Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-09-30

deal more. In those days the handling Of
a large sail like the topsail meant to Grip
pie the SHIPS speed to a considerable ex-
tent. This gave the British man-of-war
the chance to bring the foreigner under his
guns. where his own speed might never
have prevailed.
mad frequently the advantage of the small
men-of-war, and one naval captain in ac-
counting for his consumption OF ammuni-
ton said that ordinary traders "scorned
to strike to a whelp." and he had to force
them to do their duty.
The spirit in which these little courtesies
were exacted is best illustrated by the
words of the captain of the British man.
of-war Assistance in 1871 wish l could
meete with on(e) that would not vale his
ponnett. that ! might make woorke for my
brethren at White Half'-meaning officers
that were out of employment in the absence
of war.
Our own regulations. like those of all
other martini. powers of moment deny
the lowering Of sails in salute eXcept in re-
turn for similar compliment first extend
ed by another flag.
Cheering ia Forbidden.
Sheers or shouts as a salute to officer
are no longer allowed, and that because It
was long ago found as hard to make men
shout official glee as 1t is to make a horse
drink when he doesn't wish to- 1t gave q
ships company too good chance to wound
an unpopular officer although there are
several instances in recent years where a
departing popular commander has been
pulled ashore by beats crew of his own
ohicers, while the ships company lined up
on deck and gave many rousing, hearty
farewell cheer of kindly feeling.
In the present salute to the admiral men,
ton has been made Of the four "ruffies'
and the four "hourishes" given respectively
by the drums and the bugles and ii may
De surprise to know that the admiral re-
REEVES one ''ruffie" and one flourish more
than those bestowed upon the ensign at
colors The explanation must Of neces-
slty be uncertain. but the chance is that 1t
Is the outcome Of custom centuries old
way back when flags were more as adorn-
ments than features of dignity and when
the captain or the admiral, as the case
might be, was the most important factor in
all the shipboard ceremonies. Flags as ma
tional embems are pretty recent while
the majesty of the military leader
on shipboard dates back to the time of
the galleys. For several centuries after
Britain's seapower became a national fac.
tor military, not naval. men commanded
the hghting ships, and on board with them
came all the practices of the army camp.
with them came the trumpeter, an i'm.
portant person in those days if we Judge
him by the share of the prize money which
was his lot. and it is easy to see how well
ne blew his masters horn above any honor
ne might pay the colors the craft might
carry.
A Precautionary Measure
In olden days. according to Butler re
any Ship or Fleet, either of our own ur
strangers, whether Merchant Men or Men
of War, shall come up anything near las
within reach of Cannon Shot with any Of
His Majesties Ships either at an Anchor
or under Sail, 1t becometh them to pass
under her Lee. after the Custom of the
Sea, and in their going by to salute her
with one, three or five great Guns. the
which are to be answered with fit corre-
spondency. And this 1 conceive fit to be
done not only in regard of an acknowl-
edgement of Superiority to the Ships be-
longing to His Majesties. especially in all
our Channels, but that by an expectance
and looking out after this, all treacherous
attempts, that may be plotted by steal
ing upon them to windwards, or laying OF
them aboard, either with Fire-ship. Nine
ship or the like. may seasonably be pre-.
vented and avoided"
In those days of sails the weather gage,
as the windward position was called, en-
abed one to cut off his enemy's wind to
blind him with smoke from ones guns, and
thus to sweep down upon him and board
him before he could what to do. Today,
with steam power and smoke,ess powder.
this movement doesn't mean much, but
still courtesy, growing out of the ancient
protective custom, prevails, and in passing
ahead of another ship in the same path it
is civil to go to leeward.
Manning the Yards.
The origin of the custom of manning the
yards is obscure, but there can be but lit
Tie QOuDl tndt II was TO SHOW tHo
enemy how many able-bodied seamen there
were on board and to impress him with the
efficiency of the ships company. Com
posed, as they were in the early days, so
largely of soldiers, the percentage of sea-
men was lower than We understand such
alotments today and the natural Inference
would have been, with the yards well
crowded with nimble sailormen. that there
were a greater number than usual of SOL
diers and gunners below to fight the ship
than her size might seem to warrant.
Forms of Salute.
The simple salute Of touching the hat or
cap is one of the Oldest customs Of the
civilized world. 1t dates back to the early
feudal lords and their retinues of serfs.
These vassals were not always to be trust
ed, and the lord had continually to guard
against assassination To that end they
required their followers to approach un-
armed in making appeals, to bare their
heads with the left hand and to present
the open right palm outward to the fore
head to sho " that it carried no weapon.
The sword salute dates back to the days
of the crusade. when the hilt of every
crusaders sword was fashioned in the form
of cross. Every true believer was willing
to kiss the cross in token Of his holy pur.
pose and faith. and he swore by the hilt
of his sword and raised it to his lips for
that purpose. Today the hilt of the sword
is brought with a sweep to abreast the lips
blade uppermost after which the point Is
lowered, as If in submission. to the ground.
AS the admiral steps forward through the
gangway. to the deck he little realizes that
nearly all ages of civilized man and the
surviving forms of the Oldest powers do
homage to him in the present ceremonial Of
today and yet such are the expressions by
which we compass the peace time joy of .
grateful nation.
ROBERT G. SKERRETT.
~<--
Housebreakfng With a Sponge.
Lima Corr. Chicago Record.