Evening star., 1900-06-30
Mr.. JOBSON AS A SAILOR
DowN-BY-THE-soBFUL SEA.

cast his weather eye over the wine-dark
sea. gave an ancient-mariner survey Of the
golden-cirrus clouds overhead, hitched at
his white flannel trousers in regular deep
water style and remarked to Mrs. Jobson,
who was taking it easy on a wicker rock
ing chair:
You're ready, suppose?''
Ready for what?" inquired Mrs Job
son. She looked exceedingly comfortable.
For that sail was telling you about"
replied Mr.. Jobson, in an off-hand manner.
I've chartered a boat for the afternoon.
We're scheduled to start on the cruise at
o'clock"
why. don't remember your mentioning
any sail to me-" said Mrs. Jobson.
Don't. hey?' said Mr.. Jobson. ''Well,
that's not up to me. You never were par
ticularly strong in the remembering busi-
ness You're going to get your hat on and
come along, 1 suppose?"
I'm afraid of getting sick,'' said Mrs.
Jobson. looking very much disturbed. Il
haven't been in a sailboat since l was
little girl. and I got fearfully sick then.
And you know what weak stomach you
have Aren't you afraid you'll get sea-
mo. Mrs. Jobson. I'm not afraid I'll get
seasick,' replied Mr.. Jobson. with asperity.
Neither am afraid that I'll get the bu-
bonic plague, cholera infantum. house
maids knee or the mumps. The ocean
hasn't been built yet that 'ud make me
seasck. Never you mind about my weak
stomach. Any man that can't stand a ride
in a Sailboat ought to be taking in wash
ing for a living. I was floating around in
sailboats, at that, when you were playing
with jacks and wore your hair in two
plaits down your back, and if l ever got
sick in sailboat there's no record OF it
extant.'
But I'm sure shall get sick" demur-
red Mrs. Jobson. And 1 ain feeling so
we'll now thai
"Oh, very WELL" said Mr.. Jobson.
haughtily. There's no legal compulson
in this. you understand. Only 1 believe
that when a man neglects his business for
the purpose of bringing his wife down to
the seashore with him, it isn't exactly the
real thing for her to endeavor to crawl out
of all the little plans he makes to get a lit
tie fun out of the thing, and to manifest
determined disposition to spend about four
teen hours a day sitting on the front
porch with her hands in her lap, making
mental comments on the togs OF the
other"
"Oh. I'll co." interrupted Mrs. Jobson,
and in couple of minutes she was on her
way to the boat with him.
ITS the usual thing down here" said
Mr.. Jobson, for a whole crowd of people
to go off on these sailboat trips. but none
of that for me. I've hired the boat for
us two alone. 1 don't want to have lot
of seasick people around me when go out
for little sail, and women screaming
every time the boat is tackled, and that
sort of thing"
I'm perfectly sure that shall get SICK
said Mrs Jobson weakly, when she stepped
into the clipper-built single-sticker.
Sick. nothing said Mr.. Jobson. This
seasick business Is all imagination. any
how. If you make up your mind that
you're going to get sick you'll get sick
just as sure as shooting. but if you set
your mind against it, and just say to your
self that you're just not going to get sea-
sick, why, you could go around Cape Horn
i'll a catamaran and never bat eye. All
vOu've got to do is to decide firmly before
starting that you're not going to have a
qualm, and before the cruise is over you'll
be hoping for a storm SOS to make the sea
heavy and put excitement into the thing.
well, I'll try not to be SICK said Mrs.
Lobson. but she didn't say it with any
great degree of confidence.
'.Well. l know one passenger on this boat
that's not going to be seasick," remarked
Mr.. Jobson, with a look of high resolve, as
he stepped into the boat after Mrs Jobson.
The two bronZed youths who sailed the
turned the boats nose toward the open
sea and they were off. There was little or
no breeze and the boat rose and fell on the
gentleSt of SWellS.
Isn't this great?" said Mr.. Jobson, who
sat in the stern sheets next to Mrs job
son. Didn't want to come along with me.
either, did you? Wanted to keep on sitting
on the porch with your hands in your lap,
didn't you? Why. a man with seven diff
ferent brands Of stomach trouble could sit
in this boat for a week right out in mid
ocean ana never turn a 1alr.
Just then the boat got around the pro-
n'oGtory that jutS into the open sea from
the saltwater inlet. The sail filled sud-
denly with the fresh breeze, the boat gave
a quick careen to starboard and then be-
gan to plunge merrily in the short, choppy
sea, for the wind was against the tide. Mr.
Jobson suddenly ceased talking. He look
ed toward the amethystine horizon and
seemed to be buried in thought. The sea
became less choppy as the boat bounded
along. but the choppiness was succeeded
by long, foam-crested swells that lifted
the boat and dropped her as if she were a
bobber in a rocky torrent. The spray of
the foamy creSts dashed over the star
beard side. which was almost awash. Mrs.
Jobson held on tight but she looked de-
lighted Mr.. Jobson kept his face ayerted
from her. The meeting of the sky and the
sea seemed to have a great fascination for
him.
isn't this perfectly lovely?" exclaimed
Mrs. Jobson, when the boat, in going about
on the port tack, made great dip and
scooped up clear, green sea. why, who
would have imagined it could be SO pleas
myself if I were man. And I'm not the
least bit sick. Isn't it just splendid?''
Great" gurgled Mr.: Jobson. without
turning his gaze from the horizon
wen have to have a sail every day"
went Mrs. Jobson. "Out on the water
you can get the real ozone, and it'll do
both Of US a world of good Itll give us
Fine" gasped Mr.. Jobson, accidentally
turning his face so that Mrs Jobson could
see it. Mr.. Jobson was pale q spook,
and his features were drawn into a knot.
'Why, are you seasick?" Mrs. Jobson
asked, in alarm, when she saw his ghastly
phiz.
Mr. Jobson turned to her with a look of
deep Indignation.
''Seasck, nothing" he managed to gasp.
Its something I had for lunch. Must
have been the radishes Radishes never
did agree with me, anyhow. It's a wonder
you wouldn't have warned me not to eat
EN-"
Mr. Jobson was picture of woe. but the
boat didn't take any account Of Mr.. Job
sons feelings, but continued to dash
ward over the bounding pillows as If she
were in a race.
rs there anything I can do for you?"
inquired Mrs. Jobson, anxiously, Of Mr..
Jobson. who had clutched himself around
the waistband and sat- with an unutterably
dismal expression, gazing into the water.
''Lemme alone, that's ALL" Mr.. Jobson
contrived to gasp. "Just tell those fellows
to turn their DANCED old boat around and
head her for the land as quick as they can
mako it, and"
1t was obvious that the radishss had dis
agreed sadly with Mr.. Jobson. He was a
very sick man during the run to the inlet,
which Mrs. Jobson directed the men to
make in accordance with Mr.. Jobsons in
structions. Mr.. Jobson tottered of the