The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1907-02-27

amount Of large talk, for the matter Of
that. The captain sent for the purser,
who already knew more about the ait
uation than the master did, explained
the situation and then proceeded TO the
bridge, a tacit suggestion that he was
paid to run the ship and not to settle
fool contretemps between fool women.
In other words, 1t was the purser's
move in this game Of emotional chess.
The purser moved. He went to the
burlesque tavorite and dictated letter
which she between sobs OF rage wrete.
Then the purser borrowed from the
conservatory bouquet of the most
beautiful flowers he could pick and
sent them, together with the note, to
the room Of the operate queen. The
purser has this note now. AS nearly
as the writer remembers 1t reads some
thing as follows:
My Adorable and Gifted Mrs Mt Is
not for me to assume the place OF honor
on the programme tomorrow night when
upon this vessel abides the queen OF all
song. Accept these flowers! Accept my
love Accept my request to appear wher-
ever on the programme may please your
fancy! PeccavI! Gesundheit! Prosit Tor
something Of the sortl. At thy feet be-
lteve me. ELSIE BoNBoN.
OF course the celebrated protagonist
of heavy opera accepted the flowers,
sent her love, her thanks, her es-
teen, and asked-nay, begged-that she
be allowed to rellnqulsh the honor
cast at her feet. The burlesque queen,
need 1t be said, appeared in the place
to which the programme assigned her.
This man, as will appear, is no SLOUGH
of purser.
Pursers are born, not made. They are
selected by steamship companies with
special eye to the duties they are called
upon to perform. A large line, such Ss
the North German Lloyd line, for In
stance, or the Hamburg line, selects a
man for the position and puts him to
work in the pursers department with
the title junior assistant purser. Above
him there is the assistant purser, who
is In line as soon as vacancy shall &C.
cur for the office Of purser on one Of
the humber ships OF the line. No man
is ever promoted from the assistant
pursership of large vessel to be head
Of department on the same vessel. He
goes to any of the smaller craft, from
which a purser has been elevated to fill
the vacancy on the larger vessel.
A purser on one of the great German
boats is a man to reckon with and a
constant delight to the soul. He
knows the name of every wealthy
ocean voyager Of whatever nationality,
and when in the mood he can stand in
his office and retail delightful bits of
anecdote and flashing Characterization
Of those who figure prominently on the
passenger list.
Jones, Who iss Jones?" he will ex-
claim reproachfully to an mqulsltive
newsgatherer. "yell, he ISIS der white
wash king OF South Dakota. &c."
Pursers have full charge of the ship
accounts. They pay the salaries OF
some 700 men, and at the same time
1t is the purser who must wise the per-
sonal and baggage declarations Of pas
sengers, clearing up cloudy points to
the end that when the customs officers
come aboard the passengers will go
through" without trouble or annoy
ance. He is also responsible for the
cargo He 1t is that checks the mani
tests and signs them, which signature
ls taken to mean that the vessel has
in her hold just what the company
contracted for and nothing more. He
is held responsible for the proper con-
dltion, in fact, Of every paper pertain
ing to the ship, which is task worth
the full time Of any ordinary man. An
officer of a great line in speaking Of
the purser and his duties said that he
would advise no young man to encour.
age purser ambition unless be loved
work, constant and arduouB.
On the other hand, pursers have more
fun on shipboard than any other officer.
Their duties bring them in close con.
tact with passengers, and many firm
friendships are thus formed. One OF
the most popular was an Englishman
who, strange to say, was attached to
the French line. He could speak
French, of course, as well as he could
English and carried OF affairs with
Gallo tact and facility. He is now en-.
joying the fruits OF successful life
saving invention. Another purser in
the White Star line was 50 popular
that his friends urged him to come
ashore and start fashionable restau-
rant in this city. He yielded to the
temptation, but the result was not all
that could have been hoped for.
So far as running a ship is concerned,
a purser is absolutely lost. But he
knows the management of small boats,
and In time Of accident he has charge
OF one.-New York Post.