Milford chronicle. [volume] (Milford, Del.) 1878-1974, 1902-09-26
COurtesies That Must Be Observed
by Shin Cnnfaina

DF snip Captains.
In the days before cannon and in
deed until comparatively recent times
a vessel made its salutation by lower
ing its flag. This is the oldest and
most honorable greeting which a ship
can give, and it ranks before the boom
ing of guns, however many. This s;l-
Lutte has always been demanded by
English seamen, and it's exaction has
burned the hearts and the powder of
generations of naval commanders. For
foreign ship, whether merchant or
martial to enter an English port with
out yelling tOpsails or lowering its ma
tiOnal flag was to court the chances of
war, though the profOundest peace ex-
listed. Without warning OF argument
the shore defenSeS or a man-of-war
sent round shot across the bows or
between the maSta OF the insolent in
truder, and II the offending flag came
not down instanter the foreigner was
brought to her senses by being raked
through and through Such was the
reception accorded by John Hawkins
to the Spanish admiral who In time of
peace sailed into Plymouth sound with
out yelling his topsails or striking his
flag. The Dutch vehemently resisted
the British demand. and it was not I'M
til 1873 that they finally agreed to
strike the English colors in home wa
tiers. The same honor was formally
assented to by France in 1904, although
it had been long eXacted by Britain.
Until modern times it was regarded
as high misdemeapor for merchant
| vessel to pass one of his majesty's
ships without dipping her ensign, and
the consequence was that shot across
her bows compelled her to heave to
while her captains name was taken,
the admiralty instituting a prosecution
against him for his negligence. The
trading ship dips her ensign and waits
for the man-Of-war's dip In return.
Then she dips again, and after that in
strict etiquette she ought to dip third
time, but this is seldom done now. The
maritime supremacy Of Britain is still
enforced by the refusal of any British
war vessel to dip its flag to any for
eign ship until the latter has first low
cred its colors, and this acknowledge
ment of precedence is required not only
in home waters, but in all seas.
But naval salutes are now essential
matters of etiquette ana are exchanged
| under an elaborate code arranged be-
/ tween foreign powers and the admiral
ty in 1876, The number of guns to be
! fred under all conceivable circum.
stances is infinitely stipulated. Second
| to the salute of twenty-One guns in
honor Of royal personages and national
| tlaga are nineteen rounds given to en-
| bassadOrs. Colonial governors, for.
! eign possessions and fortresses receive
/ seventeen guns and ENJOYS extraordi-
J nary and ministers plenipotentiary fif.
teen. Two guns less are fired for lieu
/ tenant governors. Charge d'affaires are
! treated to eleven, conSuls general to
nine and a mere consul to seven. The
salute for admirals of the fleet is sew
enteen guns and for admirals simple.
| tier fifteen. Vice admirals are greeted
with thirteen and rear admirals with
two less, while nine guns are fired for
commOdores, captains and lower off.
GERS being classed as rot worth the
burning Of pOwder.-LoAae5n Standard
Inc most curious pOstOtfice in Amer
] lea is the one which stands in BeebC
Plain, town half in Vermont and halt
in the province Of Quebec, Canada
The old pOstOffice was built about sew
enty-tive years ago exactly on the line
between the United States and Canada
so that it stands in two countries anC
serves in the postal service two ma
tons, The cellar of the building con
nects the two committees md Soma reni.