St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1907-03-30

do whatever the programme for the
mornings work may be for that day.
Hose is brought out, pumps are started
and sand is sprinkled on the decks.
The men scrub the decks with long
handled brushes, wiping them down
afterwards with "squilgees'-a fiat
piece of wood with rubber edge and
a stick handle
A boat is usually called away about
this time. In it the captains and Off
GERS stewards go ashore for the mar
keting. The boats are cleaned, also
the outside Of the ship. Think Of it,
all good housekeepers! II our houses
could be cleaned inside and outside
before breakfast!
But Jack is getting hungry. The
early coffee was only stimulant and
the hard work gives him good appe-
tite.
At seven or eight bells-7:30 Or
eight o'clock, according to the routine
the men are piped to breakfast. A
pipe from the boatswain's mate few
minutes before means Spread the
mess gear" Appetite makes the best
sauce" and the menu is a substantial
one, satisfying to hungry sailor
| corn-beef hash or beef stew, coffees
bread and butter There is an album
dant supply and three-quarters OF an
hour is allowed for breakfast; so there
is no haste.
The officers of the deck then reports
to the captain: Eight o'clock, sir,
and the chronometers are wound. "
Make it So" says the autocrat, and
eight bells becomes an accomplished
fact.
After breakfast they turn to again
with renewed energy, let us hope. and
go to work cleaning brass, gun-bright
! work-in fact, all the bright work
| about the guns and decks. Jack must
''shine her up" every morning and the
result is seen in the fine appearance OF
our ships.
At nine o'clock the sick call is sound
I'd by the buglers and the men who
are not well or wish to be SO consid
/ cred descend to see the doctor in the
sick bay" Strong medicine is some
times given. but bread pills have been
known to form frequent mild treat
ment and to work cure, showing the
influence of mind over matter"
By $50 the decks are cleared ant
everything made ship-shape for guar
tiers. The men assemble in the di
visions to which they are assigned II
battle and then officers see that they
are clean, uniformly dressed and tidy
I will mention here that bathing ant
keeping clean generally are greatly
facilitated now by modern improve
ments. Formerly the men washed Il
buckets; now they have shower baths
and other conveniences, so that the
fremen coming up begrtmed from his
| work can avail himself of all these i'm
proved means to make himself clear
and comfortable.
Following this routine are various
exercises-great guns, secondary bat
terry, small arms, sword or bayone
arm and away boats for distant serv
ice, fire drill, collision drill or aban
don ship.
One would suppose that the ship wa
by this time "as clean as whistle,
but it appears not, for after drill unit
dinner time Jack is occupied in paint
ing, scraping, securing, knotting, spite
ing and doing necessary work to keel
the ship in neat and efficient condition
The work is done at last and tel
minutes before IL o'clock the wei
come pipe is heard. At 12 the mel
are merrily pfped to dinner.
BY the way, wouldn't it be happ.
idea to have ourselves piped to on
meals? Instead of the butler or naiC
saying: Dinner Is served, madam,
or the English gong sounding, VIII,
not a cheerful piping from a whistle
I think it would be enlivening and tenl
to good humor and appetite.
The meal pennant flies while tn
men are at meals. Therefore whel
one sees this pennant fying-a long
narrow red, flag-it means that visf
to the ship is inopportune. One is pei
soma non grata on board at that time
The officers are careful not to call OF
the men for any purpose, if possible
during meals and to have all boat
back to the ship by the meal hour
After 80 the afternoon drill perio,
begins. The men have instruction il
signals, aiming and sighting guns AM
/ handling boats, under sail and oars.
| Wednesday afternoon is mendini
day. Men can bring out their bags AM
mend and mark their clothes. TIL
sailors thimble for light work is tn
time-honored finger hat" as the Ger
mans say-the common thimble use
| by shore people; but for sewing can
vas he uses a three-cornered needl
and the palm" The latter is a leath
er or rawhide strap fitting around tn
hand and having on the inner side
roughened metallic disk to bea
against the needle. Sewing machines
with hand attachments, are used AMI
some Of the men are paid by the other
to maks their suits. The dude sailo