THE SAILORS' YULE

Evening Post, Volume XCVI, Issue 155, 28 December 1918, Page 8

THE SAILORS' YULE

IN THE NAVY

GAY TIMES AFLOAT

In peace or war,. go long as lie is not busy blowing the enemy's ships off the face of the waters, there is one day of the year on which Jack Tar is as good as hia master, and can abandon himself to fun and frolic with all the ze*t of an emancipated schoolboy without anyone being able, or even willing, to say him nay To Jack, Christnias Day is the "red letter day" of the year.* All the previous day he,' has been as busy as ; the ■ most industrious anf preparing for , the greaV festival in' a, score of. ''.ways,"'. I'ro.m ■ decorating the "messes" to chopping suet and stoning raisins for the plum puddings he will consume with such zest on the morrow From stem to stern he has converted his ship into a fairyland of greenery and a blaze of colour. • All the messes have been converted into miracles of decorativis art, with holly and ivy and mistletoe, with roses many-hued as Joseph's coat, 1 ornaments of tinsel and wood, mottoes, and devices of every conceivable kind, and framed portraits of favourite officers. At half-past six on Christmas morning Jack rolls- out of his hammock in high spirits, attuned to the great da.y of junketing that awaits him. The cleaning over, inspection follows. Then comes a,' brief service, in which Jack "lets himself go" in singing his favourite carols; and the padre's sermon takes the acceptablo form of a few breezy and seasonable words, with hearty , wishes for a happy Christmas. And with the "piping down" of church the fun begins The rest of the long day is Jack's very own, to do as he pleases with. The crowning hour of dinner is already near In. the galley an army of flushed amateur cooks are toiling with hearty goodwill and much hilarity before a roaring fire, putting the finishing touches to the feast. There are great rounds of beef done to a turn, succulent hams, duffs of generous girth—and what not; all contributing, to the blend of appetising odours which are a foretaste of the banquet to come. COMEDY OF THE DECK.. .': But on deck comedies are being enacted whjch we must not miss. It is a screaming drama of topsyturvydom, in which ranks are interchanged with sidesplitting effect. Here is the ship's most diminutive bugler masquerading in the full uniform of his sergeant-major, strutting about the deck and imitating the airs of his superior officer to an accompaniment of shrieks and roars of laughter; ■while the sergeant-major cuts .a still more ludicrous figure in the boy's uniform, as he meekly, submits to a sound rating for some imaginary failure in duty, from his immature "senior " Now the chief stoker, in the rig-out of the most youthful member of the "black gang," is paraded under escort; while by his side struts the boy, arrayed in his uniform, gold /bands and all; with all the importance of an admiral at least. ■ At the stroke of eight bells the scene suddenly changes. The band strikes up the inspiriting air, "Thp Boast Beef of Old England," and the captain, commander, and officers of the ship start on their round of the mess-deck to admire the decorations, exchange greetings with the men, and sample the dainties offered fcb them by the' cooks of the messes, standing each at the head of his tabledainties 'ranging from plumduff and mince pies to cigarettes,. apples, and nuts. This is the crowning and most impressive moment of the day—of the year, in factr-when officers arid men are brought together in th? atmosphere of feasting and fellowship and mutual goodwill. As the captain and his officers make theii smiling progress from mess to mess, volley after volley of cheers accompanies them , At each table the decorations, often as beautiful as they are ingenious, are admired and praised,; the food is sampled and approved; cordial greetings and good wishes are. exchanged And when the last mess has been inspected, the captain standing in the centre of the deck, says a few simple, cordial words of good wishes, invites the men to drink his health in a pint of beer, and makes hi 3 exit to thunders of cheers and a chorus of " For He's a Jolly Good Fellow/ which almost lifts the roof. A FEAST OF GOOD FARE. Now begins such a time of feasting and fun as few but our sailormen can ever know. To the clatter of knives and forks, jollity and laughter, the good fare disappears down Jack's capacious throat, until at last he'is obliged to cry "Halt 1" , He. has feasted better than any king, and can eat no more. He ha« drained his beer, has drunk the King's health in grog; and now for a good smoke to crown it all. Cigars, pipes, and cigarettes are provided. And next for the music. What Jack joves above all is a song with a rousing chorus; and there is plenty of talent to keep the concert going for hours, if they wish it. If the'singer ha's a voice like a disabled fog-horn, no matter so long as the song has a good chorus in which Jack can do his stentorian bit towards "raising the roof." Thus song and chorus and rapturous applause follow in sequence until Jack, hoarse of voice and purple.in face, has at last had enough, and is ready for a dance or any other fun on deck. After a second pint of beer, "Hands to dance and skylark" is piped, and to the lilt of the band, or the strains of a concertina, Jack will trip and gambol until his legs ache with dancing and his sides with laughter. But) tired as he is he is game for any lark that is going; and, when the call is made, he rushes with his fellow to the officers' quarters, to join in tarrying one popular officer after another shoulder-high round ( the ship to the noisy refrain, "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow." Thus in dance and song, skylarking, and frolic of all sorts, the hours pass all too quickly, until at last "Out pipes" is sounded, and Jack reluctantly turns into his hammock—weary, it ■is true, but blissfully happy in the knowledge that ho has spent his Christmas Day as--]bvi-ally as any man in the Empire.