The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1900-03-16
JACK and Sailors HOME
AN EXPERT OPINION ON THE
SUBJECT.
What the Author of 1.-THE Cruise of the
Cachalot" Thinks as the Result Of
Thirty Years Experience.

In these days when the "crimp" and
the shipping master" are terms of
heated controversy on the water front,
and when the subject of the Sailors
Home is of enough Importance to occu-
by some of the thought and time OF
very busy men of affairs, what might
be called expert testimony on the gen
eral subject may be of value. The
Cruise of Cachalot," by Frank T. Bullen,
first mate, though a comparatively re-
cent publication, is already recognized
as a classic in that small corner of lite
nature in which Richard Dena's Two
Years Before the Mast has for two
generations been burning and a shin
ing light. The author spent his life
at sea. He knows whereof he speaks;
and that he speaks with judgment is
seen in every line of a book, which
though it describes but one cruise
crowds into that the experience of
life time.
OF boarding masters and sailors
homes he says
1.-The CALLING thing about the whole
sorrow at leaving Vau Vau than ever
I did at leaving England; because by
the time / was able to secure a berth,
have usually drank pretty deep of the
bitter cup of the outward bOunder,'
than whom there is no more fOrlorr,
miserable creature on earth. No one
but the much abused boarding-master
will have anything to do with him. and
that worthy is generally careful to let
him know that he is but a hanger-on,
a dependant on sufferance for a meal,
and that his presence on shore is an
outrage. AS for the sailors home, I
have hardly patience to speak of them.
l know the sailor is usually a big baby
that wants protecting against himself,
and that once within the four walls of
| the institution he is safe; but right
| there commentator must end Why
are good folks ashore Systematically
misled into the belief that the sailor is
an object of charity, and that it is nee
essary to Subscribe continually and
| literally to provide him with food and
shelter when ashore? Most of the con-
tributors would be surprised to know
that the cost of board and lodging at
the home" is precisely the same as it
is outside, and much higher than a
| ldndsman of the same grade can live
for in better style. With the exception
of the sleeping accommodation, most
men prefer the boarding house, where.
| if they preserve the same commercial
status which is sine qua non at the
| Home" they are treated like gentle
| men; but in what follows lies the es-
| sential difference, and the reason for
this outburst of mine, smothered in
|
! der"-that is, a man whose money is
exhausted and who is living upon the
credit of his prospective advance of
pay-is unknown at the "home." No
matter what the condition of things is
in the shipping world; though the man
may have fought with energy to get his
discharge accepted among the crowd
at the "chain-locker;" though he be
footsore and weary with Cooking for
a ship" when his money is done, out
into the street he must go, if haply he
may find a speculative boarding mas
| ter to receive him. This act, although
most unlikely in appearance, is. often
performed; and though the boarding
master, of course, expects to recoup
himself out of the mans advance note,
it is none the less as merciful as the
action of the home" authorities is
merciless. OF course a man may go to
the STRAW house." or, as it is grandi-
loquently termed, the destitute sea-
mans asylum" where for a season he
will be fed on the refuse from the
'home," and sheltered from the wealth
er. But the ungrateful rascals do not
like the STRAW house" and use very
bad language about it.
THE calling thing about the whole
affair is that the Sailors home
figures in certain official publications
as a charity, which must be partially
supported by outside contributions. II
may be a charitable institution, but II
certainly is not so to the sailor, who
pays fully for everything he receives
The charity is bestowed upon a far
different class of people to merchant
Jack. Let it be granted that a man
is sober and provident, always gettine
a ship before his money is all gone he
will probably be well content at the
home, although very few seamen like
to be reminded ashore of their sea rou
tine, as the manner of the home is. II
the institution does not pay a hand
some dividend, with it's clothing shops
and refreshment bars, as well as thu
boarding house business on such {
large scale, only one inference can b.
fairly drawn-there must be somethini
radically wrong with the management.