The Republican journal., 1914-10-29

good to, the step with more than double;
of the usual mates wages attached. 81
tried not to swell or display citation, but
am now not at all ashamed to admit that
it required considerable self-restraint.
And yet knew that it was nothing but
streak Of good luck that had not sail
ed on the Reunion before this chance Of
fered. have noticed all through life
that great deal Of good or bad luck is
being in the right place at the right time,
or in the wrong place at any time.
On our first voyage in the Selma
there came moderate disaster, and for
some time there was general lack of
success all along the way, which l could
not account for. On return to the home
port at the end of eight months, half
expected polite request for my resig-
nation. One day, the owners eyes bor-
ing holes in my shrinking soul, he re-
marked: "You have not done very well,
but want you to understand that know
the difference between run of bad luck
and bad management! Now go on and
do better if you can.
We sometimes speak of turning
points, with men or affairs. A point"
was turned at that time. Short voyages
followed Indies, Panama, the
Guianas and Canaries-fabulous rates of
freight, fair winds, never the loss of
rope yarn, and on return to the home port
in another two years the vessel had paid
in clean profits more than twice her full
value. Then, with some feeling of re-
greet, l left her to command one of Baths
finest and most graceful productions.
The new vessel was built on the very
crest of high cost and came into COM
mission on the low tide of commerce
following the panic of 1873-4-to feed
upon husks through weary years. Other
things went wrong: Dismasted when
year old; tragic epidemics in tropical
ports; mate buried at sea under distress
ing circumstances, leaving no living
white man on board save the master;
personal shocks and griefs, until | fear
ed to hear what next. The chief owner,
and most able friend, made a trip with
US in apparent good health and barely
reached his home to die.
! was then glad to change to an older
vessel, with no grace or gilded adorn
ment, but which proved obedient and
profitable beyond hope. AS kind and
regular as the other had been erratic, and
for two happy years we were friends.
Then Maine produced another new craft
with eagles and gliding galore, and as
kind as she was graceful That new YES
sci landed her first Two cargoes in distant
ports and divided eleven per cent of her
high cost before there had been occasion
to tack ship or to sail against a wind.
For eight years we never failed to come
in on time and never the slightest disas-
ter.
Within about three years after our
leaving the hoodood vessel she had been
once wrecked and recovered at greater
cost than her value; fine young captain
had been accidently killed on deck anc
she had gone to her better end with loss
of human life. Hence it may we'll seem
that the barnacle of ill-luck attaches te
other matter rather than to men.
The same human hand had tried equal.
ly hard to guide each of these vessels te
success. If the results were not luck
what was it?
When the imp takes malignant grip
on matter no human hand can break his
hold, no Tam O'Shanter ride Ger rum
ming stream may throw him off !
If we believe there is Divinity that
shapes our ends we must also reckon
with a possible hoodoo, which at times
may roost along the way
| Ed. A. RICHARDSON.