The sun., 1908-03-24


cause It was something that would interest
everybody, millions Of people, In fact,
'How many millions Of people, for ex-
ampleP asked an innocent voice.
1Well, there are more than three millions
Of people In New York city alone, was the
reply. II was a mistake, Scarcely a day
has passed on the cruise when some one
at the wardroom table does not say In the
proper tone Of voice and just at the psyche
logical moment;
Three millions Of people made happyl'
That moment comes often in port after
some one has asked tho correspondent II
he has cabled such and such piece Of news.
He usually says he has.
Up rises the table and a ~ inch roar
shakes things.
three millions Of people made happyT
PATIENCE WITH THE BoBEs
A meas attendant drops a dish and the
accident starts a discussion as to the large
amount OF breakage Of orockery. One
member who has been afficting the mees
with the recital Of numerous details Of
his household affairs having been married
only year and half. protests against the
carelessness Of mess attendants. He says
Il is an outrage the way the mess crockery
ls broken There is no excuse for It. Down
right oarelessness It ls, and something
ought 10 be done about It right away.
why" he says. do you know that In
our married life we have had just one ser
want and give you my word, she has not
broken one single piece OF crockery. That's
fact
What do you use in your home, Jackson
agate ware2' asks a rogue across the way,
and for the rest Of the meal the mess is re-
lieved from any more details OF Jaokson's
domestic affairs
Just on the edge Of the Fourth ward Is a
lieutenant who has a wonderful baby. The
mess hears all about that kid whenever a
fresh mail arrives. The child must be
pretty fine and the mess puts up with the
narration Of his superior points and cum
ming ways with kindly indulgence and re-
straint. The conversation drifts one even
ing 10 the case Of a seaman who was sick
all night and unable to sleep and the big
doctor, as the ranking surgeon is called,
is telling about the way the man must have
suffered before he complained. The father
Of the baby takes the matter up at once
and says:
Doctor, Mrs. Williams writes me that
the other night the baby cried all night
long. Neither she nor the baby got a wink
Of sleep What do you do for baby who
cries all night without stopping?'
Take it out the next morning and choke
il to death" growls the doctor.
Williams is puzzled at the shout that goes
up and while he is trying to fathom its
meaning the mess rises up and, pointing its
collective finger at the big doctor, hurls
this shout at him:
Cruel man! Cruel man! Cruel man.
Williams's baby never cries all might
again for that mess.
Chatting like this is going on in all the
ships constantly. At every opportunity
the fun takes a wider scope. For example,
on ST. Valentines day every one on the
Louisiana got a wireless message trans
mitted from home in some mysterious way
through the flagship at least that is what
tanned roasts that set the wardroom in an
uproar. THE SuN man was notified by his
managing editor that Three millions OF
people we're made happy by what he had
written. Peculiar messages signed Sweet
heart and other endearing terms reached
some Of the younger members. The proud
father Of new baby got word Of the usual
n L.. Vrh hO
was living on dead horse received word
that the increased pay bill might fail.
Taken all in all, this chatting is similar
TO a Clover Club. a Gridron Club or an
Amen Corner lambasting. 1t is given and
taken in good part. Years Of skill have
taught the naval officer how far TO go and
when to stop to avoid pitfalls. The man
who shows anger or resentment gets it all the
more. There is delioacy Of adjustment
in il all that commands admiration.
PROGRAMME OF A CAMPFIRE.
Occasionally there will be something
formal in the roasting process. For in
stance on the Vermont they have what
thew call Campfire No. 9 Of the Spanish
War Veterans. Its members consist Of a
correspondent and officers who served in
the Spanish war They meet at stated in
.orvals They hold long sessions, These
are supposed to consist Of recitals OF hero
ism, hairbreadth escapes, devotion to duty
and the like They had one Of their meet
ings on December 81 last, The members OF
the campfire we're surprised to find printed
programme Of the evenings entertainment.
The correspondent member is j. B. Connolly,
the sea story writer and the Presidents
friend. This was the programme:
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