The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-01-02
BRIDES AS VISITORS TO WAR SHIPS.
Why Newly Married Couples Like to
Wander About on War Vessels.
New York Sun.

New York Sun.
There was leaden sky overhead and a
gray mist all about the big battle ship In
diana, on whose yellow upper works an oc-
castonal raindrop spattered. Wrapped in his
oVercoat, the officer of the deck tramped up
and down, stopping every few minutes to
look over the dreary stretch of SOggy soil
and the yellow navy-yard buildings beyond.
1t was Tuesday of last week.
TIE officer of the deck was young lieu
tenant. de was IN grumpy mood, for deck
duty on day like Tuesday is far from pleas
ant. A sailorman approached him with a
request for shore leave
and when the bluejacket answered affirma-
lively he looked disappointed. go ahead''
he said, sourly, and the sailor hurried down
the gangway and made tracks in the mud
up the yard. All of which impressed an on
locker with the idea that the young ieuten-
ant was a sour-spirited and unpleasant per-
SON. But he wasn't He was simply wet and
cold. His real nature rose to the surface a
few minutes later when party of three
emerged from the sEperStructure. They were
a young man, young woman and prem
tice boy. A smile wrnkled the lieutenant's
mouth and spanked in his eyes as he saw
them. The young man was very ordinary
young man in very extraordinary frame of
mind. His glance never strayed from his
feminine companion. She was comely and
rosy-cheeked and clad in a gray something
that harmonized with the mist. and one Of
her little hands rested contdingly in the
right hand of her companion. In his re-
markable state Of mind the ordinary young
man walked plumb into the officer of the
deck.
"Oh. I beg your pardon" he said. 81
thought you were the gate"
"John!" said the little woman as the>color
spread from her cheeks to her forehead and
chin. The ordinary young man became
trifie embarrassed himself and stammered
Il mean l thought thought we were go
ing, going, you know, to the gate of the
"There 1t is over there said the Heuten-
ant. pointing to the gangway. The young
man and woman walked off, hand in hand.
IF / had told them it was astern they'd
have walked overheard" said the lieuten-
ant.
The prentice boy stood on the deck and
What are you laughing at?" asked the
officer. turning on him sharply.
That's a pair, - answered the boy.
How do you know, you young rascal?"
kin tell be the. cut O. their jb, sir
Get in off the deck. commanded the lieu
terant and the grinning boy vanished.
Funny" said the lieutenant, as he turned
to the Sun reporter. Think OF anybody
we didn't have to be here you and /. we
would be in nice. warm room, with a pipe
and a mug of hot punch l imagine. But
that was honeymoon pair. Great Scott.
Here's another Of them
Truly enough. another couple was ap-
preaching the ship. and be the cut o their
jib, as the prentice boy said. they were new
wed. They walked up the gangway and were
turned over to a boy who was ordered to
THE number of brides that come to visit
the ship is amazing; that's what it is-amaZ-
IlSt SAID the OulCer OF the utck. You can
see a dozen honeymoon couples in the yard
any fine day. And on days like this. well,
as you see, we've had two couples on the
How can we tell them? Why that is very
easy. In the first place, they have new
clothes. The man always has new gloves,
and they never look at anything but each
other I remember in September there was
a swarm Of them. We poor devils Of sailors
could not help envying them, they were 50
happy. We tried TO interest them in the
guns and machinery, but, bless you, we
might as we'll let them alone; they would be
interested in nothing but themselves.
AT first wondered why they came down
here at all, but that soon became plain to
me- l was standing on the deck one day
when young fellow and girl boarded us
The girl was very very pretty. They had
the telltale look on their faces and the Young
man approached me very politely.
Pardon me, SIR said he, but are you
the captain?
II said was not. i should like to see the
captain he said. i want some one to show
me around the ship. 1 was interested and /
to visit war ships. You see we have so
many secluded places where they can stop
and embrace so many companion ladders
where II is necessary for the husband to
hold his wifes hand. And they take adyan-
tage of all the opportunities. We were down
deck, and was explaining things generally.
Z" You see said /, If the upper works
are shot away, we can work the vessel from
this room. A man stands at the telephone
and receives orders from the comma nder,
which he transmits to the man at the wheel,
who
/" 'Darlingl'
= Sweetheart
'sThe interruptions came from behind me.
and turned to see my auditors. with hands