Omaha daily bee., 1908-12-13
SANTA CLAUS On SEA LEGS
Distant and Lonely Sailor Men OF
His Visiting List.
DIVERSIONS IN NARROW LIMITS
Holiday Life On WarshIp In
Port and at Sea-Entertain-
ment on hip and on
shore.

Christmas at sea! To the landsman busy
with holly wreaths and toys for the little
ones the words c~onjure up only a dreary
vision of green, plunging seas, a lonely
ship and a line Of homesick, hungry sailors
along the rail or gathered in a dlmly
lighted forecastle d~olefully recalling the
joys of the past. But the old man-o'-war's
man sees a very different picture rise be-
fore him as memory paints in vivid colors
the mirth and jollity of Christmas day
aboard one OF Uncle Sans floating forts.
Santa Claus is a good sailor. and never
forgets to include the navy in his visiting
list. There is no port too far away, no
sea too remote for him to fail promptly to
be on hand on Christmas morning. The
little Trees at the masthead and the yards
Of brilliant bunting and starry flags tell
bright ana early OF the presence of a dis
tinguished guest. After the inevitable
round OF daily duty is discharged, every
man is allowed to enjoy himself in his
own way. There is a good dinner-as good
as can be had in the particular part of the
world in which the vessel finds itself at the
time. IL IL is lying in a tropical port, fresh
fruits are a feature of the feast.
At one Christmas dinner ashore in the
Philippines a party OF bluejackets from
one Of our warships enjoyed a regular
native feast-ch.cken fried in cocoanut oil,
onion omelets. the famous ola podrida. or
Spanish stew. in which dried fish, rice,
potatoes. garlic. caribou steak and red pep
pers are the principal ingredients. and also
little brown caAes OF grassnoPper flour
dipped in honey. These were untouched.
as no American present was free from the
Occidental prejudice against eating Insects.
Liberty ON snOre.
In port sgi-ors ehd.eu 20 liberty spend
the afternoon visiting friends. and wind
up the evening at the theater, bu. II the
snlp Is under way the men read. tell stories.
sing songs and write letters home. Various
games are INDUCED in, such as wrestling.
boxing, potato races. sack races, etc.
There is always plenty Of amateur talent
aboard. and the day is often celebrated
with a minstrel show given with snap and
go which would put many professionals 10
The blush.
But the best part OF Christmas, the real
Christmassy part. Is the arrival of the box
from home. and sad is the ships company
which is on the high seas where mail and
express packages cannot be delivered In
time for Christmas day. Many boxes are
sent weeks ahead with loving forethought.
a these are kept by the executive Of
ficor until Christmas Eve. when they are
given 10 the delighted tars to whom they
h.s addressed.
Oh. those Christmas boxes! What low
ing hands have packed them, and what
soyful surprises are hidden In them! There
a the very atmosphere of home in tine
small OF the rich brown erullers and flaky
pios, and the gentle touch OF mothers
Fingers In the feel Of the ~home-knitted
mattens and little comforts a sailor never
thinks OF buying himself. but is very glad
to have. and at the very bottom Of the
box. Eiinting like imprisoned toDazes or