IN THE CHALK CIRCLE

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 44, 16 November 1918, Page 7

IN THE CHALK CIRCLE

A SUNDAY MORNING RITE IN THE ; NAVY. In the 'Knvy, of Nelsoii'fi day and ear- : lier it whs?' tho prerogative of the cap- : tain" to enter the names of boys of ten- i der age in his ship's -books..-asr-niidship- i 'men': Naturally these 'infiiiits'"did~not j appear oh hoard'for some years, and in ; the meautiine the ..captain could, draw ■ their fay,-'which would amount-to K con- j siderable sum by the end of a ccftmis- ' sion. .. .- ...-._ -.-, . ! This s.vstehi''wass,CQpied ; '. by certain | ■pursers, who entereiJ.-.jreaKor imnginary j individuals, l J ri'ow.n/'as'-."Purser's dum- ; mies," on the ■ pa>-«h<eoi*, nnd would | tli!,i appropriate and prize j money credited"mY-.'.tJte'ir behalf.. This j practice grew to such an alarming - ex- i tent that the Admiralty, decided,-to put a ; stop to it bv introducing the system of | "Mustering-'by Hie:-open-list."--Every 1 man entered in the ship's books had.to . be accounted ' for by appearing before ) the captain'' and' officers" to"-answer his , mister at certain intervals. V J Ti-.is ceremony is continued to the pre-;/-* sent day, though- its. primary ; need ha% disappeared with modem methods of ac- | cnmilniicy. . Tho muster is..nowadays re- j gc'vdcil more as an excellent opportunity .1 for the captain to make an individual | ihf-peitioir.of.-ihe ship's-company v under 1 his command. . It i9,...coiisequentlv, an i ordeal much' dreaded by the average blue- 1 S'indav morning is usually selected for j the purpose of. the conclusion of tbe cap- ] tain's rounds. A table is placed on -the : qim> tor-deck and a chalk circlo is. drawn j o'n'tlie deck about three paces before-Uhe ■ fable." ltach'-inliit inVfilrh hns-to' step ) into this circle and. face, the rigid scrut- j ih'.V of the captai.n; ; while;statinß his rat- j .in'i,'i!.nd*o.Miei\'(iu'alilicatib'hs.-' An assist- ; antpayi.'asCcr s.taiids' behind tho table ! which'-holds-the ship's ledger;,-on ..his ! right iV'the captain, and on his left the ; {left paymaster, with' a' keen eve on the j open page The remaining officers are ] grouped behind, among them ihq fleet ■; surgeon, .wJio. takes, the opportunity of ; gunning the general health of the men. ; The first' division is marchedaip, and j halts in front of tho table,' and, at ft i nod from' the' captain 'the assistant-pay- ; master reads out from the ledger, "John i Jones."' -- • , . ■ . . "Chief-petty officer, 'sir; gunners mate; three'good conduct badges," re- ] plies Jones, stepping smartly into the : circle, and looking, tho captain straight '. in the eyes. His statement is rapidly * verified from tho ledger; ho passes on, ! and another takes his place., . '

Occasionally there is no,answer a$ a name is! called, and'.tho master-at-arms, i after reference to, his list,., calls ~out j "Duty," "Sick/' or "Cells,", as the case j may required Any other absentees are < : placed in the report on the spot. A diversion is created by a now entry who brightly answers'"'Yes, sir," on hearing \ his'name called, but-realises his mistake ', a moment later. Invhis confusion ho I drops his• cap,-whence a lurid picture j post-card and a half-consumed cigarette ] deposit thcmsolves oiv the. sacred quarter- "! (leek. He, stands: irresolute until- a j ship's corporal hastily removes him and j his-belongings from •,the scene... _ . | The long-drawn-out procession' is end- j ed with the arrival of tho marines,' who ■ fiie past the captain, with the .precision j which is seen.'onjy in a' "crack'. corps. \ The captain,,'after, returning tho salute i of the assembled officers, walks aft. whilo, i :ffigfftci % diita» $&%$■ fore';''chufcli,...'th(iiiking 1; their. stirs "muster"" V.open .'lint f 6iily occurs c-hco a f|u.irter.-"H.l!! S./' 'Iri:"'the'., iTjaily, ■ j Mail.'! '-v :■• V ||