The Savannah morning news., 1900-07-29
GIRL VISITORS ON wARsHIPs.
Even Hard Tack Disappears Before
the Demand for Souvenirs of the
From the Washington Star.


From the Washington Star.
American memo wars men Of the ward
room, as well of the fo-c'sle like to en-
terrain their young women friends aboard
ship on the home stations. If they hap
pen to be "aft' girls, the temporary guests
and prizes of the ward-room officers, they
are generally pressed to remain aboard
for bit of luncheon. A good many young
women balk at this proposition-not that
they see the slightest improperly in it,,
but because 1t is an ordeal even for very
bright girls this lunc heon board an Amer
lean man-of-war. American girls who
have done their bit of ship visiting unite
in saying that they wish American naval
officers hadn't fallen into the strange, en-
barassing habit OF considering their coun-
trywomen all brilliant angels right
down from above that they have to be on
their mettle every instant to keep from
falling from the standard
Neither officers nor men of a man-of- war
expect 10 have much left in the way of
small gear after "A visit from feminine
friends. The girls never ask for these
things, OF course, but they never fail to
go ashore with enough to stock "A bumboat
board an American mau-of- war and likes
she gets. If she could carry 6-inch rifles
the officers aft would probably give her
a few. The bluejackets are just as gem
erous. Every American warshp in com
mission carries about ten times the num-
Der OF cap ribbons ever likely to be re-
quired for the use of the changing crews
Those extra cap ribbons are for the girls
They are rot officially made for the girls.
To- 4
are 10 get them, They cost the officer or
blueJacket who draws them from the pay
masters stores Is cents each, but II they
cost the officer or bluejacket SIS each, the
girls would get them just the same.
Petty officers in our navy are always shy
on rating badges for their watch arms aft
er their ship has been invadedby the girls
The girl innocently remarks that the an
Choir or pair of crossed guns or exploding
shell or silver wheel In the petty officers
arm is pretty. She doesn't have to say
anything else The petty officer makes for
his ditty box for his scissors and cuts The
rating badge off his arm before the girls
eyes for her. Then he has 10 draw on the
paymaster for another ra ting badge The
chief petty officers. who wear brass-but-
toned uniforms, often go buttonless for a
day or so after the girls have been aboard
They Top the buttons off their blouses for
the girls and then have to stand by for
more buttons at the paymasters Office. The
bluejackets will give the girls anything
they happen 10 possess, or don't happen 10
possess, for that matter.
There was an equipment yeoman on
board a ship that visited the San Diego
flower fiesta a few years ago, who fitted
out the girls he escorted around his ship
with peculiar souvenirs. In his storeroom
ne had a couple OF hundred old fashioned
wrist irons that had done a lot OF duty
in sQuclching the Righteousness OF briggel
sailors. A board OF survey had been held
on these irons, which were out Of date,
and they had been condemned 1t was
the yeomans business TO turn them In at
a navy yard storeroom at the first oppor-
kunity, SO that they could be officially