Sailor's While Away Monotony At Sea

Manawatu Times, Volume LV, Issue 7201, 26 April 1930, Page 17

Sailor's While Away Monotony At Sea

The published pictures of Captain Dariiick, the artist Master of the s.s, Boxen, who was in Melbourne recently* reminds me of other Seameu I havd known or known Of whose interests were not confined to navigation and the rule of the road at sea, writes Heirmon Gill in tho Bun-News Pictorial. Most sailors ate artists, _ They are simple souls, spending their lives in the Contemplation of Nature in all her moods, communing with tho Infinite in the stilly night watches, and most of them feci the need of self-expression, be it 'in writing, flirting, or any of the hundred and oho outlets for their art. Painters there are in legion, from the talented member of tho fo’o'sle who dccof&tds tlio lids of sea clicsts ■with photographic attd highly coloured re l productions of famous ships, to men like old Captain Clayton, of tho Blackwall frigate Kent, and J. F. Bpurhng, whoso delightful pictures are a feature Of tho covers of tho Blue Peter, whilst oveh thoso sailors Who are not themselves in virtuosos and Whoso art is only skin dOcp, delight in displaying the Work of tho tattoo expert on their manly chests and brawny arms. Sailors are groat gossips and are fond of tittle-tattle, but I have met only one who indulged in tatting Us a hobby, He used to tat edging for hhndkeW chiefs and tray cloths for his Wife, Another shipmate of mine cut and fashioned large hair cofiibs from sheets of tortoiseshell, whilst yet a. third was an expert at drawn thread work and Would sit quietly for hours in his room, per* ilig over a small wooden hoOp, with thread and flue linen.

Tho bulk of tho “dunnage” of one skipper I was with consisted of boxes of jig-saw puzZlcs, but his very, adeptness at solving them brought him sorrow', for so quick did he become that ho soon found himself, liko Alexander, sighing in vain for fresh worlds to conquer.

Jit ANY HOBBIES

Pets are usually itt great deuiaild an board ship, from the übiquitous cat and the canary to parrots, monkeys, cka.iielcons and, on passenger ships, the everwclcomo flapper. It is when pretty flappers are on the passenger list that junior officers develop a Craze for tho finer points of astronomy and Will spend hours imparting their knowledge to girls oh starly nights ire* the seclusion of the boat deck. It is tho petting hobby of the juniors which develops, with age, into tho tatting and jig-saw puzzlesolving of the seniors. Horticulturists also abound, the favourite plant being that of the sweet potato. Many a room on board ship have I seen in which tho occupant, sat framed in the pale green vine of a sweet potato, whoso root, speared on four matches, drew its nourishment from tho water in a glass, on tho rim of which tho four supporting matches rested. Somo sailors turn their moro dimestic hobbies, such as washing clothes and cutting hair, to profit—a useful achievement in these hard times, and some, particularly those with a literary flair, allow their hobby to wean them from their alma mater.

Such a ono was Joseph Conrad Korzoniowski, that great interpreter of the sea, who, as Joseph Conrad, has achieved lasting fame, and whose first book, “Almayer's Folly,” was written during his spare time at sea.

Such a ono is John Masefield, that exquisite painter in words, and Captain David W. Bone, of tho Cunard Line, though true to his first love, has not failed to woo fame with his pen. As with tho majority of sailors, however, he contimucs to occupy his business on great waters, for there arc few of them ‘who can resist “the call of the running tide.”