The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-10-04
LURE OF THE SEA
 STILL AFFECTING
 MIND OF THE BOY
American Youth Again Goes on Voyages to Foreign
 Ports and Fights

The American boy again goes to sea on merchant voyages to distant ports. The old romance and gla- mour of seaports and vessels Is again being felt by the youth of the coun- try, as it was in the adventurous days of the square triggers from the forties to the sixties.
 The United States Shipping Board, which has in hand the work of man. ming the new Merchant Marine - the Bridge of Ships with which the At lantic has been reduced to the size of an inland lake. reports that more than 150 young Americans are now coming forward every day in the month to serve on American merchant steamers-a greater number of lads "signed on" in a day than sailed out of American prots in a month in the good old days" of tall spars and hemp rigging.
 History Is thus repeating itself with interest, says the Merchant Mariner, and also with some important differ ences,
 In the old days the adventurous boy who went to sea took up a. life of
 
 line was sharply drawn for him, for he was either "a common sailor" as- piring to nothing higher than life in the forecastle, or he was a gentle mans son." perhaps the owners, sent on a voyage to gadn experience which should serve to introduce him to life in sea merchants counting room, perhaps his fathers.
 Today such social distinction does not exist. Rich and poor, rough and gentle, the worker and the college stu dent, are among the youths whom the new era in American shipping has brought forward to serve on American vessels. One aspiration moves them alto serve their country in one Of it's most vital activities in the great est of all wars for human liberty.
 Back of that purpose is the main- spring of natural inclination toward the sea as asphere of action, an 1n- clination that Is expected to lead thousands of these volunteers to re- main permanently in the Merchant Marine, many of them as officers, af- ter peace returns, to carry the flag ahead of that of other nations Tn race for the worlds trade.
 The return of American boys to the sea in large numbeIs while due pri- narily to war conditions is made pos sible only by a recent ruling of the Shipping Board reducing the mini mum age at which men are accepted for the merchant service from 21 to IS years.
 This ruling has acted as a marvel 4o the Merchant Marinezfor in these days men are recruited for this service all over the country, the Shipping Board having 5000 stations, in drug stores in the various States, where the sea- goer may put his fist to an appH- cation for service.
 It has been found that the Amert- can youth of today between IS and 21 is active, impetuous ,and ardent. Ad- venture appeals to him then as it never will again. The call of the sea at Is is well-nigh irresistible.
 It may not be romantic to apply for sea service at a drug store, but the American boy finds it effective. In a very short time he finds himself on the way to a seaport-at the Gov ernment's expense-and once there an hour is enough to change him to sea clothes and to the outward semblance of a sailor
 Of the adventure the new American sailor lad has plenty from the mo- ment he puts on his uniform on the training ship. It is not, however, the kind of adventure that he has read about. He does not wear the loose duck trousers and "superabundance of checked shirt.
 The sailor lad or today is not only a new type, but he works under new condition. He Is first trained for his new job, just as soldiers are train ed in camp.