New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-07-17
SAILORS WHO RE ENLIST.
ODD IDEAS OF THE JACKIEs ABOUT TIME
AND LIFE ON SHIP
EX-ATTACHE.
From The Washington Star.


From The Washington Star.
On the day after his enlistment FOR period
OF three years the American man-o war man
begins to figure on the amount OF time tnat Is
TO intervene before his discharge. He mas Two
years and a butt" TO do. the butt being inc
remaining eleven months and twenty-nlne oays
OF the first year On the day following ms com
pletion OF the first year OF his enlistment he has
only a year and butt to get through. NO ma
ter IL the butt is only single day under year
in length, the uejacket contemplates the Urn
with the blandest complaisancei IL is ho', AZ any
rate a whole year, even though II be three nun
dred and sixty-four days and this fashon OF
throttling each year Of his service makes MN
happy: II seems to bring his discharge ana the
more or less tempestuous joys he carefully maps
out long before his discharge WITHIN closer
range. When ne has put in eighteen months OF
an enlistment, he breaks out the homewaro
bound remnant; he IL going down the hill; ana
when ne has finally achieved two years
ard has only the butt TO accomplish JOY mis-
his cup.
Once A sailor always a sailor is not strictly
true Of memo wars men Of the American Navy
Only about one-half OF The men who complete
one enlistment ship for another three-year
cruise But about nine-tenths Of the men VINO
pu, In two cruises settle down TO lifelong
continuance in the service. Six years OF Navy
lie seem 70 thoroughly inoculate them with
what the Germans call vanderlust When
blucjao kct passes few q his summers in the
latitude ~ the North Cape and couple OF his
winters down among the Bcrmudas or IN the
Fauhrious South Pacific he is likely TO acquire
a dislike for the climate OF the United states
and this dislike has moro weight than any
thing else IN forming his decision 10 remain In
tho Navy Moreover after a iew years In the
Navy the Ilucjacket seems To become pos
scescd of The odd idea that he IS really doing
nothing aboard ship to earn his pay. that the
perpetual rcurry in which he Is kept from all
hands in the morning until pipe down at night
is really not work. and with this quaint notion
ho also acquires an exceedingly exaggerated
idea 81 tho terrific amount OF grinding labor
a MAJ has 20 perform IN order to gain a liveli-
hood ashore. Put TO a hlucjackct who has put
in = couple - naval cruises the direct question,
Arc Won going to ship over when your time
is outg" and in nine cases out of ten he VIII
look You In the eye With an expression OF stupe-
faction and inquire.
what do You think I'm going 10 do-work?"
Overtime men being shipped back 10 this
country on a rnan-of-War are not compelled TO
DO any - the ships work. they simply stand the
military calls cat ;hcir meals and smoke their
pipes. Wai, hing IN" while with lazy happiness
the daily round Of labor q the less fortunate
biuclaokcts attached as members OF the crew
OF the shin on which they themselves arc prac-
ticallv passengers m" overtime men occa-
sionally emit arroCantiy humorous directions to
these temporary shipmates the ships company
Of ne boat that is hauling them home. &C wan.
now an shine UP thai bright work. e .ong-
time ewabr' they VIII shout 70 a ccckhand
when tie of .er O. the deck is aft ard out OF
hearing. and. cit down 20 your bunker. yc
grimy natfoot. and rake out your coal" IS 'he
Mind - thing tho man Of the black gang below
hears from the passengers whenever he tries
to smoke peaceful pipe on the togalant TO-
Cstlc
one q he immcmorial customs Of tho Navy
jacks j. 10 sccrcto in The ditiy bag IL the dis
charged shipmate who is about 10 go ashore a
can Of corn'd beef. "A e" potatoes and. perhaps.
on" or two other articles of sea food This is
done 10 order 10 remind ,hc dis harccd man
when h opens his bag as lore that in the opinion
Of his shirmaics he viii bc unable TO earn enough
10 eat ON land II he takes il into his bead not
to ship oyer. and that They have. therefore.
taken small measure to shield him from
starvation with little Navy grub when he has
spent his PAYDAY ps hdrgcd men try all
sorts ~ schemes to keep this stuff from being
placed in their bags. but. nevertheless. they
nearly always find It there when they get
ashore.
AN OLD PARDON.