The San Francisco call., 1910-12-25

with Its electric lighted Christmas
tree to the deep sea windjammer, where
the season of good cheer is represented
by respite from toll and a plum pud
ding that makes the most pessimistic
OF sea lawyers forget for a spell his
diet or salthorse and hardtaek, his wet
blankets and the mates biting tongue
or heavy fist or foot. The steam schoon-
Aars that ply up and down the coast
Ne usually the first to welcome the
Christmas spirit A week or so before
the big day Christmas trees are lashed
to the mastheads, that all the world
may know christmas is coming" The
hardy Norsemen that man those busy
vessels adopt smile that never wears
off until after Christmas, unless the
cook should happen TO fall down on
that plum pudding. While the Christ
mas tree is at the masthead the mate
modifies his exactions and the skipper
says good morning to the mate every
day.
The coasters are too busy to make
much fuss about Christmas but few
and far between are the ships ofa any
nationality that do not make some con-
cession to St. Nicholas. On the Yankee
clippers. whore the motto. day and
night is drive" only necessary work
is done on Christmas day and there
is always a plum pudding and a few
tAtldS at dinner time IOf all NarlOS.
IT is on the big ocean liners that
Christmas is celebrated with as much
ceremony as on shore. They have a
Christmas tree. real Santa Claus.
and, preceding the big day a regular
tour of Christmas sliopping.
All the big steamship companies
make regular preparations for the
Christmas celebration in addition to
filling the ice house with turkeys and
other seasonab1e meats. Before 1eav-
ing the home port the chief steward
of the ship that is 10 spend Christmas
at sea makes out special Christmas
reauisition. This includes Christmas
tree, decorations for the same as we'll
as suitable decorations for the big din
ing saloon. In addition to the decora-
tions the company provides a supply
OF gifts for the passengers. These gifts
are individually of nominal value, but
the total, in the case of a company
operating a large fleet of steamers
represents a handsome contribution to
the festival. While the company pro-
vides as 1t were the background for
the celebration the ships barber. who.
Ia addition to cutting hair and shaving
boards. runs a little store. stocks UP
on seasonable novelties for sale to
such passengers as embarked without
the equipment for an individual Santa
Claus act.
All the Christmas gear is slowed
away and as far as the passengers are
concerned there is no evidence of any
intention to make the day they ought
to be at home any different from other
days at sea.
The barber, however, some days be-
fore Christmas. lets it be known that
he has on hand a stock of odds and
ends suitable for seasonable remem-
hrances, and. like the merchants ashore,
advises 70 = fT.fr. -,
ping early. Life on shipboard is usual
ly productive Of new friendships and
IL the ship has been at sea for any
length of time before Christmas day
the man or woman who went on board
alone and among strangers has usually
found some man, woman or child they
would like TO remember with gift.
The barber around Christmas time
must play the diplomat and keep a
close mouth. The element Of unex-
pectedness adds to the value of a
Christmas gift. and it's upsto the bar
Der to help with the surprises.
When the passengers turn out for
breakfast Christmas morning they
meet their first surprise. The saloon,
yesterday bare of everything but it's
regulation furniture and decorations,
has been converted overnight into a
scene that even in midsummer would
suggest December 20. On passenger
liners running between here and the
orient japanese creations are in strong
evidence. Hundreds of silk flags. en-
blems of all nations, are strung in all
directions and huttering gayly on the
breath of the swinging punkas or
whirring electric fans. If Honolulu
be the outward terminus OF the ships
voyage the beautiful ferns and bril-
liant foliage of the tropics enter large
ly into the scheme of decoration, but
whatever the ship and wherever bound
the prevailing note is Christmas. en-
phasized by a profusion of holly and
mistletoe
After breakfast the passengers are
shooed out of the saloon and kept out
until the big event of the day takes
place About il O'Clock in the fore
noon the liners whistle toots in an
alarming fashion and somebody in
loud voice reports to the captain that:
There is an old party with whisk-
ers and big pack on his back who in
sists on coming aboard
We'll" says the skipper. you'd bet
ter let him come. 1t must be Santa
Claus
BY this time all the passengers are
interested, and everybody, with the
children in the front row. goes for
ward and watches the rail, over which
in few minutes the sailors with much
pulling and hauling and ho-heave- -hoing
assist old Father Christmas
The grownups may have some doubts
about the saints oakum whiskers and
the surgeon could perhaps tell how
his lint supply was raided to make
those snow white locks, but the chill
dren know that this must be the real
thing at last and that after all there
Is a Santa Claus. for didn't they see
him climb right up out of the water?
He explains. however, that he is
really Neptune and that he has been
deputed to offieiate for Santa Claus,
whose reindeer do not like swimming
in salt water. lie and Santa Claus
smoked a pipe together the night be-
fore at the north pole and as the
snow fairies danced for their enter
"A