Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-01-27

which complaint is made of the food.
he should come aboard man-of- war,
and fifteen minutes at mealtime IN
the general mess will open his eyes.
The enlisted men of the United
States navy are better fed than any
force of fighting men in the world.
And the food is not always simply
"plain, but wholesome" 1t Is varied
and Wholesome, and on holidays, like
Christmas, 1t is really elaborate. with
enough sweet stuff and trimmings"
thrown in to produce the "tummy
ache" Of boyhood days, without which
no Christmas or Thanksgiving celebra-
ton is complete success.
Imagine Il broad, deep blue gulf.
with just the flutter Of a southern
trade wind caressing its surface and
sky equally blue, save where mil
lion stars help golden tropical moon
to give light enough to bring into
shadowy relief the vast bulk of six
teen battleships. Then imagine Q
barge drifting from ship to ship, the
strains Of mandolin music and twenty.
three white figures caroling this Christ
mas lay:
Merry Christmas! Merry Christmas All
happy and well!
Here comes the Vermont! Say, don't she
look swell?
We're high rolling rollcking crew.
Merry Christmas! Merry Christmas to
you!
This may serve, though inadequately,
to give an idea of the most picturesque
feature Of the Christmas celebration
of the Atlantic feet ut Port Of Spain.
The steerage or junior officers mess
produced the song, and it made such
a hit aboard the Vermont that 1t was
agreed to give the feet moonlight
serenade Venice could have lent no
more beautiful setting for the anchor
age Of the feet.
After dinner on the Vermont, which
was made family feast in the ward
room, with Captain w. p. Potter as the
chief guest, sailing launch was called
away, and twenty three wardroom Off
GERS and midshipmen, the latter and q
visiting surgeon stunning mandolins
and guitars, crowded aboard. A line
was passed to steam launch. and the
strolling MINISTRIES were under way for
the flagship.
Every one was below ut Christmas
dinner when the launch drifted silent
~ under the stern, and then upon the
still evening air, while yet the O. d.
(officer of the deck) was peering over
the rail to determine what was bearing
down upon the flagship, there rose the
tinkle Of the mandolins and the chords
of the guitar and the deep throated
song:
Merry Christmas! Merry Christmas All
happy and well!
Here comes the Vermont! Say, don't she
look swell?
We're a high rolling, rolicking crew.
Merry Christmas! Merry Christmas to
you!
In the stern sheets stood trim fig
ured. dark haired lieutenant in white
evening uniform. With megaphone
he gave low command and then,
swinging it toward the flag quarters
aft, roared. Three cheers for Admiral
Evansw They came with chip hip
then three for Captain Osterhaus and
then three for the officers and as many
for the crew. The launch was now
drawing away in the dark, and hush
fell, to be broken a moment later
when whistling chorus broke into
Honey Boy" the Vermonts ship
song.
Down the first division, up the sec
ond and on to the end the launch load
of feet carolers made their way.
Cheers for flag officers were given
wherever fagshlps were approached
and cheers for all captains and crews.
The fleet was taken by surprise. 1t
was something new. Deck officers &C
knowledged the greeting by waves Of
their caps and shouted equally good
wishes.
The Louisiana, fourth ship Of the
first division and accordingly the Yer
monts neighbor. was the last visited,
and there. as they had done earlier in
the evening" the Vermonters went
aboard, and when the traditional cere-
monies were to be performed In the
wardroom, gay with Christmas trim
mlngs, they broke into this song:
| Here's to you. Louisiana!
| Here's to you, our jovial friend!
| And we'll drink before this jolly crowd,
| Well drink before we part.
| Here's to you. Louisiana!
| Such celebration could be possible
only in the tropics. In American ports
the singers probably would be run
down by ferryboats or arrested by har-
Dor police. If the Vermont's innova-
! ton becomes custom the service will
gain picturesque holiday feature,
which will compensate for the loss Of
some of the atmosphere of the old
navy.
In the evening two or three minstrel
shows were also given, visiting parties
passed from ship to ship, and under a
star sprinkled moonlit sky the celebra-
ton of Christmas came to an end.
Automobiles on Rails.
Locomotives cannot always be had
for drawing special cars for the use OF
railway inspectors, and this condition
is causing growing demand for small
inspection cars that are propelled just
as automobiles are-in fact, they are