An Overstrained Sense Of Manliness Is The Characteristic Of
Seafaring Men, Or, Rather, Of Life On Board Ship.
This often
gives an appearance of want of feeling, and even of cruelty.
From this, if a man comes
Within an ace of breaking his neck
and escapes, it is made a joke of; and no notice must be taken
of a bruise or cut; and any expression of pity, or any show of
attention, would look sisterly, and unbecoming a man who has to
face the rough and tumble of such a life. From this, too, the sick
are neglected at sea, and whatever sailors may be ashore, a sick
man finds little sympathy or attention, forward or aft. A man, too,
can have nothing peculiar or sacred on board ship; for all the nicer
feelings they take pride in disregarding, both in themselves and
others. A thin-skinned man could not live an hour on ship-board.
One would be torn raw unless he had the hide of an ox. A moment of
natural feeling for home and friends, and then the frigid routine
of sea-life returned. Jokes were made upon those who showed any
interest in the expected news, and everything near and dear was
made common stock for rude jokes and unfeeling coarseness, to which
no exception could be taken by any one.
Supper, too, must be eaten before the letters were read; and when,
at last, they were brought out, they all got round any one who had
a letter, and expected to have it read aloud, and have it all in
common.
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