The sun., 1908-03-24

1
and making Carriok-bend, besides
numerous invaluable but unreadable TONES
that might have been purchased cheap az
the auction OF some college professor
library.
REcREATIoNs OF THE MEN.
The sailorman has lots Of recreation
nowadays. Three times a week, Wednes,
day, Saturday and Sunday nights, the band
plays for him on the fo'c's'le deck. He seize'
his mate and he dances wildly, madly oT
slowly and gracefully, as he pleases' You
see as fine dancing there as you can see in
fashionable ballroom In any capital Of the
world. He has his cards, his pets-dogs
cats, birds-and he foregathers from time
to time TO sing He likes TO box and play
baseball and TO row, and the Government
provides for suitable athletic equipment
for his sports. He loves boxing contest
on the quarter deck with all the officers
looking on and the rules OF the ring enforced
rigidly. It gladdens his heart to applaud
and TO hear others applaud, and he was
much rejoiced in Calao when several Peru
vians who we're the guests OF the New
JERSEYS wardroom at a boxing contest
sang out in their delight;
viva la box fghtl'
Jack laughed at that long and hearty.
He loves rowing contests and he and his
mates on a single ship frequently wager
as much as $4,000 on their own crew. Jack
goes broke for months sometimes on these
races Sometimes a man will bet from
$500 TO 81 900 or 81, 200 on his crew and he'll
be all in for months afterwarj, but he likes
a run for his money. When he wins all
hands know 1t at the next liberty and Jack
end his friends have trouble in toeing e
seam, but Lordl what good time they've
hsdl
THE SHIPS C,NTEEN.
Then there is the ships canteen thst
ministers TO Jacks comfort The canteen
is not like what an army canteen usei to
be. a place where drinks we're served,
hut it's a country store, In 1t Jack cen
buy tobacco, stationery, soap, little articles
OF clothing, thread and needles, knick-
knacks-an above all things eles, candy
You see, Jack gets nothing 10 drink but
water in various forms on ship and he
runs 10 sweets. Many ship carries away
with her on a cruise two or three tons OF
candy in starting out, In less than six
weeks the Louisiana's centeen had sold
more than 5000 worth Of candy TO the
crew.
The csnteen makes a small profit 30 az
10 overcome losses by the deterioration OF
goods, but ell its wares are sold practically
10 Jack at cost price. 1t is for his benefit
exclusively and he gets the best quality OF
goods at the lowest prices. IL Is under
charge Of the ships paymaster and it is
financed much as the ships messes are.
What profits there are 60 to swelling the
athletic fund or perhaps 10 provide for
minstrel show; anyhow, 1t al goes toward
making Jacks life on ship ss comfortable
as possible.
LoUIsIANA's MINSTREL SHOW.
So Jack eats we'll and sleeps we'll and he
works and plays with zest. He sings and
dances and perhaps he gets more fun out
OF a minstrel show on board than any other
thing. In Callao harbor the Louisiana had
its minstrel show. On the after part OF the
quarter deck was a stage about twenty by
twenty-five feet II bad Aies and wings
and all the upper and lower entrances.
II had three drop curtains, one OF them
with Asbestos" painted on it, 1t had foot
lights and spotlights It had red lights
with Exit and Fire Escape lettered
on them. Every hit Of the stage scenery
was painted by expert men on the ship.
Every bit OF electric lighting was done
by the ships crew. 1t was as creditable
as most Of the scenic and stage work in
large theatre. The quarter deck was all
shut in and canopied and you could scarcely
realize that you were not in a modern
theatre.
All the crew attended the show. Delega-
tions Of twenty-five men from each OF the
battleships In the feet came. They were
met at the port gangway by ushers who had
reserved seats for them. Programmes, the
woodcuts for which we're made on board
and the entire printing was done there as
well-were handed out TO each person as he
took his place The officers we're given
programmes at the starboard gangway by
pages in bolero jackets and plush breeches
and silk stockings. An old naval custom
was revived by having side boys with
lanterns
II was the old fashioned minstrel show,
with end men and jokes and songs for the
first part and stunts and sketches for the
second. More than 1900 men looked on.
Imagine 1900 men seated In comfort on a
quarter deckl My, how the ships OF the
navy have grownl The ~ inch guns were
tilted down and seats covered with flags
built on them. The turret was utilized for
a gallery. The after bridge took the place
Of Niger heaven. There was no sign Of a
warship about all the implements OF trade
being hidden. Only the uniforms Of the
men suggested the thought Of navy; those
and the grinds on the officers and ships,
The singing was quite as good as that Of
any travelling minstrel show. The COM
pany had a manager, secretary, treasurer,
pianist. electrician, stage manager, master
OF properties, oostumer, carpenter and all
the rest Of a regular theatrical outfit, and
all hands voted II as good as anything you
could see in that line on any stage.
And when II was all over flags we're
dropped, ropes loosened and the trappings
came down in jihy, just as circus packs
UP It's effects. The visitors we're marched
to certain gangways. They went down as
their boats, which we're lying alongside,
we're called and in thirty minutes all the
guests we're gone, all the trappings put
away and the routine OF snip life was in
progress as II there never had been the
slightest interruption. But Jack had had
q nIvbt ~ ntOhta