The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-05-17
Not n Holiday Job.

The naval militia is a picturesque branch
Of the service. especially in time Of peace.
There is a mysterious attractiveness about
the wide collar, the baggy trousers and
the jaunty cap; and when the wearer IS
able to impart a sea swing TO his gait
which he almost invaribly does very short
ly after ne dons the uniform-he becomes
very fetching person. Observers in the,
street even turn to look over the shoulder
at the brave boy in blue. while rhymes
and jingles suggestive of ''the bo'sn tight.
and the midshipmite, and the crew of the
captains gig" fit through the brain.
Socially, too, the naval militaman is in
the swim, md generally speaking he IS
far from being fresh. albeit ne may never
have been seasoned with the salt. He can
dance a waltz even better than he can a
hornpipe, in his wide trousers, while he
dearly loves the galop and the shottisehe.
1t is great fun, being a naval militiaman.
In times of peace. There are some boat
drills. of course. but they are more like
sport than work, and give one an appetite
for the supper or zest for the tete-a-teteI
which is to follow.
In times of war however, the naval
militia is quite another thing which 1t
appears some few naval militamen are
finding out to their regret. Those who en-
listed in the service with an idea that it
was to be a perpetual round of pleasure;
a succession OF picnics, NARROWING par
ties. sea jaunts in swift and elegant
yachts with lockers full of cakes aud lem
ons, and things of that sort, are learn
ing their mistake. The young men who
ina gined that as naval militiamen they
would be shown especial favors when in
the active service of the government are
becoming aware of their error. Three
young men who were members of the New
Orleans naval militia left the monitor
Passaic at Port Royal the other day be-
cause the work was harder than they eX
pected to find IL, while the menu OF the
mems mess was not as extensive as they
could desire. Certain members of the
Michigan naval militia who were ordered
on board the Yosemite, among the num-
Der being eleven sons of millionaire pa
rents, have been making futile kicks be-
because the civilian mate of the craft who
had been mustered into the service swore
at them, and because things were not be-
ing run precisely as they thought they
should be. In the interval between the
sending of one of their kicks to the Mich
igan congressman at Washington, In which
was demanded the discharge or removal
toa
of the reply to it, the Yosemite put to sea,
so that the young millionaires and others
will have to continue TO scrub decks, polish
brass and slush down spars for an 10
definite time.
There is nothing in the nature of a frolic
in the naval service, any more than there
is in the army, in times Of war. The
whole thing is intensely in earnest. 1t is
absolutely necessary that there should be
thorough discipline, and that the routine
should proceed as IL it were based. as It
actually is, upon life and death. In war
service the naval militia has hard and
exacting duties to perform, and the M
dividual members are expected to meet
whatever demands may be made upon
them. Whether their orders involve
scrubblng the decks, shoveling coal or
other disagreeahle work, they should be
promptly obeyed. Men who are not will
ing or able to render such obedience to
orders. and to put up with inconvenience
FOR the good of their country, have no
business in the uniform of the naval mill
tia. 1t is a pleasure to state, however,
that the vast majority of the boys on the
rolls have proved themselves to be true
blue ready and willing to obey all orders.
They are of the sort of stuff which las
made the history of the American navy
one full of glory.