Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-11-30
MUSIC ON sHIPBoARD.
How Sailors on Merchant Vessels Pass
Time on Long Voyage.

From the New York Times.
you invited to a musicale on the
ship Orinoco In Erie basin, Friday evening,
August 2S."
number Of persons responded to this
invitation cheerfully. for they knew the
captain very well. He had been IN the
South American trade to this port for a
| number Of years. married a Brooklyn girl
and made money for the owners Of his ship
in spite Of the number of steamers that
bore down upon him. The mate received
the guests at the gangway, and the cheer
full captain and his wife did duty below
The captain displayed with pride new
piano presented by the owners, a beautiful
piece Of polished mahogany. with works of
the best construction: piano that he said
would not move from it's bearings If the
ship turned turtle.
The captain further explained that he put
aboard cheaper plano at the request Of
his wife when they were married. Sailors
love music. and the good effects Of it were
had decided to put them on all their sailing
vessels. beginning with this. It is nothing
surprising these days to hear a plano on a
good sailing ship, he said. why, only the
other day l heard the strains of a oiano
coming from an old canal boat over there I"
When the musicale began the captain, his
wife accompanying, sang in a round and
pleasant voice Tosus Goodbye" Then
played melodies of South America that
seemed to make the ship roll and bow to
the waves under the southern moon. The
effect of a combination Like that in a 9th
avenue drawing room would be electric A
purser from South American steamer
anchored in the basin played horn solo
The captains wife sang songs of the Anna
zon women, as she pictured them in her
voyages, and then came a rousing glee by
he crew.
ut is a rare thing now" said the captain.
to find sailing ship without piano, es-
peciaiiy If she belongs to e. good line. Ocean
liners haven't any monopoly in that busi-
ness, by good deal. How often do YOU
lind tramp or a freight line steamer with
piano! Women in Orinoco get New York
songs sooner than many of our American
towns do. They are very quick to play by
ear, ana some OF them copy from my wifes
music and from that of the wives of other
captains. When I got there ON my last
voyage l heard everybody singing ",,he
GOOD Old Summer Time" They caught the
contagion from Liverpool vessel
Il invite my men to come into the cabin
when on watch and make use of the piano.
All sailors on long voyage have much
spare time that they don't know what to do
with. They loll In the for'castle and pIay
cards. They smoke more than is good for
them. some OF my crew do that still, in
spite OF the piano, but the most of them are
m lhe CABIN whenever they can get there,
singing ana playing. They organized the
glee club; I didn't. We have a man who
can play the concertina, and another who
can do wonders with an old flute that ha
bought In South street junk shop thirty
years ago.
Another thine-a sailor. like any man,
is more careful in his personal appearances
II he knows he is to appear with a lady. #
Is wholesome thing, in my opinion for a
captain to take his wife to sea-"