Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-01-22
a White Limit Beacon

"That is one of the worst towns
along the coast. The boys ought to
be warned against going ashore
there" exclaimed gentleman OF the
committee Indignantly.
cit is notorious for it's red light
districts, and yet it is d crowded
port. The danger ought to be made
plain to tie sailors. Suppose We get
out book of warning?" suggested
another anxious one.
This happened at meeting of
people interested in the crews of our
merchant marine, in 1920, when a
special Social Service Bureau was
devoted to their welfare.
Il think a little book would be a
good Han," said Miss Mabel Barley,
who was assistant to the chief of
the bureau, Mrs Henry Howard
I'VE will begin to get one up right
away"
THE warnings cannot be made too
strong" said the gentlemen, depart
ing; and then Mrs. Howard and
Miss Barkley went to work, and
never word or suggestion Of warn
ing did they permit to creep into
the little book which soon afterWard
was puhiished-''The Seaman's
Handbook for Shore Leave" In
years of work with sailors they had
learned a good deal about human
nature. They were aware that if
you tell husky COB that such and
such a port is "A really awful place
and he must on no account venture
ashore there, he will not lie found
on his snip very long after it docks
So in making up this neat alphab bet
in9i LIST nf tho mi, ci, L,
much information about them, such
notes as: Bad led light district
here: do not go ashore" and Rad
ium. drink that drives YOU crazy.
is the specially of this waterfront"
were Quietly but entirely omitted.
Instead, the whole emphasis was
thrown to the positive side. Infor
nation which a sailor would need
about every port was set down plain
ly and Lriefly. BECAUSE he likes
starched linen when he goes sport
ing about ashore, the addresses of
the best laundries for his purpose
are mentioned. Because he will
want to put his money in a safe
place. the reliable seamen's banks
are listed. So are the legal aid soc
letleS; the places where he can get
medical Service-with hints as to the
altitude of local doctors charges
and, very particularly, the places of
amusement and interest.
Sailors miss fine chances to see
the countries they visit Just for want
Of few suggestions" said Miss
Barley. "All through the handbook
we substituted suggestions for warn
ings'
The small blue volume is now in
its second edition, although the bur
eau has been discontinued. Every
alert sailor boy possesses one, without
having the least suspicion of its sub
fly righteous purpose. He never
suspects that his handbook is real
iy an antidote for "Radium, the
worst drink ever invented"
The alphabetical order in which
the ports are listed makes strange
companions. Basseterre, Guade-
loupe; Batavia, Java; Bath, Me-;
bayonne, France and Beirut, Syria,
appear together, and the sailor dis
covers that In the first-named town
he will have to depend on native
women for his laundry work: that
thlrty-siN miles by rail from Batavia
is Buitcnzorg, residence of the gov
ernor general of the Dutch East{u-
dies. where he may see one, of the
finest botanical gardens in the
world; that there are two good
movies in Bath and mosaic pave
ments Beirut. CHANGING down the
pages, you find such cosmopolitan
combinations as Buffalo and Ruenos
Aires, Calcutta and Callao, Chefoo,
Chicago, and Chittagong.
In fact, the Seaman's Handbook
for Shore Leave is travel log. and
a most artful work.-In New York
Evening Post.