The Ordway new era., 1912-08-02
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down the ladders. while he Is franti.
cally searching for the source Of the
smell he would give Ave years Of his
life to undo the oversight of the last
five minutes.
Discipline In the merchant service
begins we'll enough at the top. but 1t
does not work all the way down. 1t
stops at the lowest grade Of man who
has certificate to lose. the junior en-
gineer. In the evidence at a recent
nautical inquiry one read Of a man
smilingly informing the court that he
was ashore having n last drink while
he should have been on board Joining
In boat drill. A Junior officer or en-
gineer dare not do such n thing. Tho
law and the owners deal severely with
him. He Is supposed to behave with
naval obedience himself. while his
own authority Is frequently fouted by
those nominally at his command. Any
thing less like the navy could scarcely
be imagined. The idea that engineers
are given to chastising tiremen with
any handy weapon Is often found in
fiction. 1t Is fiction. In real life disci-
pline below decks depends almost en-.
| tirely on the good nature Of the fire.
, men.
Surroundings Are Degrading.
Socially the merchant service engi.
neer Is equally remote from tho naval
type. His accommodation does not
often rise above the level set by oil
clothed tables and kitchen cutlery.
Such conditions have not an expand.
ing effect on the intellect. His conver-
sation In the messroom Is commonly
personal and bitter. II he comes from
the upper middle classes" his rela-
uves too often find him morose at 40,
or vulgarized. or disappeared altogeth-
er from their ken. II he resIsts the
social influence Of his environment the
result is often a curious mental COM
bativeness which seems to arise out
of the we'll nigh incompatible require
ments that he Is supposed to meet-
an artisan with supposedly the pres
tige Of a lieutenant and actually less
authority than a corporal. The better
educated men strive to rise above sen
faring. Examinations must BIO passed
and they can only be entered for by
men with a certain amount Of sea serv-
Ice to their credit. Twelve months at
least must be passed at sea to enable
a man to go up for n second class cer-
tificnte OF competency-thati Is to say.
the certificate which legally qualities
him to act as a second engineer or
on a very small ship as chief engineer.
| After obtaining that he must serve an
other year as engineer In regular
! charge Of q watch on board an ocean
going steamship before he may sit for
his first class certificate. which en-.
ables him to sign on as chief engineer
of any sort OF vessel. from an excur.
sion steamer to the last thing in At
lantic flyers.
When he is "up for second" he has
| to pick out the answers to questions
about, say. the temperature OF the hot
well under imaginary and distressing
conditions dear to the hearts OF ex.
aminers. from mixed memories OF rau-
cous laughing nights ashore and Of
days OF anxious vigilance over racing
engines. when the propeller would be
flung clear OF the wintry western
ocean and the ship CULVER as though
from earthquake. When he is up for
chief" he Is set more difficult ques-
tons. but still not beyond the reach Of
simple arithmetic. If he aspres to
the honorary examinations - extra
chief" 1t Is called-the questions be-
come more academic. and he unlocks
the brain cell which contains the inte-
gral calculus. The calculus Is prob
ably stored next to visitors OF the most
important objects which 1t Is to
achieve for him-a surveyorship or
superintendentshipa ashore. a nice lit
tie home in Forest Gate or North
Shields. and wifely companionship un.
broken by voyaglng. or perhaps the
protection OF a widowed mother