The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1900-08-19

to assist at any work aboard ship. but
has still much 40 learn before he can call
himself an able seaman. If he ships
again with his first skipper he remains in
The boys room; and if he is satisfied with
the life. he is usually promoted after three
or four voyages without ever having lived
| in the fOrecastle. But, if he quits his
captain and signs out of boarding house
| he goes into the forecastle and takes his
chance Of rising by merit alone. He will
be longer about it, but he will be a better
seaman and better officer.
A boy who shows a desire to learn nav
igaton will be given facilities for study
ing-in his watch below-and provided
ne owns a quadrant or seXtant will be
instructed by the captain or officers in
taking observations; for these fellows are
| not continuous performers; they are sim
ply survivors and graduates in school
of brutality which eliminates the lesser
brutes, and are subject 20 occasional re-
lapses into good humor and generosity
during which they may be kind to a weak
er fellow creature whom they have re-
/ cen9ly maltreated; but it might prove an
unwse procedure for a boy, ordinary or
able seaman, living in the forecastle to
appear on deck with a quadrant to take
/ the sun at midday. A skipper does not
deem his position more stable and tenable,
or discipline more perfect, with naviga-
| tors in his crew.
A boys pay ranges from S. to $40 a
month, and with this, as extra wage, he
is given board and lodging. Lodging
means an empty bunk, for he must fur
nish his own bedding. and he finds the
item of board an unsatisfactory remuner-
alton until he learns to assimilate 1t.
boy reared on plain meat and potatoes at
first finds some difficulty in getting his
food down his throat; but once down
if he is healthy-he can digest it. for,
though apparently served in the most I'M
palatabe manner which sea COOK can
devise, it is still organic matter, plus
good deal of salt, and is amenable to the
chemical action and reaction of the gastric
juice So, until he gets the scurvy from
a preponderance of salt and lack of veg
etable matter in his food, he will retain
a semblance of good health. And he Will
have no trouble in keeping his teeth white
and clean; cold salt beef and bareback
though not hard enough to destroy the
enamel are sufficiently so to prevent the
accumulation of tartar, and to wear OIL
any which has formed.
Clothes About Ship.
AS a boy is not favored in bad weather
more than others of the crew, he needs
an outfit of clothing equal to any aboard
sou'wester and rubber boots. Mittens are
not allowed, except at the wheel and look
out. and are not wanted when pulling
ropes or climbing. But a dozen suits of
underclothing and shirts and as many
pairs of socks and trousers, all of wooden
material warm sweater or monkey jack
ct and a few light suits of dungaree, with
slipper and straw hats, is none too large
an outfit for a long voyage Ana even
with this stock, a sailor will be lucky II
he can get through a bed gale without
sleeping in wet clothes, or through voy-
age without drawing on the captains slop-
chest.
1t is contended by those interested in
seamen that American boys do not go
| to sea on account of the treatment OF
sailors in American ships. This is only
partly true. They go to sea IN large
numbers. shipping and slowing away in
sloops, schooners, brigs, barks and ships;
and there is a cadet-system in force IN
the mail steamers somewhat similar 10
the English apprentice system which at
tracts a great many. AS long as healthy
and adventurous temperaments are
evolved in our home and school life, boys
enough to man every ship ahoat will be
| found ready to adopt this strenuous ilte.
| But, fully two-thirds of those whose fate
| takes them abroad deep-Waters ships quit
| the sea after a voyage-not ON account
OF the danger, discomfort and necessary
! hard work-because of the kicks, blows
and curses given them, the epithets APP
Piled to them, and the driving "-the I'M
necessary work for which they are kept
UP In their watch-below. The remaining
third are the thick-skinned, insensate bull
lies of the boys room; and from this
| class are drawn the officers and captains
| of our deep water ships.