A SON OF THE SEA.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1752, 17 May 1913, Page 14

A SON OF THE SEA.

AND THE TELEGRAPH MESSENGERS,

Officially, it ds stated that there is a shortage in the complement of telegraph messengers; consequently business peoplo and others can urnlM'stand any delay thero may ho in tho delivery of their tolograms. However, any slothfulness is not always due to this cause, as a scene witnessed at the Jervois Quay wharf the otlier afternoon, high abovo the bustlo of unloading numberless cases of oil from tho holds of tho steamer lireiz Izel, indicated. AVorkers on deck and wharf below thero wero plenty, but on the lower-bridge of tho steamer thero was a trio of players —a ship's boy, in tho full glory of his dungarees, and two telegraph messengers in their uniforms of Stato servitude. Tho ship's lad, a stronger youth than the others, was putting the messengers through a course of pugilistic and wrestling exercises, an instruction to which tho Imperial servants did not seein averse to enjoy, till tho young son of tho sea started to practise ju-jitsu grips and thumb-holds on them, when the khakiclad youths squeaked loudly and wanted to go back to their duties—or, at any rate, somewhere off tlio ship. But this did not suit tho small mariner, and lie forcibly hauled back his departing guests and tried to suspend ono of them over tho bridge-railing as punishment. . Fortunately lie did not succeed, else tlio Department might havo wanted still another messenger.

The heartless mariner still continued his play, and a chubby messenger was shrieking lustily in a sfranglc-liold, when a larger messenger of State, hands in pockets, and whistling quietly to himself, slowly strolled into view Tound tho stacks of benzino and other oils. His comrade on deck, who was having a few momentssof quietude from tho attention of tho athletic instructor,' signalled to him. Tlio lad on the wharf stopped lids tune and gazed upwards at the fray. It seemed good, but the very email voico of conscience, of duty to bo performed, apparently sounded to liiin, and ho shook his little leather message satchel. More mystic signals from tho deck, and tlio tempter won. Tho newcomer niado for tho gangway, at tho stern, stalked tho seaman at the head of it, and quickly careered along tho dock to tlio bridge. The disciples of Hackensclunidt paused—tho youthful seaman rested, hands on hips, whilo n conference was held. Apparently the champion of the clan of telegraph messagedom liad arrived to uphold its athletic prestige. A seaman camo along and clutchcd at tho lad in dungarees, but ho eluded tho grasp. And then, making a sign to the trio of telegraph messongcrs, lie disappeared into tlio bowels of tho ship, and thoy followed him. ■ Doubtless tlio athletic combats were continued thero with renewed vigour, but taking noto of tho strenuous ability of tho boy of tho briny, it is to bo hoped thero woro no casualties. For, as said at tho beginning, the. Department is at present short of telegraph messenger boys.

A Birmingham woman, w-lio has served in prison for her part in a suffragette window-smashing crusade, has been refused admission to tho United States by the immigration authorities on the ground that slio is an undesirable. When told why she was debarred from landing, slio reminded tho official of tho tea-throwing incident in Boston Harbour before tlio War of Independence.