A SUPEEINTENDEKT OF THE OLDHN BAYS. 
an easy thing to obtain and retain, as some maybe an apt 
to think. For only look at and consider the numerous 
and constant calls upon his patience and temper. He 
had to attend to the duties of his calling, often un- 
der very difficult and trying circumBtances. The bulk 
of the crew, very probably were Lascars, and 
required the exercise of a good deal of authority and 
supervision. It may be said t why all this sort of 
thing was the duty of his subordinate officers, so 
it was, but still subordinate officers require instruc- 
tions and oversight. There is a something, some inhe- 
rent qualities, which cannot well be briefly defined, 
necessary to all superiors in every important position 
in life. Just as well say of a manager of some large 
coffee estate, why, he has a fine time of it, he has 
nothing to do, he has got a good staff of well-paid 
efficient assistants, they do all the work, it is an easy 
thing to be a manager on a place like this. But just 
l^*y itj j^st take away the manager who has got such 
an easy time of it-^and nothing to do — so little that 
he spends a good deal, or the most of his time in the 
bungalow, no doubt in the estioiation of the coolies, 
supremely happy— doing nothing— take him away, 
and then it will be discovered that he must have 
been doing something, and something to the purpose 
too, for gradually one comes to the conclusion that 
one does not know, can’t tell how, things are not 
as they used to be, there is always something going 
wrong, that wants putting to right, audit is not alone, 
this little thing that has gone wrong, and is not put 
right, increases, and makes a great many more little 
things that are wrong, or are going wrong, until the little 
thing that was not worth notice, becomes so big that 
nobody can put it to right, and it is just the very 
same way on board a ship, as it is on a coffee estate 
in many ways though not in all, because in the latter 
there are no lady passengers to please and attend to* 
but instead of this, coffee estates in present times, (not 
then) have visitors— -official and private^ — whom it is 
necessary to entertain with as much urbanity aS 
OBsible, if for nothing else than only personal policy. 
For the good opinion and reports of others is in 
no way to be despised, quite the contrary, rather court- 
ed as none, or ought to be indifferent to public opinion 
and report, they may be needed some day, and if you 
have obtained them, they will prove that they are friends 
in need and friends in deed. 
In the Captain’s opinion, Kenneth was a first rate 
steward, in every respect all the passengers 
had always a good word to say for him and of 
course all good words and opinions in favour 
of the steward, were just indirectly, nay, di- 
rectly in favour of the ship andthe Captain. A •'■nice 
