Sharp County record., 1907-03-29

afterwards with 's0uilgees''-a nat
piece of wood with a rubber edge and
stick handle.
A boat is usually called away about
this time. In It the captains and off,
GERS stewards 60 ashore for the mar
keting. The boats are cleaned, also
the outside of the ship. Think OF 1t,
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-7:3O 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, coffee,
bread and butter. There is an abun-
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 belle 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.
ed by the buglers and the men who
are not we'll 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 a frequent mild treat
ment and to work cure, showing the
Influence of mind over matter"
BY $50 the decks are cleared and
everything made ship-shape for quar-
ters. The men assemble In the d.
visions to which they are assigned in
battle and then officers see that they
are clean, uniformly dressed and tidy.
I will mention here that bathing and
keeping clean generally are greatly
facilitated now by modern improve.
ments. Formerly the men washed in
buckets now they have shower baths
and other conveniences, so that the
fremen coming up begrimed from his
work can avail himself Of all these i'm.
proved means to make himself clean
and comfortable. '~
Following this routine are various
exercises-great guns, secondary bat
terry, small arms, sword or bayonet
arm and away boats for distant serv
too mr. drill collision drill or aban
don ship.
One would suppose that the ship wal
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, splic
Ing and doing necessary work to keel
the ship in neat and efficient condition
The work Is done at last and ter
minutes before ~ o'clock the wei
come pipe is heard. At 12 the mel
are merrily piped to dinner.
BY the way, wouldn't It be happ!
idea to have ourselves piped to ou
meals? Instead of the butler or mait
saying: Dinner Is served, madam,
or the English gong sounding, VIII!
not a cheerful piping from a whistle
l think It would be enlivenlng and tent
to good humor and appetite.
The meal pennant flies while tn,
mon are ut meals, Therefore whei
one sees this pennant hylng--a LONG
narrow red ilag--it means that visi
to the ship is inopportune. One Is per
soma non grata on board at that time
The officers arc careful not to call OF
the men for any purpose, II possible
during meals and to have all boat
back to the ship by the meal hour.
After 1880 the afternoon drill perio,
begins. The men have instruction II
signals, aiming and sighting guns ant
handling boats, under sail and oars,
Wednesday afternoon is mendinI
day. Men can bring out their bags an,
mend and mark their clothes, Tn
sailors thimble for light work is tn
timehonored Ginger hat" as the Ger
mans say--tho common thimble use,
by shore people; but for sewing can
vas he uses a throe.eornored needl
and tho palm" The latter ID leath
or or rawhido strap fitting around th
hand and having on the inner side
roughoned metallic disk to bea
against the needle, Sewing machines
with hand attachments, are used an,
some Of the men are paid by the other
20 make their suits, The dude sailo
likos HIS clothes tailormado quito n
we'll as his land lubbor brother, al