A WORD IN DEFENCE OF "JACK ASHORE.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1931, 3 May 1880, Page 3

A WORD IN DEFENCE OF "JACK ASHORE.

To the Editor of the Globe. SrK, —Poor "Jack" like poor "Pat" has more laid to his name in the way of abuse than falls to the lot of most men, and not unfrequently more than he deserves. I see by this morning's "Times" that he has dropped in for it again, and forsooth in a leading article, no less, fie is there held up as insulting " ladies who have business at the Post and Telegraph Offices" by making "remarks not of the choicest kind." I wonder whether the writer of this specimen of the choicest kind of mendacious twaddle is a resident of the Port ? For the wives and daughters of the seafaring fraternity in Lyttelton should cert ainly feel proud (?) of him if he is ; indeed Lyttelton itself ought to feel proud of possessing a man whose garments are eo unspotted, in this world of sin and shame. I fear, though, he is apt to be not appreciated somehow, so < often are the righteous (?) disregarded. Before vaunting his purity, however; in this way, he should be sure of his ground, because it so happens that the place (he entranc9 to the Post Office) is not obetruoted by sailors, as any person that knows the Port and knows the habitues of that corner of the street will admit. The "true blue" sailor no doubt finds his way there when he goeß to be paid off, after which bis home or boarding house generally possesses those attractions most congenial to his taste. Nor were toe men brought up before the magistrate sailors ; on the contrary they belong to that numerous nondesciipt class found in every seaport. The proposal, therefore, to build a shipping office would not remedy the evil a bit. It might—and it would I think be a more agreeable arrangement for the shipping-master —be in the Custom House, but as regards the insults to ladies going to the Post Office, let the police do their duty, and I'm sure no seafaring man has any fear of falling into their clutches. I am, &c, AN A.B.'S WIFE. Lyttelton, May Ist, 1880.