Meade County news. [volume] (Meade, Kan.) 1900-1918, 1904-12-22

Jack Tar is VIGOROUSLY a merry
SOUL" whether afioat or on shore; but
once a year he lays himself out to
eclipse even himself, and that is on
Christmas day 1t matters nothing
where he may find himself-dodging
icebergs in the northern seas, crufs-
ing among palm-fringed Pacific ISL
ands, or in port 1900 leagues from
the lass he loves-it's all the same to
Jack; he means to have what he eX-
pressively calls high old time
and he has it.
And he sets about it thoroughly
and systematically, as becomes a
sailor Long before he filings himself
into his hammock on Christmas eve
to dream, it may be, of the "old folk
at home,' everything is practically
ready for the morrow's feasting and
revelry. All day long busy hands have
been engaged in converting the mess
deck into a veritable fairy scene OF
color and gaiety. Roses there are in
thousands, of all colors of the rain
bow, and all fashioned by clever fin
gers; furlongs of gay paper festoons;
devices and notices of all kinds gilt
ter from the walls, and all so skill
fully arranged and blended that one
is tempted to think that, after all,
Jack has missed his vocation and
should have been an artist.
Now all is ready for Father Christ
mas. First comes an impressive cere-
mony, when the men, in immaculate
duck, are paraded for service; the
flag is hauled down, and in its place
the red cross pennon of the church
unfolds in the breeze, and four or five
hundred lusty voices join with the
band in sending one good old Christ
mas hymn after another rolling up in
majestic volume of sound to the blue
of heaven. There is no sermon, just
a few hymns and prayers; but you
won't find a more impressive Christ
mas service the big world through.
Then come the finishing touches
to the mess deck fairyland, each mess
trying it's hardest to eclipse all the
others in wealth and skill of decora-
ton. AS the hour of noon draws near
the petty officers of the watch give
place to the smallest lads aboard, who
strut about in their mimic dignity
and send officers and crew into con-
vulsions of laughter. And then, at the
first stroke of eight bells the captain
and his officers pay their state visit
of inspection to the mess deck.
The plum buildings are sampled
amid deafening cheers, the decora-
tons are duly admired and praised,
and after a few seasonable remarks
and good wishes the skipper with
draws himself and his suite, and the
feeding and fun" begin. Such feed
ing and such fun it is, too; but, in
delicacy, let us leave Jack to it and
Join him again when the last mouth
full of plum pudding has vanished and,
seated and happy, he produces his
pipe-the crown of the feast.
For hours now the innocent revelry
lasts. Songs with rousing choruses,
recitations, hornpipes, music on half
a score of instruments, follow one an
other in endless succession; jollity
rubs shoulders with sentiment, and
maybe a roar of laughter gives place
to a moist eye, a tribute to the loved
ones far away, brought to mind by a
tender song. For Jack has a very
tender heart and a loyal memory.
A diversion may take the form of
a raid on a popular officer and a chair
ing and ovation, to which he submits
like a we'll pleased, if embarrassed,
martyr. And thus the hours fly in a
jollity which will brighten by its mem
DRY many a long day to come. But
the longest and gladdest day has its
ending. "Out pipes" is sounded, and
when Jack at last tumbles into his
hammock, weary and happy, we may
be sure he needs no rocking.