The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, February 19, 1899, Page 17

NEPTUNE BCARD.S ATTLE.SHIP with his s crossed the as sh imposing ceremony, the close nk was made ta » ,: ridge Neptune's staff 00006006006 00006060000000600000600060060000006000000000000000000600006000000000000080060000000600606600606060¢ a-clad retinue, 200 of the hed h 1 fro ship by \cluded the judge advocate, doctor, barber, chief of g quilled pencil and the long roll of names of the uninitiated. The nformed the domain. 0 u booms HEPTUHE stopped the big man-of- _equator on her long trip to , according to time-he clerk of Captain Ter tells the following certainly did us that honor and a most royal time October 25, that our gall He 1g day to collect tribute from d Amphitrite came on board, al equatorial caurt, and, after 1ded round the decks and shortly itiated were put Neptune, Amphitrite and the dlong into the tank. the superstructure to the and Joins THE “{ANDLUBBERS™ 1IN it warship P> AN V. 7 A ey X THE SWIM . police, with his squad of eighteen assistants, clerk, officer of the deck, his assistant, the chief bear and his cubs, together with a drummer, fifer and the chief of the detecti bureau. “This ceremony of shaving and ducking all who have never crossed the equator is an old established custom, indulged in by the sailors of every nation. The costumes assumed are of the most absurd and outlandish patterns and, of course, vary according to the crew’s ideas of the several characters. Neptune, on this occasion, was attired in light blue pajamas and long flowing manila hair, beard and mustache. A tin crown, ornamented by a tin star, rested jauntily on his head, and he carried a trident. Queen Amphitrite was clothed in pajamas of a light blue color, a gray knee skirt, black leggings and long, flow- ing manila hair. She wore a tin crown with a star and crescent, and carried a beribboned parasol. “The judge advocate wore the uniform of a fifteenth century court attendant, with a wig of eightcenth century pattern made by one of the seamen from a sheepskin sponge cover. The clerk, on the other hand, wore a black cutaway coat, brown waistcoat, white trousers, a collar six inches high, red necktie and brown fedora hat, and carried officer of the deck wore the service dress of a lleutenant and carrled as binoculars two beer bottles lashed together with a black cotton spool as an adjuster. “The royal equatorial doctor had donned a bathrobe, apron and sleevecovers, a stovepipe hat made of blackened blotting paper, blue goggles, and carried as instruments a twenty-four inch syringe, a pair of cutting pliers and a rusty jackknife. His medicine was com- posed of iron, aloes and quinine. The only barber on the equator wore a striped swallow-tailed suit of red, white and brown, with a high hat of those colors, green necktie, ‘and carried two wooden razors. His assistant was dressed in blue and pink and bore a large whitewash brush to use in lathering. The lather itself was composed of fiour, molasses, chimney soot, water and ammonia. The drummer and fifer wore suits of half green and half black, very high collars and blue n ties, “The chief of police had secured a cap and coat from one of the chief petty officers. His shield had been ade of tin in the shape of a star and crescent. A number of varieties of fish been repre- sented in crude painting on the hats of the police, no two hats having the same decorations. They carried stuffed clubs. The bears were dressed in potato sacks and bear heads. Neptune's chariot was made of an old coal truck and two soap boxes, flags covering them all. It was drawn by two bear: “Do you believe ti re?"” Mr. bit as much cause on our trip around I made it a point to mingle with the Ja for the p e of trying to learn something on this very:subject. I found out that superstition is as much a part of the ship as the water in which she floats; for it enters into the wood scarfed into her keel: it controis her name, her crew and her cargoes, and times her days of sailing; it sum- mons for her ill fortune and evokes portents and signs for her pros- perity; it makes winds blow foul or fair, and governs her successful ventures and arrival “In many countries stolen wood was mortised into the keal, as it de the ship sail faster at night, Coin silver placed in the mainmast step went for lucky ventures, Where of old ships were decked with flowers and crowned with leaves flags now flutter. Clergymen, law- yers and women were ever looked on with disfavor on sailing ships as sure to bring ill-lick. * Clergymen are unlucky probably because of thelr black gowns and their duty of consoling the sick and burying the dead; lawyers from the antipathy of saflors to the class; women, because a ship is the last place for them or because,of the dread of witches. They are supposed to live by selling contrary winds and wrecked vessels. “Figure-heads were at first images of gods and were held in high reverence. The eyes glaring from the bow of 2 Chinese junk enable the boat to voyage intelligently. To-day if a mistake is made in striking the ship’s bells they are struck backward to break the spell. Apparitions were common. Adamastor, the specter of the Cape, is sometimes seen hovering in cloud and mist over the headland. The ma tale of the Flying Dutchman is told with variations in nearly every maritime country. Most of the ceremonies of ship-life are of long descent. On Good Friday, in many ports, Roman Catholic sailors cockbill their yards, slack their gear and scourge Judas as signs of mourning. His effigy is hanged to a yardarm until sunset, then lowered and beaten and kicked and finally burned in the galley and the ashes scattered on the water. “The. Russian Finns are considered wizards of high degree. Hur- ricanes blow, calms beset, gales roar as they will. If they wish to drive rats out of a vessel they shove the point of a snickersnee into the deck and every rat is supposed to run for the blade and perform hara-kiri. By slipping his hand into his pocket a Finn is said to be able always to prodnce a gold piece. The proverbial desertion of sinking ships by rats is founded on reason, for rats like to prowl ,about dry-footed. “Spanish sailors, on certain days of the month, lie aloft at sunset and beat the sheaves and pins of the blocks. This is driving the devil out of the g Theére is a pathos in the quaint ships and galleons, in the rusting marlinspikes, swinging to the mistral in reverential offering before the shrines of Notre Dame de la Gayde which dom- inates the Phenician port of Marseilles. These graces after danger, these insurances against evil to come eircle the world. Our Indians were fettered by them, appeasing the angry spirit of the waters. “In his voyages ghostly lights would gleam suddenly on the sail or from yardarms or mastheads, and at he bowsprit cap spectral flames might cast weird reflections upon the water. St. Elmo's fire was thought the best of omens, being hailed as evidence of Heaven's care for ship and crew. Formerly many animals—hares, pigs and black cats, for example—could mnot be carried on shipboard, for a black cat was supposed to carry a gale in her tail and a storm was sure to follow any display of playfulness on her part. This was one of the commonest and most cherished of superstitions held by the men who went down to the sea in ships and saw the supernatural everywhere. “Speaking of pets,” continued Mr. Randolph, “you would be sur- prised how tender-hearted a sallor is and how fond he is of animals. Whether a fieldmouse or a pig, he cares for it kindly. Our goat was brought on board by a coxswain transferred from the Dolphin, and though- the captain of that vessel sent for the animal on two dif- ferent occasions the goat still remains the pride of the ship and the chief amusement of the crew. So well-behaved is he that none of the CHoers can complain. He has now become thoroughly sailorized, going to quarters, mustering on the deck and otherwise observing the Youtine of the day. Of all pets none seems better suited for ship life than this wily animal. “Another rather common pet is the hen, usually of no known breed, raised in: the tropics and given to one of the officers of the Ship by some native. A ship rat on the other hand is not usually a Sherished object of affection. Its chief value to its owner is to keep }is stateroom clear of all winged insects and make a riot among the ants and roaches of the wardroom. During its stay the cats are not ed aft. “Dennis is the common name of sea-going pigs, who are ac- customed to have their bath at daylight and be washed and brushed.” 0000000000000000000000600090000000000000000 LORD BERESFORD'S OPINION OF AMERIGAN WOMEN AND THE GHOST IN THE BERESFORD FAMILY. NY one who calls Lord Charles Beresford an E: hman cannot know the gentleman, for he has all the agile wit and graceful, ing blarney of his whole race since ten hundred when they fi at- by their fighting qualities. I talked him, and, like the others, I only know ‘“he came and onted to him he went.” When DI easily, ‘and said: g reprieve from all mmerce. I am sure you talk of c £ be bored with these commercial ¥ affairs. A charming lady could make me tell her anything.” hank you, but I am not commer- nd I prefer to talk of China.” the most charming country in vorld. I quite sympathize with Sir and General Gordon, the’ Edwin Arn and Kipling, and many, many others. There is a morphia in the very air, and live there forever. The only regret I had was that I did not see the Empress. city of any size, but met so few Chi- one would like to glishmen seem most fond of women “Why is it? an American woman It is quite simple: cause Américan women know so much. They always have something to say on every subject, whether they thing of the subject or not. s¢ chatty, so bright, so intelligent.” “But men | are supposed to prefer women without too much brains.” “I am sure'it is not so, al even more than occasionally. American women lead every other women in the world. Why, there are more American women in powet in England than there question. One hgs only to talk to to answer that It is be- I was in every know any- They are are English women. Americans will be the fashion now, since the war, if it is possible for them to be more in the fashion than they have been. ‘English women now try to be like them.” . “Are not you very ungallant to your ter. countrywomen?”" “I did not include our Irish girls. They are the dearest girls in all ¢ world. My brother, William, marris an American woman. I always admire them, though my wife is an English woman. They are always so chic, ‘they are always dressed so well, they are such good companions. Oh, easily American women lead the women of the world. Ah, pardon me, but have you the time?” said.” ing dined Now, perous journey through American women. ays, or you.” “But I—I never flatter, madam; I who have not sald one-half what I feel is fnrd. ‘was Al the women will admire him, he. rone. s so suave, so courtly, so kindly, and ;50015 of which we hear so often in yet withal so clever, 50 much the mas- o 41001 jiterature, that the one who He has the bright complexion and the 1 Very ‘“clean’” look and the air of hav- cate with the survivor. ell all his life which gen- tlemen of his country always have. [ HE Bpresford family, not to be outdoge in aristocratic romance, possesses one of the most re- -markgble ghost stories on record. mygelf were in bed, I awoke and dis- This tragic but well-authenticat- AS ¢ 1 sald good-by and ed incident has only recently been ) | ho;eélaxflenx:b\m‘ithave a plcgasnnt.yp::: brought to Ifght in London. The heroine but in vain, to awake ?lr Tristam. ‘For plied: Yg‘f,“e hard of belief. Hold out the land of wag gn ancestress of Lord Charles, who heaven's sake,’ said I, ‘“Tyrone, tf;:ir w’hat your hand. n died 10 the“yeflr 1713, in direct fulfill. PUrpPose did you come here at this time “We like flattery and we will all like of ghastly prediction. Miss Ham- m arried Sir Tristam Beres- then that I departed this life on Tues- ught up on terms of the = \! most affectionate intimacy with her mitted by the Supreme Being to appear true and not one-half what should be to you and give you an assurance that this awful interview to the day of her revealed religién is the true and only religion by which we can be saved. I am further permitted to that you will be blessed with a son, who, it is decreed, cousin, James de la Poer, Earl of Ty- They made one of those occult died first should at all risks communi- daughter. In this case, strange to say, the com- pact was kept, for here is Lady Beres- * ford's account of the remarkable man- delivered it on her death bed to the Archbishop of Dublin: “One night, when Sir Tristam and year. covered Lord Tyrone sitting on the bed- side. I screamed aloud and endeavored, of night? mutual promise?’ replied he. ‘Know withered. will marry again and your second hus- band will, by his cruel treatment, ren- der your life miserable. ” risi him” two sons and two daughters and ner in which the vision arrived, as she die in hildbed in your forty-seventh This was all right, but Lady Beres- ford, being a practical woman, wanted an assurance that the visitation was real and not a dream. touched her vrist and in a second the ‘Have you forgotten our sinews shrank up and every nerve g ARt @ Cedles at the mrA“Nev"‘ 3 8 “while you live let no mortal eye be- ay last at 4 o’clock, and have been per- hold that wrist; it would be sacrilege.” five years of age. It is superfluous to remark that from death Lady Reresford wore a black ribbon round her wrist. She is always inform you represented wearing this badge in the ancestral portrait gallery. Also every shall’ marry my other prediction of the specter came Sir Tristam will die and you true. Her husband died, she remarried, had the prescribed number of children, and expired exactly on her forty- You will bring seventh birthday. Very few aristocratic families can boast a better ghost legend. —_————— A curious instance of dwarfism in pines is recorded by C. E. Bessey of the Uni- versflg of Nebraska. On Green Mountain, near Boulder, Colo., he found in a crevice of the rock at the summit a pine tree (Pinus albicaulis Engelm), only thirteen centimeters (under three inches) high and five milimeters (one-fifth inch) in diameter. It had no branches and bore a The ghest re- She did so, the apparition “Now,” exclaimed the ghost, tpeless, it showed twenty-five distinet an- nual rings, and was, therefore, twenty- 121