Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Human Nature.
Shortly after I encountered the first officer coming from his watch , and went down into the cabin with him , where a good dinner , composed of all manner of delicacies and substantial , awaited his arrival . The opportunity was too good to be lost .
"You are quite young , " I remarked , " and yet you are first officer of a magnificent steam ship—a position to coveted . " " To be coveted , sir ? To be coveted , did you say ? I should like to know where that word comes in when you talk about my job , " he answered . "A sailor before the mast sees a better time than I do . If
I was captain everything would bedifferent , but the way things are I ' ve got all the work to do , and all the responsibility on my shoulders , and the captain gets all the credit . "
" But you get a good salary , don't you 1 " I asked . "Not by any means . Any laud-shark makes more money with his lianda in his pockets than I do by being knocked about here eighteen hours out of twenty-four . My girl has been after me for months to
end our long engagement and get married , but how can I save any money out of the miserable salary the company pays me V
"Everybody on the ship seems to be in a bad fix , " I said with a laugh . " Well , I think I ' ve got good reason to complain , " he replied ; " but they ' re not all so badly off . There ' s the chief engineer over there—he coins money by merely doing nothing . Every time we reach port
he travels with a heavy bank-book from the steamship office to a savings bank . His salary ' s more than double mine , and yet while he ' s snoring away in his blankets I have to face the winds , rains fogs , and night air , as well as a scorching sun by day . Yes , sir , those engineers are overpaid for the little they know , while us poor sailors have to suffer for it . "
I concluded to interview the chief engineer . When I found him he was enjoying a bottle of ale and a fine cigar , and appeared perfectly contented with himself and all mankind .
" I am glad to see you so comfortable , chief , " I said . " Your engines are as brig ht as a dollar , the boat ' s making bi g time , and we'll soon be rounding to at Sau Francisco . "
" Well , sir , I ' m doing all I can to get you there , " was the response . "I always try to do my duty conscientiously , but it ' s precious little credit engineers over get for the hard work they have to do . The captain and the other officers win all the
glory and the benefits , and the engineei has to toil and sweat for the most miserable of pay . " " That ' s downrig ht injustice , " I replied , " A man in your important position ought to get liberally paid for his services . Why , some of them were sayinga while ago ,
, that your salary was almost as large as the captain ' s . " " Yes , that's quite true , but you mustn ' t forget that all the other officers of the ship have little perquisites that we engineers don ' t get . I support my family only by
the severest economy . Take the purser , for instance . Just compiare his position with mine . He gets a good salary for scribbling down a few letters and figures , and loafs around the balance of the time . Wha purser is a downright fool who
y , don't get rich in five 3 ears . I only wish I had his chance . " This conversation possessed me with a desire to talk with the purser . He opened the conversation himself .
'' BIy friend , never be a purser , " he remarked , languidly , laying clown his pen with an air of disgust . " It ' s a dog ' s life . "We'll soon be in port , and if I don ' t have my vouchers and accounts in perfect shape by the time we strike the wharf they'll want to hang me at headquarters . " " . cU'c they so particular as that ? " I asked .
" Particular ! Tf you only knew all my annoyances , you ' ll pity me . I ' ve been working for the company for years , and the longer I work for it the sicker I get of it . I often thiuk of quitting the sea and taking to herding cattle . " " Oh , pshaw ! " I laughed ; " 3 ^ 011 'd soon
wish yourself back . Your office is most luxurious , and your pay is undoubtedly in proportion . " " Don't mention it . It ' s all humbug . I ' ve got nothing before me but hard work and miserable pa 3 and no prospects of
, advancement . The glorious clays for pursers are over . In the good old times such an office as mine was equal to a gold mine . Now it is worthless . Bly books have to be miracles of exactness . I have
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Human Nature.
Shortly after I encountered the first officer coming from his watch , and went down into the cabin with him , where a good dinner , composed of all manner of delicacies and substantial , awaited his arrival . The opportunity was too good to be lost .
"You are quite young , " I remarked , " and yet you are first officer of a magnificent steam ship—a position to coveted . " " To be coveted , sir ? To be coveted , did you say ? I should like to know where that word comes in when you talk about my job , " he answered . "A sailor before the mast sees a better time than I do . If
I was captain everything would bedifferent , but the way things are I ' ve got all the work to do , and all the responsibility on my shoulders , and the captain gets all the credit . "
" But you get a good salary , don't you 1 " I asked . "Not by any means . Any laud-shark makes more money with his lianda in his pockets than I do by being knocked about here eighteen hours out of twenty-four . My girl has been after me for months to
end our long engagement and get married , but how can I save any money out of the miserable salary the company pays me V
"Everybody on the ship seems to be in a bad fix , " I said with a laugh . " Well , I think I ' ve got good reason to complain , " he replied ; " but they ' re not all so badly off . There ' s the chief engineer over there—he coins money by merely doing nothing . Every time we reach port
he travels with a heavy bank-book from the steamship office to a savings bank . His salary ' s more than double mine , and yet while he ' s snoring away in his blankets I have to face the winds , rains fogs , and night air , as well as a scorching sun by day . Yes , sir , those engineers are overpaid for the little they know , while us poor sailors have to suffer for it . "
I concluded to interview the chief engineer . When I found him he was enjoying a bottle of ale and a fine cigar , and appeared perfectly contented with himself and all mankind .
" I am glad to see you so comfortable , chief , " I said . " Your engines are as brig ht as a dollar , the boat ' s making bi g time , and we'll soon be rounding to at Sau Francisco . "
" Well , sir , I ' m doing all I can to get you there , " was the response . "I always try to do my duty conscientiously , but it ' s precious little credit engineers over get for the hard work they have to do . The captain and the other officers win all the
glory and the benefits , and the engineei has to toil and sweat for the most miserable of pay . " " That ' s downrig ht injustice , " I replied , " A man in your important position ought to get liberally paid for his services . Why , some of them were sayinga while ago ,
, that your salary was almost as large as the captain ' s . " " Yes , that's quite true , but you mustn ' t forget that all the other officers of the ship have little perquisites that we engineers don ' t get . I support my family only by
the severest economy . Take the purser , for instance . Just compiare his position with mine . He gets a good salary for scribbling down a few letters and figures , and loafs around the balance of the time . Wha purser is a downright fool who
y , don't get rich in five 3 ears . I only wish I had his chance . " This conversation possessed me with a desire to talk with the purser . He opened the conversation himself .
'' BIy friend , never be a purser , " he remarked , languidly , laying clown his pen with an air of disgust . " It ' s a dog ' s life . "We'll soon be in port , and if I don ' t have my vouchers and accounts in perfect shape by the time we strike the wharf they'll want to hang me at headquarters . " " . cU'c they so particular as that ? " I asked .
" Particular ! Tf you only knew all my annoyances , you ' ll pity me . I ' ve been working for the company for years , and the longer I work for it the sicker I get of it . I often thiuk of quitting the sea and taking to herding cattle . " " Oh , pshaw ! " I laughed ; " 3 ^ 011 'd soon
wish yourself back . Your office is most luxurious , and your pay is undoubtedly in proportion . " " Don't mention it . It ' s all humbug . I ' ve got nothing before me but hard work and miserable pa 3 and no prospects of
, advancement . The glorious clays for pursers are over . In the good old times such an office as mine was equal to a gold mine . Now it is worthless . Bly books have to be miracles of exactness . I have