The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-09-04

the various branches OF the service For
instance. at any time after his first three
months trial, an enlisted man. II he is
fortunate enough 10 get a berth, such as
chief boatswain's mate chief yoeman,
electrician. commissary steward, water
tender. and so on down the list. he
draws 81. which is thrice what that
amount would mean ashore; for it
must be taken Into consideration that
Uncle Sam boards his sailormen, they
have no> lodgings 20 pay for. and no
place where they can fritter away their
money until they can get shore leave,
and then Mr.. Enlisted Man spends with
a free hand the savings OF months. But
few OF them spend all their savings. for
the canny and careful ones have left
aboard ship a bigger roll than they take
ashore.
Can Retire on Pension.
II a petty officer re-enllsts during the
first four months following his discharge
from his first enlistment. his pay at
once creeps up to $S4 a month. and II he
qualities for certain expert duty. such
as submarine work. his salary IS 500
entitle him to retire. and a man. after
thirty years OF service retires as petty
officer. at least. with pension OF go.
II he enlists at sixteen or eighteen and
serves continuously until he retires ne Is
still young man when he quits the serv-
ice, young man trained for expert work;
hence. II he Is at all ambitious he obtains
work in a navy yard and among con-
genial surroundings and with people he
has worked with at various times and
likes and respects, he adds to his income
and enjoys his well-earned rest ashore.
or course. there is a rough side TO all
this. A sailor mans life. even in our
day. is not ali beer and skittles. and the
Seamy side is often very seamy; but the
reward is great-greater perhaps, than
the same amount OF time. energy. and la
Dor expended on land would bring
II man dies ar sea his family is en-
titled to six months pay. the pay he is
drawing al the time Of his death. but this
is not all: officers and men Invariably col
lect purse for his family and his bag
is sold at auction In the steerage This
bag contains the sailors clothes and other
belongings, and tho bag OF a deserteT,
which Is also sold at auction. generally
brings from S 20 SO; but the bag OF
dead man fetches almost any amount,
and is determined by many things-the
size Of the ship the number OF men 10
bid. the popularity OF the man who has
gone TO the great beyond. the cjrcum-
stances Of his death. and the conditions
Of his family at home. II Is not unusual
for such bag to bring 800 or 800
and not extraordinary for the Kidding
10 mount 10 near 1000. The word
Is passed around. He was the only sup
port OF his mother" or "he had a young
wife and two little Riddles at home" and
so his generous comrades endeavor to
outbid each other. ond what with the
purse, ofhcers and men unite in sending
with the proceeds OF the bag a small for
tune back TO the sorrowilis mother or TO
the wife with two little kidles"
SO while, as have said above a
sailors life is rot AL beer and skittles,
II has its compensations. not the least
Of which is the knowledge that II the
sea claims him. his mess mates will send
back 'jolly big purse" to mother, wife,
and Riddles" or whoever is left behind
that were dependent upon him.