Sharp County record., 1907-03-29

war men UdCh VI luS fVS VIC AAu eHA'
the character of the sailor has changed
immensely for the better, but there
are still ways and tricks known to
Jack. The "happy.go-lucky" kind wili
go far into the realm of diplomacy in
order to get liberty that they have
no right to expect. 1t is said to be
common ruse to pretend that some
near relative Is very i'll or even dead.
The following to the commanding ofli-
Ger from Jacks adopted sister was
once tried as persuader: t.s
Dear Captain: Won't you let my dca.
brother Johnny Jones come home! his
dear mother Is dying. so please 10, GEAR
captain, as he may never see his oe;S
mother again. Let him stay long tiI'ie,
dear captain Dear captain, this letter
amt no fake From yours truly,
"MOLLlE JONES'"
"P. 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 hard.worMng sailor men
are our pride and there Is many a hero
waiting for an opportunity doing his
daily tasks uncomplainingly 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 ro-
nance and the glamour is dissipated
when hard work like coaling ship Is re.
Quired.
But 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 dshwashing by war
bling Il Love to See My Dear Old
Mother Work." or "Just Break the
News to Mother" Jack dances, too,
although the hornpipe and Jig, popular.
ly supposed to be his terpsichorean
amusement, are out Of date. The men
dance with each other when the band
plays They enjoy theater going.
Becr is cut off, so the men console
themselves with candy, on one ship
eating 20 pounds a day allowed them
from the 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. a pig and rabbit were brought
on board ship and piggy became
affectionate toward bunnie to de.
gree which annoyed the latter great.
ly. At bedtime especially the rabbit
hid ii the hope Of evading his com.
= panioA. But persistent piggy van
around squeallng and nosing In 9iis
and that corner until at last he found
Br'er Rabbit, who, though much 1is.
gustel, could not rid himself OF his
strange bedfellow.
The ships monkey has fine time
> climbing about, swinging on the yards
and getting into all kinds Of mischief
Two puppies were lying asleep on the
deck when Jocko, the monkey, seized
one and ran up the rigging with IT,
All hands rushed to the rescue, but
Jocko was too quick for them. Chat.
terlng and balancing himself by his
long tail, as though IN his native for.
ests, he climbed up faster and faster,
although hampered by the puppy un.
der his arm. AS he ran out on a
signal yard we were Mortified to see
him bcld the hapless puppy at arms
length for moment and then drop II
into The waves,
The man Of the sea has ever claimed
the privilege Of growing, remem-
. Der a story Of some time ago. Two
bluejaLket chums were hauling on the
, same rope In the dog watch. One
was j,sgusted and addressed his chum
accordingly, Johnny" said he, IL
never seen n ship like this before; this
Is the worst
"Why, what's tho matter, BillyY"
"Matter' Say, Johnny, the pies was
cold at supper time"
In what have written | have had
In mind tho whole ships company,
both blue.jackets and marines, but
: having rotold somo Of the service
stories OF Tho former, will close with
: one about the marines, Once upon a
time IN the good old days. the cap.
tain sitting at hls cabin table, looked
> up through the skylght and told his
marine orderly TO report the direction
Of the wind, The Irish orderly, I'm.
mensely Aattered at having q Question
; OF ssamanship referred to his judg.
ment looked over tho rail long and
studIo1sly, then returned TO the hatch
and roportcdi Sir, tho wind, sir, Ia