A Useful Change of Name.

Otago Witness, Issue 2006, 4 August 1892, Page 46

A Useful Change of Name.

"When I went to sea,' 1 said an old yarnspinner down on the wharves, "I was very handy aloft, and answered to the convenient name of ' Jack.' I was so willing and handy that the officers were always calling upon me. It was 'Jack, do this,' or 'Jack, do that.' On one voyage from Havana to Philadelphia the mates called en • Jack ' bo much that I was well nigh worn out. I determined to be ' Jack ' no more. After arriving in Philadelphia and remaining there a few days, I went to the shipping commissioner's office for a new job. He said he wanted a man for a captain who was even then waiting in the office, and requested me to sign my name. " • I cannot write,' I said. " • Then tell m« your name,' said he.

" • Ahasuerus Vitz Van Deuzendorff,' said I " 'What?' " ' Ahasuerus Vitz Van Deuzendorff.' " ' How in thunder do you spell it ? " " ' I don't know.'

" ' Here, captain,' said the commissioner, turning to the waiting captain, 'this man seems all right but for his name.'

" 'That's all right,' said the captain, and I was shipped. And I will tell you I had peace and comfort on that voyage. Whenever the mate wanted me to do anything, he would start on my name, break down entirely, and then tell another man to do the work. I thiuk they rather suspected something wrong about the name ; but they never caught me."