64 Our Views and Reviews. [Jan. 1856. 



it. You may think it an evidence of sailorsliip, tliat you chew your cud, but if 

 you know anything of natural history, you are aware that it would be just as good 

 proof of your being a calf. I, who am an old sailor, and know much more about 

 such matters than any of you, will tell you that tobacco-chewing will never make 

 of any one a sailor ; and, as you spit about decks, and are filthy in other ways, 

 you are an annoyance and an object of disgust to your fellows, which I can not 

 endure. Do you think you could break yourself of the habit?" To this the boy 

 would answer, very demurely : " Yes, sir." 



" Well, I am very glad to hear it. I hope I shall never catch you with a quid 

 in your cheek again ; and in order that you may begin your reformation with a 

 clean mouth, the master-at-arms will now proceed to purify it, by means of this 

 soap, and sand, and piece of canvas. Master-at-arms!" 



" This functionary approaches with the required articles. 



" Now, my lad, that you may be enabled to make a fresh start in your reforma- 

 tion, we will see your mouth scrubbed clean. Master-at-arms, take his head upon 

 your lap, and commence operations." 



" Thereupon, the unwilling victim to another man's belief, has his mouth half- 

 filled with a lather of soap-suds mixed with sand, and his lips and teeth scoured 

 till they bleed again, the olfactory test being applied from time to time to ascer- 

 tain if all the defilement is removed ; and after half choking him, and giving him 

 ample cause to remember the commander's injunctions, he is released. All this 

 is transacted in presence of the whole assemblage of boys, and generally an addi- 

 tional audience of grinning tars, who are delighted witnesses to the commander's 

 " doctoring one of the boys." Two or three punishments of this kind, were quite 

 sufficient to cure all the tobacco-chewers.'^ 



The Merchant Vessel : a Sailor Bm/'$ Voyages to see the World, by the Author of 

 ^^ Ma7i-of-War Life." Cincinnati, Moore, Wilstach, Keys & Overend, 1856. 



This is another handsome duodecimo, by the same author as of the volume 

 last above noticed. It is substantially a continuation of the former work, with 

 the author's experience transferred from the Navy to the Merchant Service. It 

 is written in the same unassuming style, the very simplicity of which carries to 

 the reader's mind, a conviction of the truthfulness of the author's statements, 

 and of the accuracy of his descriptions ; and certainly, this is no small merit 

 in reference to " sailors' yarns." 



The author's reflections on the difference in the mental development charac- 

 teristic of the " blue jacket " of the Navy, and the sailor in the merchant service, 

 contain much sound philosophy of practical import. In the navy, the officer does 

 all the thinking — the " men " do but execute his thoughts — and their merit con- 

 sists only in obedience to orders. In the merchantman, the " hands " are, to some 

 extent, deliberative as well as executive. " In this respect,'^ as our author most 

 justly remarks, " the merchant service is infinitely preferable to the Navy, as a 

 school for training." ^ 



The book has the same beautiful typography that distinguishes " Man-of-War 

 Life." For sale by Moore, Wilstach, Keys & Overend. 



