The Washington herald., 1912-08-18
SAILORS LIFE IS NOT
WHAT IT is PAINTED
They All Look Good When They're Far Away" Ap-
pIicabIe to Existence of Men Who Go Down
to the Sea in Ships.

Seamen desert their ships for many
reasons that cannot be called economic
or moral. There are psychological, tenn
peramental reasons and also reasons
| that should lie on the conscience of the
ships cook For sailors to desert voIun-
tariiy a well-found ship Is rare thinx.
Desertions from American vessels is rel
atively small and has ceased TO he an
important factor in destitution But sea-
men from Europe have been deserving
their ships in American ports since the
time when regular traffic btween Europe
and America began The call of the West
will flnd an answer in seamen's hearts as
long as America continues TO be syno-
nym for opportunity These desertfons in
the United States result in the emplo--
ment of American seamen for tn. re-
turn voyage Of foreign Ships. nominally
at the standard American wage rate bur
actually under such conditions that per-
sons so employed are frequently dis
charged penniless in some distant port
and without knowledge Of the local lam
guage.
Sailortown has its shiftIesS men They
are variously designated but the COM
monest and most comprehensive term is
beach-combers. 'BeaCh-Combers'' will
go anywhere to get something for moth
ing. are clever and resOurceful at In
venting excuses, and shun the night
mare Of steady work. The beachcomber
tolls not. neither does h" spin At
some crisis, and a sailors life is full Of
crises. he was compelled to ask for
charity. He got il easily and found il
easy TO ask again. The charity meant to
relieve his distress meant his undoing.
Cannot Keep Money.
The sailor and his money are easily
parted. He can hold on to yard-arnu
or life line a limpet holds TO a
rock, but his limpet power seems to
leave him when he touches money He
will give his cash without question or
security to any one who asks for il,
provided il be asked for in a way that
appeals to his heart for he is swayed
by feelings. not Judgment.
Ill health is the cause of o7a-four,b
of the distress in large cities The ratio
is probably much higher among the
toilers of the Below deck in the
recesseS of the ship. twenty feet be-
meath the sunlight. stokers stand on
iron plates in front OF open furnaces,
bend their backs to fill the coal shovel,
and then swing the coal into the hot
furnace mouth. The roll of the shin
and the swing OF the body throw an
uneven strain on the lower part OF the
torso. which causes hernia
Novelists tell with great gusto of the
sailors killed by pirates and buccaneers,
and sometimes by the 'buckoo mate
All these amiable gentlemen of fortune
never killed or manned as many men
as the forecastles OF the ships that sail
the seas. The medical officer of the
port of London submits a table showing
the minimum air space allowed for cat
tie in cowsheds. and for individuals IN
military. barracks. work rooms. lodging
houses. and seamen's quarters. Setting
these side by side IL is shown that cat
tie are best Off in this respect and sea-
men worst. The reports of the Surgeon
General OF the United States Marine
Hospital Service show n,i,uousIy th1t,
seamen suffer in Startling Inrnnert
from diseases. most Of thsr4 springing
from tn" inadequacy Of pure air and
healthfui places in which y eat and
sleep.