The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-04-26
M CAPTAIN Ed gbERlK nARRYAT

Contain Marryat was not primarily ne ne concerned himself very little about not lead up to his climax. but lets 1t arrive as 1t will. He sets no scenes He uses plot and counter-plot only as stories are not like written stores. but ike spoken ones. This gives his works the same charm that one finds who is thoroughly devoid of ssis- nnrl rn sciouspess. oh
 Thus Captain Marryat deserves ,bs taras.. ,ame ef being one of the most ma turai writers In English letters Tn addition to this merit, which places ms novels high in the list of populs E ttssvorites, there fs. of course, the fact such an experience on which tn drsM ae was one of the brilliant British ngnting captains of his time and his omn on5 sNploits equaled the most exciting 1 1nu romantic ones of any of his heroes. Iet tnere never was an author who optruoeo ms own personality less
 
 If Peter Simple had been able to choose his own vocation he might have leaned most to that of tailor as hein . comfortable and contennlative one But his father was a clergyman of th { Church Of England and a younger son Of Lord Privilege, and 1t had been the custom of the family from time i'm memorial to sacrifice the greatest fool of the family to the naval supremacy of the country. So at the age of I4 Peter bade a fearful farewell to his family and set forth to join the frigate Dio- mede.
 Very homesick and sad did he feel despite his fine midsh ipman's uniform when the coach set him down before the Blue Posts in Portsmouth. which was the regular stopping place for mid fraVl7a ka.W Az L At.-
 He was hailed with joY by the mid dies who recognized a green one in him and broke into loud commisera- tion when they learned the name of the ship to which he had been as- signed.
 They recalled the poor middy who had Just received i've dozen lashes for wearing scarlet watch ribbon and the other who was worked day and night for six weeks till he died from fatigue. So vividly did they paint the commander. Captain Savage as a iend. that Peter asked them if it would not be wise for him to return home again; but they assured him that he would be followed and hanged surely as a deserter. NO" said they. your only hope Is to beg him to accept a few gallons of rum. for he is very fond of grog. Then he may be good to you as long as the rum lasts"
 To comfort him they pressed grog on him till they had made h.m very tipsy. The next morning they aroused him to tell him with great concern that he had gone to the theatre in that condition and had forced his way into the presence of his captain. who was there with the Admirars daugh- ters. and that he had called h.s com mander tyrant and snapped his fin- gers at him.
 It was with q heart as heavy as his aching head that Peter set forth to re- port to Captain Savage in his hotel. He was more alarmed than ever when he recognized in the dreaded commander a gentleman who had been his fellow traveleB son the coach. and to whom he had spoken most freely. To his sur prise. Captain Savage only laughted when he entered, and bade him sit down to breakfast.
 Through chance remark Peter d.s- covered that the commander had not been at the theatre on the preceding night, and the conversation of the of ficer, together with his kind manner and the considerable advice that he gave the young midshipmite, soon led Peter to suspect that he had been mis- led.
 Therefore. when he returned to the Blue Posts. and the middies there be- gan to laugh uproariously at the joke Peter said: You may cali .t joking, but call it lying" -nrs
 "SIugs in a saw-pitY' cried one. fu- riously. T demand satisfaction
 T shall not refuse you,' said Peter Simple, although 1 had rather not fight duel. My father cautioned me on the subject, desiring me, if possible to avoid 1t as it was flying in the face of Providence; but aware that I must upheld my character as an officer. he left me to my own discretion should ever he so unfortunate as to be in such dilemma.
 Peter went to his room and wrote a long letter to his mother. inclosing a lock of his hair He shed a few tears at the thought of her sorrow. and then borrowed a Bible and read 1t during the rest of the day
 The next morning he was very pale when he took his ground. When his second advised him not to be frighten- ed he answered that he was not frightened but that he considered 1t au awful moment He declined to apolo' gize and twice stood fire firmly. dis charging his own pistol in the air. al though the other aimed at him detiber- atelv each time.
 Neither was hit and Peter felt that he had been saved as by miracle The middies complimented him on his
  uniform. not a little proud of being an ofncer and a gentlemen. thugh he wsS sadly oppressed by the thought that hefore he had been left to hts own guidance three days he had been tipsN and had fought duel.
 raptain Savage soon heard of the affair and sent for him. and Peter con fessed everything. And Is it possible Mir Simple. that you are so great a SaoI aled the captain.
 Peter replied that he certainly was considered the greatest fool of his fam iIv 'I should think you were. said tha captain. "I cannot trust you on shore any longer" and sent the lad aboard with a letter to MT. Falcon. tn" first lieutenant
 "The service is going to the devil said that officer. Heres another ot the fools of family made present of to the country Well, MT. Simple have looked carefully at your face and see at once that you are VERY CLEVER! If you do not prove so Tn short time-you had better jump over board. that's allr'
 When the captain arrived on board he called. all the nidshipmen aft and ordered Peter to point out those wne had s.sndered him; but Peter answered that >s considered that what he had told the captain had been in confidence
 Captain Savage burst out: Who aver heard of a confidence between a nost captain and midshipman?" Peter replied quite inEeniously. ''No. sir: not between post captain and midship- man but between two gentlemen.
 The first lieutenant hid his mouth with his hand and the captain Dit his