The San Francisco call., 1908-05-10
con.inued dom Page 2s. coils. and I

a sailor suit would lift him out of the
crib and put him on the bridge Of a
wonderful ship and tell him to sail
where he wanted and the little fellow
would wave his hands and blow a
whistle and start the wonderful ship
overland to grandma's, and as II en-
tered the barnyard there would be a
lot Of fiuttering among the chickens
and turkeys, and one Of the puffed up
turkey gobblers would get run over by
the battleship and they would have it
for dinner
Such delightful images come to one
when one is small and has just spent
an afternoon on a battleship-
10000 VISIT SHIPS
Through the dispensation of the
United States navy and their own rela-
ityes many youngsters, as many as
10000 little boys and girls, visited the
Atlantic fleet yesterday. They went in
launches, barges and tugs to the bat
tieships, and the Connecticut, Mime
sofa, Kansas and Vermont, being the
ships lying nearest to the city wharves,
received the most visitors. With all
that number Of children, from babes in
arms 10 the knickerbocker and braided
hair stages, not an accident happened
10 cloud the great outing Of future ad-
mirals and midshipmen's sweethearts.
II is doubtful if any of the children so
much as got their feet damp.
The children fiocked to the water
front early in the day. There was
somewhat of circus day air about
the lower part of the city. AS it had
been understood that adults unaccom-
panied by children were not the de-
sired guests Of the day grown ups bor-
rowed their neighbOrs' infant if they
didn't possess any on their own ac-
women went out yesterday thinking
that there would be more safety on the
trips owing to the care that would
naturally be given the children.
MANY ARE DISAPPOINTED
All great days have their disappoint-
ment, however, and yesterday was no
exception. Through a misunderstand-
ing mothers and children went to the
water front believing that the children
were TO be taken on the launches 10
the battleships free of charge. No such
plans had been made or announced, the
day. being Saturday. having merely
been set aside as 'children's day" for
all who wished to go out TO the fleet at
their own expense.
At the foot Of every gangway on the
ships that received visitors an agile
young sailor with a pair of long arms
was stationed TO aid the children in
alighting from the bobbing launches
The sailors were CHEEKY and gentle and
quick. and not child slipped.
We like to have visitors on board
ship" said one young sailor 1T is
pretty mOnotonous on board when we
are out at sea, the same people always
and the same duties; but when we are
IN port and can have visitors we have
something to DO in showing them
around"
TEACH TOTS GUNNERY
Every seaman in the fleet worked
yesterday like a disciple OF Froebel.
They certainly were kindergarten teach
ers, just as surely as every ship was
kindergarten. and they applied the best
kindergarten methods in showing the
youngsters around ship. II was learn 10
do by doing, by moving ard training
the guns.
There was little Dorothy Peacock.
for instance Little Dorothy has a win
some smile and willing little heart. J.
B. Hill, blueJacket signaIman on the
forward bridge. escorted little Dorothy
about that important quarter and incl
oentally showed the features to Doro-
thy's retinue Of grownups. AS crown
ing honor Dorothy was given the red
and yellow flag from the ships signal
chest and instructed by Signalman Hill
70 hold Il at the angle making the let
ter +, the code signal for the fiaEshfp.
Dorothy was carefully informed that +
Is the initial letter for flagship. Then
the little signal girl had her picture
taken while the wind blew her curIs
about the tanned face and her white
hat tapped about her head.
Irving Waugh, a lad of s. might not
have had the advantage of playing an
active part on a man-of-war that Miss
Dorothy had. but he was impressed with
the game Of sea dghting and sea frol-
licking. He submitted to the ordeal OF
an interview.
rider" Master Irving conhded, but now
I've changed my mind I am going TO
be q sailor"
BROTHER LESS TICKLE
Irying's elder brother, Emmett, senior
by two years, showed a less mercurial
temperament. II still intend to be a
circus rider he declared, and frowned
at his brothers hckleness.
Mark Stuart was the proudest boy on
the ship. I've been where the kids
amt allowed to 60" he shouted, "and
I've had the best time"
on the gun deck the small boys fra
ternized with the sailors Two lads
with wide opened ears sat on the
smooth floor and listened to the yarns
OF the two bluejackets of life on the
rolling deep. But in the environment
OF all the guns and the unusual atmos-
phere OF the ship, the question that
crowded to the smaller lads tongue
was Where do you folks box2"
But IL was not all children's day.
It was ladies' day as well and the
women swarmed the decks and the