2 THE BLUE BONNET Sing Something Simple Norway - Yes We Love This Land -: THE BLUE BONNET :- Leaving Houston with many hopes Of Ours. of returning and many sorrows of A weekly publication of the ship's com­ having to leave, the officers and crew Russia - The Internationale. pany of the U.S.S. Houston, Captain G. N. hope for a return in the not too dis­ Italy - Garibaldi's Hymn. Barker, US.N., Commanding and Com­ tant future. Not to belittle Texans, or mander C. A. Bailey, U.S.N., Executive Roumania - National Air (1862). visitors of any state, still a landlub­ Officer. ber's questions are as funny to a Spain - Hymne de Riego, a battle Editor: Ensign J. P. M. Johnston sailor as a sailor's to a landlubber. song. Assistant Editor: Ensign W. C. Leedy Here are a few which I've heard. Brazil - Hymn of the Republic. Ass't Associate Editor Cecil Blaffer One fair young damsel, gazing a Cartoonist: W. C. Ridge hundred feet into the air at the fore­ Chile - Dulce Patria. Circulation M. A. Pipp, Yeo3c top, asked her guide in manner grave Equador - Salve, 0 Patria. and serious, "Do you have to climb Printer E. Essy, Sea 2c to get up there?" Replying very pol­ The Houston Comes Horne itely he thought, (? !-)* C-xB!$)IO!) A Dentist's Nightmare but he carefully explained that it was Seldom have the ship's company of (Continued from Pace 1.) necessary to climb to go up on ships any Navy ship been more royally en­ just as it is necessary to climb to go tertained than were the officers and from side to side.) up on land. crew of the Houston in the city of Dr. Schlack: (After seating patient in Houston, Texas. Dances, stag parties, Remembering the days of her chair.) "What condition are we in, and all the friendliness and courtesies childhood, one lovely lady thought the Baker or Affirm? Are your hatches of a hospitable city made our visit in tarred seams of the wooden deck Logged down or are they open and Houston the most enjoyable of those would be swell for playing hop scotch. running? (Looks around chair.) Yep, in any port for many months. It's our Frankly, sailors don't play hop scotch. no leaks." (Looks around the office firm belief that it makes no difference Some wished to know if the turret for instruments and pulls out mis­ what port is decreed the official home recoiled as a unit or was it just the cellaneous tools, large and full of port of the Houston, or what several guns that recoiled. dust. Begins humming " localities in the country are considered I have been told that many thought Are Here Again". After dropping the "home" by various individuals, the U. they were walking through mirrors tools all over the deck and picking S. S. Houston will still be going home when they came to the doors, the them up again asks patient:) whenever she stands up the Houston bright work was so nicely shined and "Are you an officer or a gentle­ ship channel. the glass so clear. man - er, er, er, I mean an officer 'Tis a weird and unnatural world or an enlisted man?" (Patient mum­ Farewell .... and Welcome in which we live. bles incoherently.) Officers and men of the ship regret National Hymns having had to say goodbye to Lieut.­ Dr. Schlack: "An officer eh! (Again Comdr. W. J. Strother, Jr. who left Cross word puzzles and radio sings "Happy Days Are Here Again", the ship last Sunday, in Houston, his quizzes have revealed the amazing calls for his corpsman.) When were eventual destination Honolulu. He is ignorance of us all. A man on the these instruments last sterilized?" street, being asked to name the na­ the second officer in less than three Corpsman: (Entering) "They were tional hymn of Italy replied blandly: weeks to go from the Houston to sterilized after cutting up the Presi­ "Rigoletto." How many national shore duty in Hawaii, following Lt. dent's catch of fish on the last cruise." Og) E. A. McDonald, who was de­ hymns do you know? Dr. Schlack: "Guess they're sterile e­ tached on 1 April. First, of course, is OUI own Star nough. Get me my surgical gloves." The BLUE BONNET'S editors feel Spangled :Banner, written by Francis (Corpsman brings a pair of asbestos they speak for all hands in wishing Scott Key in 1814. "Bon voyage" and good luck to our gloves. Dr. Schlack adjusts them on Canada - The Maple Leaf Forever. his hands.) former "Gun Boss". With the same hearty feeIng they extend the ship's Great Britian - God Save The King. Dr. Schlack: "Now then (to patient) welcome to the new Gunnery Officer, France - The Marseillaise, written open your mouth wide." (After look­ Lt.-Comdr. A. L. Maher. in 1792 by Claude Joseph Rou­ ing for a while and mumbling 'bore get de Lisle, while the city of clear' begins stuffing cotton, instru­ Another farewell - this time to Strasburg was being attacked by ments, etc. into the patients mouth. Lieut. (jg) C. A. Schlack (DC), for Austrian troops. When mouth is full to capacity) whom our sincere wish is that he'll "Open wider please." (Stuffs more always be able to make the first boat, Belgium - La Brabanconne (1830). material into mouth. Corpsman begins and a warm welcome to his relief, Helland - Flanders (1869). dozing off in chair.) Lieut. (jg) J. L. Wanger (DC). Germany - Die Wacht Am Rhein. Dr. Schlack: "Now I will have to ask To Lieut. (jg) J. M. Clute, who also Denmark - King Christian Stood you a few questions. Do you have left on Friday, we hope he'll have buzzing sounds in your ears? Have Beside the Mast. pleasant duty on the U. S. S. Sterrett, spots 1:lefore your eyes? Do you feel now building in Charleston, S. C. Finland - Our Land. "Continued on Patre 3.)