour the ship be shaken from stem to stern by the discharge of guns. From 8 to o'clock in the afternoon there is generally respite from work, and the wardroom begins to show signs of be- ing home. Some in it are reading or writing, others are smoking or playing games or loafing. Still others are in their rooms taking the seaman $ after noon nap But at 3 o'clock the drills and exercises come again.
 By 80 o'clock there is a feeling that one can sit dow Il and dine without fear of interruption. The mess as a whole is now gathered together. and the meal is generally thoroughly enjoyable and delightful affair. After it is over there are cigars, games, music, or the right tt' withdraw within oneself without ex- | citing remark. By 10 o'clock most of these sailors are in bed. but even now | the drills may not be over. At midnight the buglcs may sound, and ill two min utes all tLe ships company be rapidly making ready for all enemy.-Ncw York Post.
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