386 INFLUENCE OF THE GENTLER SEX. 



to his profession, become accustomed to revere the 

 ties and restraints of home and society, and be fully 

 imbued with the principles of national citizenship. 



In this humane work, the influence of the gentler 

 sex is vitall}^ essential. The time has long gone by 

 when the seaman (the American seaman in particu- 

 lar) was a rude, uncouth being — half fish, half man : 

 apparelled in a bluejacket and tarpaulin hat; his 

 cheek pouched out with a great chew of tobacco ; 

 his walk a swagger, and his language redolent of 

 oaths and tar. Such is a picture of Jack that has 

 been drawn (from time immemorial) by too many 

 authors, whose very particularizing, however, dis- 

 closes to the initiated their ignorance of the subject. 

 Your true sailor, from the general stigma that at- 

 taches to his class ashore, rather inclines to conceal, 

 than make an unnecessary display of his calling. 

 I have now been afloat almost four years; in one 

 place or another, met with at least ten thousand 

 seamen, principally belonging to our mercantile and 

 whaling marine ; and, although closely observing 

 their habits, manners, and peculiarities, I never saw 

 the original of the false picture above presented — a 

 familiar one, it is true, to the readers of the yellow- 

 covered nautical romances of the day. So, ladies, 

 you need not fear, that, in urging you to extend a 

 cordial greeting to Jack, I desire to favor the intro- 

 duction of a boorish clown into your refined circles. 

 But I will leave that to your own fair judgments. 

 Compare him with the landsmau : ten to one, you 

 will place them on an equality; and, if you have a 

 sparkling of romance in your character, you will 

 give the Tar the preference. 



