The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-07-05
LIFE IN THE NAVY
JACK WRITES INTERESTING LET-
 TER OF EXPERIENCES.
Ths Sailor Boy's work Hours snd Hours for Enjoymeuf--Hfs Fro cIivfties for Saving and
 Spending Money.


 Spending Money.
 Uncle eam's regard for the social wants of the men who make up tne' rank and file of the navy. and the man ner in which Jack takes advantage or the opportunities for rest and enjoy ment during of hours, as well ae an explanation of the sailor boys prociivi- ties for spending and saving money. are related in the following letter from one of the lads who was in the fleet that circled the continent and which Is now preparing for its trip back to the Atlantic Coast
 U. S S. Virginia. Bremerton, Navy
 Yard, Washington. June 2s. 1908.
 The social life of the sailor aboard one of our battleships fs as intricate and varied as you will find life any where. One might think that amuse- ments were few and far between. espe- cialiy when at sea on 8 cruise, but such is not the case. Clubs and. socie- fellows will be seen together most of the time. A battleship is like big big city with it's wards. neighberhoods and cliques, yet 1t is really an aggre- aation of clubs in the form of smesses. whose members are graded by the rank of the men. Thus, you will md ordinary seamen eating together, third 
 and first class yeoman. carpenters. mates. electricians, etc. eating to. gether and SO on.
 Vaudeville shows and ministrels are always being run of in fleet. and the members of the other ships are fr- vited. Smoking and boxing matches the same way, Many of the men are musicians and many an evening IS spent around the plano, or perhaps a dozen or so of the boys are out on deck wit mandolins, guitars and banjos. On another part of the deck a group are telling stories. each in turn. and the story must be new and funny, other wise 1t is received with groans- In another corner are some more playing cards, whist. pinochIe. pitch or some other equally harmless game. Poker and other gambling games are strictly tabcoed in the navy. The band or or chestra Ia always a drawing card for sic-loverx. and as it plays morning. noon and night. there is plenty of chance to listen to it. Two or three times week we have our stag dances on the forecastle.
 The book lover has a finely equipped ships library to pick from. with all the latest publications, fiction. travel. history and science. Then there Is the baseball team of the ship. and two or three more teams from tho divisions or messes. the football teams. basketball teams and boat crews. The ships gym" supplies everything from fenc- ing foils to boxing gloves.
 Take, for instance. one of those balny evenings when we were at sea in the tropis and you will find all hands who were not on watch out on deck in groups. some perfectly con- tented to smoke and listen to the band. Others nearby were having a discus- sion on some question, another group were engaged in playing cards, and on another deck a graphophone was being enjoyed, while others were singing to the accompiniment of mandolins and stringed instruments. If an outsider could see the mat such q time he would consider them a most happy-goe lucky, care-free bunch, and so they are They have . good home, good meals. the best attendance if they get sick and full pay once month. sick or well.
 You might see. here and there. a solitary Individual gazing out over the seemingly endless stretch of waters. He isn't homesick. he Is just wonder ing what his friends are doing and where they are and perhaps whether their thoughts are turning his way |. or course. when we get in port there is a breakup of the family circle.
 In money matters the sailor has the a is--in a way. Let us say he Is get ting $40 q month. He has an ailot- ment running. by means of which. without any effort on his part, he can have as much of that amount as ne wishes sent to his folks. to a bank or any other place he mentions. This service is rendered by the government remaining he buys his necessities and his luxuries when on liberty He gets i've or six f1iberties" a month on the average and he plans accordingly. Again, his ship may have oeen off on a cruise or at target practice where liberty has been limited for two or three months. Naturally, when ne does get into port he will spend money freely, and. as 1t seems to the civilian, foolishiy. But put yourself in the same position., Coop yourself up for a couple of months and deny. yourself the pleasures of the theatre, the club and the other anlusements you have been accustomed 10. When you get through and start out with 9 pocket full of money, if you are thoroughly human and vigorous as the blue jackets on the battleships usual ly are, you will have to go sideways 70 keep from hying." to use the ex- presslve phrase of the sailor. and you will be eager to see all there is to pc seen. Of course you can ind some few who spend every cent of their easily earned money as fast as they get 1t, but such fellows are rev in the navy.
 A Iage part of the savings of the men goes Into real estate. especially since we have arrived on this coast. The boys seem to have q fever for land investments Don't get the idea that Jack is altogether shiftless or that life aboard makes his lazy or in- competent A glance over tfN record Of this crllise will show that he is