The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-07-16
REFORMATION or SHINE
Consequences OF a change of Habits In an
Excursion Boat Deckhard.

Shine. as he was called was a deCkhand on
one Of New York's largest excursion boats. IL
was to be supposed from his name. that he
had been graduated from career as boot
black. hut his comrades could say nothing as
to that. lie WAS stunted. croas-eyed, tobacco
chewing decker when they first knew him. and
decker even then OF many years standing in
his profession
He was an expert now He held the spring
line. and he could hold II taut around the Mig
seT-hrads, when the Ioat was sprlnging her
nose ont ftom the wharf, until the last drop OF
water dripped from the stretched rope and the
first weak strand trcmbed at the swapping
point He mover lost a line. and the mate.
clinging to the davs on The deck above him,
watched tho steady rope and valued Shine as
an artist.
Ho rose at daylight 10 scrub decks In cold
water aud bare foet. without the consolation OF
breakfast That came later in the shape OF
poultice porridge with n milk that m ght have
tasted sour had not 0lt taste been well drowned
ont Of i'll; cold scraps or meat piled on the
grease OF Il tin platter BY the dirty fingered
mossboy: tca Uoi'ed over from the previous
night; sogFy bread. and butter beyond all de-
scrii'ton aud the appetite even Of deck hand.
Breakfast finished. he assisted in doing UP the
housework OF the floating establishment. Of
(which decker is both hired man and maid OF
treadmiIl day that was round Of making and
leaving piers enlivened only by the profanity
OF tTO irritable mates
When of duty for half hour no taught the
new men to play Pedro in the forepeak. When
they learned to suspect his groaey pack OF
cards. lie tat;ooed their arms chests and backs
for a consideration; and whom all the available
cuticle had been covered. he snt in the sun on
the shutter Of the gangway. sang songs TO his
L. q a Al
cusate In that society. He was tho recognized
leader Of the deckhan!s in all their slua bbles
with tho stokers. who bunk also In the fore
pork. but are OF different caste. and he re-
tired at night to his hard bunk. the aZe OF a
coffin. TO sleep comfortably in his clothes.
That was before his reformation. He was
the best decker l ever knew" the first mate
testified. until he turned Temperance.
dunno what he got In 'lm-don't care. But l
tell you. no decker works on this boat any
moro after he quits drinkin'.'
PAYDAY had come once a month to Shine with
SIP TO repay him for thirty days Of toll Re
used to look forward to it like a child to
Christmas. On tho evening OF the gro at day
he always left half his monthly salary In tho
puraer's hands for bookkeeping. and with tho
So remaining TO him went out with his fellows
to round the town. They staggered back to
their boat about midnight. with empty pock-
cts. after the enjoyment of what Shine called
"a beary bat" The mates shut their eyes
fh f t5s r rrS 9 r6 G
say say, 10 have them guzSle 7 al in night
reg At sna Shss
tho whistle blew the signal 10 the wharf
.h Tn" next day he drew hls last dollars from
Ma, i is% 81 % 3 sSnss SS0H Hs sRsi
Ko uptown alone, OF the two nights hts he had
The keener sensation from the second because
liquor Utter sweet His mother saw W'a nothms
OF his money and never expected to- Sho had
learned I1nG :he male animal from the experience
Concerning the change Of which the mate
complained there were various theories. The
Who ny
mT ma from PAYDAY lpb!ie,ion, and heard
Ght he as n'G IN S hs b @s That II
decSers bunk there Is not room for such eesta;;
The SpH q GeeEr 'ks
awoke with foot SO damas I'D hat tho great toe
OF it, il was "a humnSd in the leather oi his boot
set. They noticed that he hid himself there.
W? % rye" Rs ION rs ' 6s .na
world wondor"d /, Wondered IN silence enc ' on
the mex, payday he forwarded his money to
81 n so thSm hs v1 ns oTsa h., hin
and vihorsd without irnt N In month the;
men even dared to Joke with Shine because he
was wa, somnelIed to sleep in the boot lie could
But the mate insists that he foresaw and
foretold trouble. He proved true prophet.
@s o 70 100 ooi ossT h be
demanda greater comfor, in the other I'D days "f
The n,,n m9nthb He objected 70 the food be COM
the mates curses. He talked insubordination
with his messmates. arguing that a man was
like one IIo threatened to dsarrnnge the
social System Of the entire noat. became a
nnantira Anarchist and the Socialist Of the
:. The Grst mate was BLIND to the. progress Of
spring Inc 10 tho last strain around the mig
Ssr;neG;ds Hnd , was in scyegs different ways
hm.s at Tfe e t ShHS took ~
rancid hutrer through the mpssroom porthole,
a on, saluted the mao called to reprlmand him.
s sYS. 60 6 I HShG,s ,oPsh1; The mat. said
mate chHrs"d him with the H Inst r %eepon thst
n WITH it that Sh Mo H.H Sd sSs
ths nspn o. .,6 any but dectPapd Shine
the eye Of his opponent. and held his left hand
snn I But az sbb uns%snns t
and fought like a bootblack: He duciod " be.
meath the mates blow. charged into him
WITH bead down. and caught him like a
thu tu!ness of the Official waist The mate
cHTredd , ~ against the bulkhfd. cut"hirG the
were resusci,atlng tho gsspIng oificer. Shine
fad w the stairs and Disappeared across the
gangEianG
Tho newt GAY there was a new man on tho
spring line. The mase caught an odor OF LIQUOR
on htR!
"Yon1l do" he said, "and sec you don't re-
rm-do you hcar?"
BRE1kIS4 THE SAD SRTS