Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-09-08

boatswain's third or second mates berth.
according TO the size and personnel of the
EMP. But he spends but little time In the
forecastle. among men whom he Is taught
to believe are inferior creatures: and when
he obtains power over them he maltreats
them, as he has been maltreated himself and
thinks that IT is right. II his education
comprises a knowledge OF the "three RS"
ne can easily learn enough OF navigation
to obtain first mates berth, and later he
becomes captain-a pet of the law and
public opinion. but as little fitted by in
stinct and training to appreciate the re-
sponsibilities OF his position as Is a negro
overseer ma plantation. He is an ex-
ponent OF brute force, and the finer sensi-
IN humanity. morals or common decency
to the meanest OF his crew--only excelling
them In the grosser elements of character
which first gained him his advantage.
In acquired attributes-knowledgeo of tech
nique-he Is often inferior to the best men
OF his crew. Not an American ship goes to
sea without few able seamen forward.
who are competent to instruct the captain
In seamanship: for this broad-shouldered
heavy-Hsted ruffiian is sometimes promoted
too soon The title liable seaman is one to
De proud OF. 1t cannot be acquired in the
space OF time, which will give a man mas
terry of trade on shore. or win him a
post-graduate's diploma in college. A man
needs four years of service at least before
ne can be trusted at the wheel with a fol-
lowing wind and sea: and to learn the
smaller, more mechanical details of his
calling-knotting, serving. sailmaking,. wire
splicing. etc-he requires nearly double this
Time An able seaman Is a skilled laborer-
equal In technical knowledge to a machin-
lst, carpenter or other craftsman on shore
and for this skilled labor he receives the
munincent salary OF SIS a month out Of
Atlantic and $50 out of Pacific ports most
of which he loses to the captain of the
crimps.
The Able Seaman.
A few words more as to this able sea-
man. and the reason why there are so
many of him willing to give such work for
such pay. He is initially a weakling. of
fair physical courage perhaps, but OF little
gressiveness; otherwise he would not re-
main at the trade. He may have started as
boy and lived in the boys ROOM" drift
ing into the forecastle under pressure of
green hand-and forced to learn to escape
the mates abuse He may have been a
fisherman. deckhand. or '1ongshoreman"
going to sea for the love of the sea: but.
Whatever his origin, his being before the
mast comes only Of his helplessness in the
struggle for existence on shore. So he re-
mains In an environment that kills him in
twelve years, but develops In him a strength
or character along certain lines beyond the
comprehension of landsmen.
he becomes man to be pitied, respected
and protected. for in the nature OF things.
he can do none Of these for himself He
cannot pity himself for he Is equal TO the
drafts upon him and survives them He
cannot respect himself except in his own
peculiar way, which his land-fearing fell
low men cannot understand. He knows
that he can endure a stress Of weather and
work under which an ordinary man would
de- but 1t does not conduce to assertive-
ness, and his attitude toward wrong and
injustice might be stamped as cowardy by
those who do not know nim He cannot
protect himself, for he has not known good
treatment for reward for generous, ener-
getic effort. and does not always realize
that he is imposed upon. He is denied the
love OF woman and children: he Is an inno-
cent outcast-a wanderer upon the face of
the earth, because of the wanderlust I'm his
soul and the possession of qualities which
would ma Ike him esteemed among men did
they apply to trade or profession on
shore. "
And this skilled laborer-the hardest
worked and lowest paid in the worldwide.
under the law, Is denied the right of self
de1ense While at sea-who Is hopeless of
advancement or change because deficient
IN inherent brutality, physique and the
groundings OF education-this man so nee
essary to the worlds commerce. can rarely
obtain justice in the courts of a free conn
Try, because blind public sentiment has
p.eadJudsed rim potential mutineer
pirate and murderer
Out upon such public sentiment And
shame upon the novelist who has created
and fostered it.
MORGAN ROBERTSON.