The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1902-03-12

into one of these birds and that It pre-
sages disaster 10 the ship to visit any
injury or do any harm to this winged
fisher of the seas.
Porpoi,es that do stunts and spOrtive
tricks at the Prov are not TO be dls-
turbed, while q white rat seen on snip
board Is considered an omen OF ap-
preaching disaster. Jack does not take
pleasantly to any violation OF these
rules Of the sea, and he believes Inn
plicitly the superstition to which ne Is
welded by custom and traditlon.
Very few of this class know how 10
write their names and they are almost
universally given to debauchery anu
drunkenness. They are, At the same
time, without exception. the most sac
rificing, lsardworking, and generous
laborers In the world. A true seaman
will hot hesitate q moment to brave al
most any danger to save u shipniate or
try to save q passenger from watery
grave.
The transition from the hum.drum
samene.s of garrison life In the West
to that Of foreign lands on the sea
gave to the Army broad and lioerai
experience that was sadly needea.
The officers aud men are not the only
ones, however, who have enjoyed the
advantages Of this service, but their
families have been allowed 70 use the
TRANSPORTS a. we'll. AS result the
passenger list often shows larger
number of women than officers ana
in some Instances they exercise infin'
itely more authority. The Quarter
master who accomplishes the art OF
pleasing the women In their assign
meuts to staterooms and succeeds In
complying promptly aud satisfactorily
with their demands during the voyage
will assuredly attain unprecedented
popularity. In most cases they have
their posterity with maids and nurses
accompanying them, q combination
that always scares the Quartermaster
out of his wits. AS rule the moth
ers are generally confined to their
bertbs. suffering from sea sickness,
while the children devote themselves
to the task Of transforming the passen-
ger decks into . Kindergarten. Ii the
voyage Is O long one aud the sea
smooth, Madam Gossip, chic and
alert, con es on shipboard and leads q
merry dance. Nothing could be more
natural, however, for long trip at sea
Is enough to weary the most patient
and 1t IL absolutely necessary to do
something to while away the time.
For all It may seem, the Uniteo
States Army Transport service Ia to-
day some OF the fruit Of that dauntless
courage and splendid spirit Of progress
that inspired y handful Of persecuted
pioneers to carve from o western VIII
derness this republic, and, freeing her
from enemies and intruders, bequeath
her as blessing to the generations a.
ter them. II serves as another Illus
trations of the superiority OF Ameri'
can enterprise over that OF other coun-
tries, and whether Cong ress preserves
or destroys 1t IL matter Of little impor.
tance In the great lesson 1t has taught
the thinking men Of today. The m
pidity with which 80 many ships have
been equipped and organized into per.
feet service for the purposes of war,
must appeal to the man who arroga,es
to himself the knowledge that circum-
scribes the great possibilities OF this
country.
In the hope that I have not written
too long. am, with high esteem,
Very respectfully.
Cbas. r. Baker,
Captain and @. NJ, U. 8. A.,
Commanding ''sumner."