The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1907-03-21

wars men back OF the '40s we find tina
the character Of the sailor has changed
immensely for the better. but Their,
are still ways and tricks known t.
Jack. The "happy-go-lucky" kind will
60 far into the realm of diplomacy IL
order to get liberty that they have
no right to expect. It Is said to be 6
common ruse to pretend that some
near relative is very ill or even dead
The following to the commanding OH
Ger from Jacks adopted sister was
once tried as O persuader:
Dear Captain: Won't you let my dca;
brother Johnny Jones come home? Hi:
dear mother is dying. so please do. deal
captain. as he may never see his deal
mother again Lot him stay long tir.S
dear captain. Dear captain. this lettel
amt no fake. From yours truly.
'MOLLIE JONES"
'F. s.-Dear captain. please let Billy
Brown come, too"
Johnny Jones did not get liberty
that day.
Seventy per cent. of our navy are
American-born. The rest are English
Scotch. Irish. Scandinavian, with a
sprinkling of German and the Latin
races. Our working sailor men
are our pride and there is many a hero
waiting for an opportunity doing his
daily tasks uncomplaininSly on board
our ships.
Very many who enlist are sons OF
families in comfortable circumstances
and fairly we'll educated. Some enlist
from patriotism, some for livelihood
and others from their fondness for the
sea and love of adventure. The 70.
mance and the glamour is dissipated
when hard work like coaling ship is re.
quired.
Blu: Jack has his fun and recreation.
too. There is usually quartette Of
singers. Banjo players or guitar play.
ers are often found on board our
men of.war. The pantry boy enlivens
the inonotony of dishwashing by war.
bling Il Love to See My Dear Old
Mother Work." Or lust Break the
News to Mother" Jack dances, too,
alth 12gh the hornpipe and jig. popular.
ly supposed to be his terpsichorean
are out of date. The men
dance with each other when the band
plays They enjoy tbeater going.
Bee" is cut off. so the men console
themselves with candy on one ship
eating 20 pounds Il day allowed them
from Tie canteen.
Sailors are tender-hearted and love
pets. Every ship has its mascot-a
cat. dog. pig. goat or some other ami.
NAL Sometimes the most inharmon.
ious animals become friends from the
close association which ship life com.
pels. \ pig and a rabbit We're brought
on board a ship and piggy became
affectionate toward bunnie to de.
gree which annoyed the latter great
ly. AT bedtime especially the rabbit
hid il the hope of evading his COM
Danion. But persistent piggy ran
around squealing and nosing in this
and sshat corner until at last he found
Br'cr Rabbit. who. though much dis
Guste.:. could not rid himself of his
strange bedfellow.
The ships monkey has a fine time
about. swinging on the yards
and getting into all kinds of mischief.
Two puppies were lying asleep on the
deck when Jocllo. the monkey, seized
one and ran up the rigging with it.
MI lands rushed to the rescue, but
JOcko was too quick for them. Chat
tering and balancing himself by his
long t:lil. as though in his native for
ests. lie climbed up faster and faster,
although hampered by the puppy un-
der his arm. AS he ran out on q
signal yard We were Mortified to see
him reid the hapless puppy at arms
length for moment and then drop it
into the waves.
Thc man of the sea has ever claimed
the privilege of growing. remem-
her Il story of some time ago. Two
bile-ja.ket chums were hauling on the
same :ope in the dog watch. One
was disguised and addressed his chum
accordingly. Johnny" said he, 81
never seen a ship like this before; this
IS the worst"
"Why, what's the matter, Billy?"
Matter! Say. Johnny, the pies was
cold at supper time"
In what I have written I have had
in mind the whole ships company,
both blue-iackets and marines, hut
having retold some OF the service
stories of the former. will close with
one about the marines. Once upon a
time in the good old days" the cap
tain, sitting at his cabin table, looked
up through the skylieht and told his
marinc orderly to report the direction
OF the wind. The Irish orderly. I'M
mensely BATTERED at having Il question
of seamanship referred to his indg-
mem. looked over the rail long and
studiolsly. then returned to the hatch
and reported: Sir. the wind. sir. is
biowi..@ right toward the ship. sir
Su.pcr is ready at :, or $50 and
work and play are both ended by $50
The men then. after the usual piping