New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-11-12
SAILORS SONGS.
THE REAL PRACTICAL KIND USED TO
TIGHTEN LABOR AND INSURE
COOPERATION.
COOPERATION.
Frank 7. BuIen in The London Leader.

Frank T Bullen in The London Leader.
by the above I must not be taken to mean
the we'll known lyrics Of Dlbdin or the oIder
Come all yes" that like every thing else belong
ing 10 the sea. seem to have been elbOWed out
If existence 10y the coming OF the engineer and,
in the merchant service at any rate, the su-
prcmacy Of the foreigner Indeed, nave
shTtWd suspicion mat sailors songs. a. lHt ttII
is generally understood. are mostly sung ashore.
the sailor. with curious pcrversty usually pre-
f-rring the most ydpid and handl productions OF
IN. music halls To such beautiful and spirit
stirring lyrics as Tom Bowling" and The An
chOr's Weighed go
40 the songs I speak Of are those wherewith
the sailor borrowing. no doubt from the prlI-
itiy. p.opI.s ne meets with at his many calling
places around the world. uses not only 10 HEhI-
IN his labor by their CHEEKY music. but 10 give
notice of the precise moment at when an me
workers shall put forth their strength by the
incidence Of certain note or break or en-
rbasis I'm its lowest and therefore earliest.
form this sea music is purely arbitrary as 10
tune and is absolutely without words. IL con-
ei.ts simply OF succession Of musical SOUNDS
rroduccd from the chest while the tongue Hrs
quiet in the mouth and utterly uhryi' ouIt ttI
i'm any graphic form. Varying win the lhdINiu-
nal they ar, naturally Of the utmost diversity
If character but in TWO things thcY may an
b.. truly said to agree. o.. in their being IN the
minor mode and in their intervals dgteeI.6
with the. sequence of the pulls 10 D. made
This service Of song is purely voluntary Dut
Vet il j. OF such absolute necessity III liir M
chant service where the number oi hahdS J. 50
small that msapplicd energy Is not 10 re
thoucht Of that 10 may safely Dee sdId thdt me
work Of any ship could not Dee carried on Win
ont IT, Sometimes il happens that some irlc-
tion having arisen between officers ana crew;
fb4 latter viii lay hold of rope ana pun
4uruIIt their intention being, ~ course lo an
nav M. officer first by their unusual silence
ar1 next ty IN. know edge that Oh" WORK ne
,.i-b-. ID Boz executed D. certainly BONG nm
4.-.d lbs %, lack OF effective corporation.
=, strongly does this habit ot 'y"-h'hI Jay
b.id of "a merchant seaman mat Wh'h I'-
~.utly vent on board II "a man-o-War for the
,.,,i f.uu.ruNre~ although AT least sixteen
,-.ars had elapsed sine, left the sea. was
,.ally distressed to sr- "a number 90 men pun
ing ON a rope without any voice being ial9'H
IL, ..u-1. idate their efforts. as Do were. lH
.iiir.d almost pit.ously for tn" reason TOT th'5
.I,..uc. of the CHEEKY. enc 'uraGlns tones n,.H
L...n used 10 hear. but could get none.
,.,...r do IT," was all the answer could get ana
I ,.ul5 oul, reply that 10 was great ply lh'S
didn't !, ..,,,,, 80,
This custom Of singing out when d. uiIhR vi
inning is as / have said universal I'D 'h' me-
chant service but the singing oi sdl'T a'I'IS
with fixed times Is "a step higher III III,
ard is dependent upon Ia" presence I'D 'Il' mp
~ a oualifcd singer. think th" origin ~ ms
songs may be- truly referred To IN" lui'iu' D.
,r,,.s of America. who. with th" pilmuN' IN
sfirrts for tightening their labor by I'D! l4iLi''d
rad.nce developed into tn sitinS ol nus
.sd.ucrs To- words. have furnished al 'N" SHlI'
NJ aII the world with useful songs. Inc W'Iu7
are largely arbitrary and uons"nsicdi. a,thouth
those belonging to the choruscs are "A'o % '-''