The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1907-06-27
Our winds slowly backed from the

northeast to the southwest, and out
side of the gulf the air became soft and
mild. Under such conditions, if one
would continue healthy and hard, he
should be at work, and there is always
more than enough to do if the outfit is
to be kept in order and any de.
gree of its youthful appearance main
tanned. The duties of the guiding hand
now become very light, but the langour.
Gus ease-offering atmosphere, combined
with a Morris chair, meerschaum and
book, may lead to habits where whip
and spur are almost needed. There is
an old saying that ''It is a poor ship
that cannot maintain one gentleman"
That, in way, may not be denied, and
it is good rule for the master to never
do the slightest thing that some other
hand can do as we'll; but there is al
ways skilled and gentle things-sail-
making, cabinet work or artistic-fo1
all the time and for all the cunning
that trained hand and eye can pro-
duce; while such employment lends
more dignity to the station than idle
ness can offer.
There is now the ornamental coat of
arms, three feet across, which had been
removed from the stern and waiting to
be renovated and re-burnished; the
anchor and cable, the wreath and gold
en- circle to be re-gilded. and the letters
of Hope, the ripping waters and fleecy
blue sky to be filled in with all the skill
that may be applied. Occupied in these
ways, one has no time for vain regrets
or futile hopes; the time passes more
quickly and brings contentment where
otherwise the life might be the most
monotonous of all callings that men do
undertake
With clean full we slanted away to-
wards the summer isles" of Bermuda,
with but moderate speed, and when the
required casting was but just made
good the southerly wind died down and
whipped around into a welcome easter
ly storm of some force-more like Octo-
Der or March than the month of May.
AT this season, in these ATTITUDES, one
does not expect much, either of storm
or favoring winds-hence when a
chance comes, with keen edge, it is
the more welcome, and whether it be
or of
all.
For two days and more we rambled
on through foam and spray. with all
the force that could be maintained; and
this carried us down to 26o, where
trade-winds may be looked for. But the
winds that followed should hardly be
called trades: first light from the east
and then yeered to the southeast and
became fresh: 1t now proved fortu-
nate that we had previously looked
well to the east and had a margin of
longitude under the lee. The craft
reached along on bo'lin' for any gate
way to the Caribbean that might be
made; over smooth, deep blue sea,
with sunshine by day and a round
laughing moon at night. On the tenth
day out we looked to the northward FOR
the MONDAY sun, and the following
day fetched into Sail Rock Passage,
with nothing to spare, and worked
through with an unnatural wind from
the south; then kept away down the
south side of the island for Ponce, our
objective point.
The wind became more and more
painfully light, followed by four days
or more lost to life on a MINDLESS sea
and that where fresh and fair winds
are most due. Things had come our
way at misleading winds and a
smooth sea-only to be spoiled in the
end by delay almost in sight of port.
These disappointment are the worst of
the life, and the hardest to accept
gracefully. But otherwise these have
been easy days.
One might wonder why men of the
land so seldom take trip of this kind
for recreation and change. Chances
cannot be lacking to those of the coast
towns with a maritime acquaintance.
Many men are really tied down to the
daily duties of life, while others perhaps
just think they are. have given many
invitations to friends; but thanks and
promises have generally been the only
result. 1t may be from lack of trust
on their part, but we hope not
The modern vessel can offer consider
able comfort and, by the records, a
large per cent of safety. They all have
two OF more spare rooms, far better
than the common steamer -state-room,
with as fine beds and hath as hotels