Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1907-04-03

aud Buttons. together With such other
articles as he may need during the
term.
The above articles may be procured for
500 or $40, aud with the exception Of
shoes aud a few other articles. should.
with proper care last ~ years, which
is the length of the terIi IN addition
arenis or guardians are expected TO fur
nlsh the lads with spending money ard a
fulr allowance would bc from $3.50 to s.
for esch foreign port visited on the winter
cruise and the slne for the sumnier
cruise with an additional allowance of
from SIS to So for those Youngsters h.
nre expected 10 visit london or Pans
This spending money is not Absolutely
necessary. ITS they can remain on bnast!
the ship ANA Just make short shore visits
hut by having little money II eir,hios the
boy TO broaden bis knowledge b., making
side trips nudcr the direction OF the ships
officers. who very carefully sc' that the
lads do not gel Into mischief and VINO
point out rho places Of Interest II the
parent hass any doubt rs 20 shnt use the
money VIII be- put the supe rintendeut OF
the Nulti Will luxe tBHfkt VI II ANu StN
that IL Is issued judieionsly.
Granting that q boy has passed his OK
amination and Is ready 10 begin the MAX.
Ing of a mastei mariner, he reports to the
ship for duty. The superintendent of the
Saratoga Is Commander Charles Nelson
Atwnter e. S. n. man who Is deeply
interested In the merchant marine OF TINS
country. who Is not only thorough sea
man. bat Who is fond OF boys and always
willing aud ready 10 give them an addi-
tional tft In their studies,
The lad mny he from the inner pnrt Of
the state aud never seen any body OF
water except creek. bat that does not
mattcr-such Joys often make he best
seamen aud officers, After seeiug that all
his belongings are marked with his name
md number. be is given his ships kit
lie is first taught how TO swing his ham.
mock how 10 BE 10 Il and how to trtre IT
up in the morning
OF course. he is made familiar with The
rules Of the school which are about the
same as any institution. With the eXeep
tion that IL IL navy discipline. aud II de-
ponds entire'y upon the boy himself
whether he makes good. There Is no brig
bread-and wuter punishment or anything
Of that kind for If the boy Is bad aud
creates disorder he Is merely sent ashore,
and that ends his career as far as the
nautical school is concerned
While the ship Is Hitting out for her
cruise the boys turn TO and study sea
manshtp from the lowest rung on the
ladder. They make the acquaintance Of
the ships bible. the holystone and then
put ia the remainder Of The day studying
what they do not know and brushing up
their ma tbcmu tics, etc
Al last the time approaches when the
ship is about TO go TO sea. and then
comes on board a dozen husky merchant
sailors, who viii help run the vessel ana
who VIII work side 10y side with the boys
showing them just how to do. and when
there Is a gale aud the work aioft ex.
ceedingly dangerous, The professionals viii
take the duties. at least anti the boys
have learned bow 10 have one baud for
themselves and one band and two feet
for the ship.
Sailing day Is always Interesting. for
then Of the 40 or more boys on board
fully half bid their parents good-by at
the gangway aud many n frail lad has
his mother ling TO him until the last
moment Tie commander gives the word
the lines aoe cFst on and the ship, in
tow Of tug, starts on her long journey
TO go aloft and furl or set the royal
In breeze Is the height Of ambition
Of every boy. aud were boy to embark
in a regular merchantmen IT would be
his FIRST duty. II he did SO, well aud
good II he fell and broke his neck It
made no difference, for such IN the law
Of the sea, but on the Saratoga the lad
reaches royal by easy stages. becoming
accustomed to the roll aud pitch Of the
ship.
seasickness and homesickness7 oh, yes,
there Is Iicnty cf IT, and the first two
or three days ont Of sight Of lard are
usually sad ones for about one half OF the
rockies. and both the commander aud
surgeon have their hands full, the former
admit lsteriug words Of encouragement
and the latter pills and powder untd the
mental and physical storms blow over
aud the sunshine Of ne breaks through /
the clouds
10 good weather when the ship IS on /
her course. vita q steady wind, the boys /
are taught how to reef ana splice. set |
up rigging take down and place 5parN /
end a hundred and one things tie 4
seanau Should know From doing ceck- ,
work the new boys 70 aluft. ohd Dy the !
time land has been sighted there are few |
who cannot man the upper topsaiI yard, /
while thl more agile think nothing OF
urestlla With the maia royal
IL the dog watch the boye have theif /
fur Youngsters are discouraged To i