The Elbert County tribune., 1912-07-05

determination to the utmost from the very start
as M wen as your power OF observation. And It will
call for the exercise OF more discretion than any
other sport In world that is full of sports No
BODY can teach you but yourself and you can
teach yourself only by degrees
Tnere is only one school for the beginner who
Wouio really become one of the elect-the small
boat. You must become waterman before you
tackle anything else. man who can sail
canoe. and sail her properly, in any sort of wind
or weather, Is past master of his art. and
be safely trusted with any sort OF craft anywhere
Remember that. But begin with a small open
boat-the smaller the better-and spend at least
a season polling about in harbors and rivers.
any kind OF inland water. sailing her when you
can and rowing when you must.
Never take anybody with you, and never call
on any one to help you. II you take amateur
with you he will probaly get frightened and nus
ter you; and II you take hired man he will try
to teach you. and will surely teach you wrong
besides doing things for you that you ought to
do yourself. At the end of season of that sort
of thing you will have found out for yourself
whole crowd OF things that will be OF inestimable
service to you later on when you have passed
through your novitiate: your hands will be hard
and horny; your muscles will feel firm and COM
Portable underneath your coat; and your health
will amaze you nearly much as your appetite
Almost the first thing you will discover will be
that your principal requirement as a single-hander
is nerve-a nerve that is alive. but panic-proof
II you have that combined with a real love of ad
venture and the spirit Of Independence: and II
you start with the determination to do everything
for yourself and do 1t properly after finding out
for yourself which is the proper way; II you en-
Joy real hard work in the open air for your own
amusement. you are in fair way to become a
singlehander even before you start. But however
good your nerve may be. 1t will need that pre-
lminary smaboat training before you can trust
yourself safely on the open sea.
Once you sure OF yourself. and have mas
tered the first principles OF almost the most diff
hcult art in the whole world. that OF small boat
sailing. the whole world Of adventure Will be
at your feet the Seven Seas and all the navigable
rivers yours to explore and you can put out
on the only remaining trail where nothing is stale
and monotonous and where every wave and ho
low, every creek and inlet. though as old the
everlasting ages. is to each sea-borne adyenturer
unexpiored. alluring. and absolutely new Moth
ing ever happens twice In the same way at sea-
or ever looks quite the twice running
There are no beaten tracks to follow. for the
obiiterates them. 1t is all new always-yours to
pillow up and explore to your hearts content.
But steady That is what is ahead OF you
You are no single-hander yet. And IL you leave
your small boat in the harbor and go sailing on
some elses yacht. or buy yacht of your
own that is too big for you to handle by your
self you will never be The worst thing you
can do is to get into the grip of the hired man.
The next worst thing is TO make one of yachting
party. In either you will learn to believe
that II takes three four men to reef mainsaii
and at least two men to get up anchor; that var
nished decks things to be desired: that you
should for shelter when 1t comes on to blow
gale of wind, and other heresies Of that sort.
Stick to your own opinions that you have be-
gun to form already as the result Of your first
seasons experience stick to your original inten-
ton Of becoming single-hander. and. above all
things, stick for the present to your small boat
Put out to sea. Practice on the sea what you
have already learned to do in tho harhor and on