New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-10-06
ON THE HIGH SEAS.
Notes or the Modern Mercantile
Marine.

LIFE IN THE MERCANTILE MARINE BY
Charles Protheroe. Emo. pp- viii % John
Lane.
II Charles Protheroe was not made the VIC
tim OF the sailors jest sen1ing the greenhorn
for the key Of the keelson, he went through
thorough education in the work Of full-rigged
ships on the high seas. There is a delicate sus-
picion that he did take up the quest Of this
mysterious key. from carpenter to bo'sun.
and possibly on UP to the captain: but he mere
ly mentions it in passing ancient sport
probably originating in the Ark. The authors
purpose in his airy and vigorous recital of HIS
experiences aloat has been 10 give a faithful
outline OF conditions that he thinks wonder
fully little known And Il must be said that
the steady rough and ready tone and the
breezily matter Of fact character OF what he sets
down have the sound OF the authentic. Rare
ly IS the sailor Jargon deliberately explained
The slang is part Of the record and is written
81 as a matter OF course. Explanations at
tines however are here. Families. on occasion
The only item OF food. are what the self-satis-
fed landiubber would call biscuits. They are
served with q liberal hand. but the stock is
protected by their almost irrefragable charac-
ter. Out OF pantiles delectable dish is TO be
made by vigorous pounding ia a bag followed
by the adnixture OF some handy liquid, prefer
ably old pea soup. with the addition Of a little
Eat pork. When this creation is Drowned in
the oven Il becomes dogs body" Should there
be rnolasses 10 ads, the result is "dandy-funk"
The last day OF the first month out is chosen
Tor q curious celebration. The months advance
has usually been drawn, and more often than
not rnortgaged before. so that this is the end
OF g period in which the crew have worked
by a process OF reasoning obvious to any one
with e drop of sea blood In his veins. without
material advantage. To mark the day custom
presc-fbes an elaborate ceremony. In the fo'c'sle
sor some DAYS previous a horse, no less, viii
have been in course OF construction In the
second dog watch the animal is brought out, a
creature OF canvas hide. long tail and name OF
reased manila ropeyarns He is mounted and
~ccompanied round the deck IN procession. A
chorus with detailed strophes and antistrophes
describes the virtues OF beast and rider, after
e1is fashion:
cay old man. your horse win die
os man 90 '" So Ssy hors e viii de oe
Chorus-Ohi poor oad man
The Rider.
Ifhe dies IN tan his skin.
chorus-For We say So ana we hope So
Chorus-oh! poor old man.
Finally the beast is pulled UP the quarter
deck and sold at auction. after which he is
a1oisted by all hands to the main yardarm- At
shis point the rider escapes 10 the foot rope
and the horse. drenched with kerosene, is set
efire cut loose and dropped into the sizzling sea
Mr. Protheroe draws more serious pictures.
men OF the South Seas and men cut adrift there
from English homes in which they have be-
Gene unwelcorne; storms and wrecks and dan
gers quietly faced. The thought Of risk in a
moment Of extremity is out of the philosophy
of such seamen as are here shown. and all
fuss and pother is equally foreign TO them.
glimpse Of the life Of such men, presented with
81 houely directness, makes interesting reading.