SEAMEN'S CHURCH INSTITUTE lume XVI of NEW YORK October mberX 1925 The Lookout

XVI OCTOBER, 1925 No. 10 The LOOKOUT JiUBUSHED MO THLY ~IM The Honor of Your Presence is Requested SEAME "s CHURCH at the I TITUTE of EW YORK E"Ured a.s ucoltd cl~s Ceremony of the Laying of the ot matt r July 8. 9 5 at N 2S SOUTH ST, NEW YORK, N. Y. York. NY.• "Hder Ihe ael CORNER STONE 01 Mrm h 3. I 79 T p oae B WIlDa Grea J620 of the SiWs(ri/'tIO" Ralu ANNEX One D liar Annually, P tpaid to the PIes Ten Cent. SEAMEN'S CHURCH INSTITUTE

r LD, DO. at Front Street and Coenties Slip E t r, The Lookout New York City' on Thursday Afternoon, November the Fifth Volu e XVI October Numb r X 1925 at 3 :30 o'Clock Edmund L. Baylies, F. Kingsbury Curtis, \Valter \Vood Parsons, Committee. R.S.v.P. So reads our invitation to the readers of the "Lookout", and other friends of the seamen, announcing the laying of the corner stone of the Annex. And thus is marked the first mile-stone toward the completion of the great building that will eventually double the housing space of 25 South Street. • But behind the formal wording of the invita­ tion is a much deeper meaning, a much longer story. And although the story is by no means yet completed, it tells something of the work THE LOOKOUT THE LOOKOUT ~ ~======o~ the Board of Managers whose Building Com­ Cleveland H. Dodge, Herbert Bayard Swope, mittee, headed by Mr. Baylies, Mr. Walter Wood Admiral Leigh C. Palmer, David Sarnoff, Miss Parsons, an.d Mr. Charles E. Dunlap, has been Maude Wetmore and George VV. Hodges. the. ge~eratmg force in co-ordinating and stimu­ In addition there are the following Committee latIng Interest in th~ ~u!lding project, and through members: Oscar R. Cauchois, French Lines; whose efforts the Initial stage of building has David W. Page, The New York Curb Market; been completed. W. P. Montyn, Consul General of the Nether­ During the summer the Special Gifts Commit­ lands, and Olof H. Lamm, Consul General of tee, a part of the Building Committee, under Sweden. Others will be announced later. !'1~. John. S. Rogers, has actively been at work Mr.VValter vVood Parsons, the Vice-Chairman In InterestIng new people in the building. Lists of the Building Committee, feels that the laying have been prepared and letters sent telling of the of the corner-stone is not only a symbol of the plans o.f the Institute and asking for participation heginning of the work toward the completion of In specific memorials for the Annex. There has th~ building but also of the campaign for funds bee~ .a genuine response to their requests. In -the aCf1lal work on both begins with its being addition, a special Institute Day was arrange d put in place. at Tuxedo Park, where Dr. Mansfield presented the w?rk of the Institute to interest the people . The plans for the ceremony on the laying of the there In the plans for the new building. corner-stone are not vet fully completed, but the main details have bee'n decided on. The Honor­ The Conrad Committee, under Sir Ashley ary President, the Right Rev. William 1'. Man­ Sparks, has brought the Joseph Conrad Memorial ning, D.D., will preside. Rear Admiral William to th~ attenti?n of all the important literary fi g­ S. Sims, U . S. N., will lay the cornerstone; there ures In AmerIca and Europe. A descriptive bro­ will be addresses by Mr. Edmund L. Baylies, the chure has be~n prepared containing the plans of President of the Institute, and Dr. John H. Fin­ the "room which were printed in the July "Look­ ley of the New York "Times." The choir from out '. !o. a reader of the "Lookout" belongs Old Trinity Church will sing at the services. t?e dlstmctlOn of having made the first contribu­ During the progress of the campaign the tIOn t~ the fund, even before the plans of the "Lookout" will be largely the organ of Committee were publicly released. th~ Building Committee. And all the "Lookout" With.the return of our President, Mr. Edmund familv from coast to coast are asked to spread L. .Bayhes, after a much-needed rest abroad, the news 'of the Institute's building plans in order to active work of the campaign will be begun this help swell suhscriptions to the Building Fund. month. Have VOll yet made a personal subscription, To bring the work of the Institute before the and have 'you asked someone else to do likewise? ge?eral public, a large Advisory Committee is It is only when you do so that the success of bemg formed headed by Rear Admiral William S. Sims, John E. Berwind, Herbert Hoover, the campaign can be assured. [3] r2] THE LOOKOUT THE LOOKOUT

caused a great deal of comment in the American Women Aid Building Fund press. \Ve sometimes forget that there are people !'>- . rummage sale for the benefit of the new who do not know of the work of the Institute and building fund is being held November loth; lIth, its branches throughout America. In New York a.nd 12th under the auspices of the Central Coun­ the Institute-its building and its work-are fa­ CIl .of the Se~men's Church Institute Associations miliar to everyone who knows the harbour and whIch comprIses: The Seamen's Benefit Society · Sailor Town and to many who never see the Associati?ns of Brooklyn, East Orange: th~ waterfront. E~lazb~th, EpIphany, Grace Church, Incarnation, But the public mind is impressed by s.tatistics. ~Iverslde, St. Luke's St. Mary's (Manhattan­ The reading public was, perhaps, not a little .sur­ VIlle), St. Mary's Guild, St. Michael's, South prised when it was learned t~1at the combIned Shore (Long Island), Staten Island, and the 2 Institutes of America had prOVIded over 39 ,000 Robert Rogers Group. lodgings last year; that over $7 I 2;000 of .sea­ . ~otices are being sent this week to all the Asso­ men's money was on deposit in Institute saVIngs cIations that the material for the rummage sale department~; that approximately 230 ,?00 letters should be sent to 341 West Houston Street were sent to sailors in care of the InstItutes; that where it will be arranged and classified for sale: around 50 ,000 attended the religious services at Arrangements are now being made to secure a the various hranches during the year; that over . convenient place actually to hold the sale the 2 12,000 were given ship jobs during 19 4. location of which will be announced later. you If N ew York may justly take a pride in its Sea­ have anything to send in, please notify the Secre­ men's Institute, for it is not only by far the.l~rgest tary .of th~ Central Council at 25 South Street, establishment of its kind in the world but It IS the who IS amlous to have all the material possible in parent institution of most of the that the next few weeks. othe~·s ~re now bringing to seamen in other ports In AmerIca During the summer the Seamen's Church Insti­ some o( the features of home that have long tute Association of South Shore held a successful bridge and mah-jong party at the country home characterized "2-5 South Street." of Mrs. Francis Smytb at Babylon, Long Island, Perhaps the feature most commented on was for the. benefit of the Building Fund. The pro­ the fact that through the co-operation of .the ceeds WIll go toward the erection of the seaman's Radio Corporation of America and t~e Unl.ted room in the new building, for which the South States Public Health Service free radiO medIcal Shore Association has assumed responsibility. service is no,\" given to any ship on the seven seas that boasts a wireless. Recognition Here again "25 South Street" may claim The publication of a report from the Seamen's recognition, for it was the Institute .that put the Cburch I.nstitute of America, that will be pre­ service in operation, and to the InstItute belong.s sented thIS month at the General Convention of the distinction of broadcasting the very first medI­ the Episcopal Church at New Orleans, has cal advice call relayed to a ship at sea. [S] [4] THE LOOKOUT THE LOOKOUT

BUilding It is that sort of gIVIng, of combined, com­ . Ther~ is much that goes into building besides iTIl1nity interest, of devotion to a great instrument Its p.hysI.cal m?ke-up. Given a sturdy frame, like of helpfulness that has given to all the great in­ a chIld, It begIns the acquisition of a character as stitutions of the Old "VorId their tremendous marked as that of any individual. appeal, and their great force in the life of people \Ve have always felt that the present Institute whom they serve. The Institute represents the had a decidedly distinctive atmosphere. It repre­ largest and most active instrument of service to s~n~s the thought, the feelings, the sharings, the seafarers the world over that either Amenca or glvlngs of so many different people, it has become the Old 'Vorld knows. To carryon the tradi­ the symbol of generous hearts in helping others. tions of its past, to give the entire Ull i tits deep Doubtless in the fusing of these diverse ele­ and vivid force, its truest character, hundred!! ments, different characters, different peoples ani­ more must give to it, must think about it, must mated by a single purpose, we may find the secret help. of the present character of the Institute. No one Surely everyone must want to be a part of so ever visits the building without feelin g how great and human an instrument in the lives of personalized it is-how really charged with an the "wo rld's seafarers. In~efina~le but very poignant feeling of humanity. Certain rooms there are, that seem dominated Needed - Two States by the men to whose memory they stand. There is in particular in the present building .a reading Vie have lost two states out of the Unity of room ,vhere the spirit of repose, of kindliness States where the news of the Institute penetrates of quiet, of joy seems always to prevail, and ove; each month. which the spirit of the man for whom it was "25 South Street" is known throughout the given has been said to exert an especial kindly marine world and the Institute COLlnts its friends influence. - and supporters in forty-six different states of . And as we watch the new building going up, America. Its deep entrenchments, its firm foundations the The "Lookout" is read each month from Maine up-flinging of the great steel girders that will 'bear to Florida, from New Jersey to California. its weight, we cannot help wondering whether it It is no stranger to the Mid West, where are will have the same character, the same warmth many of its staunchest friends. Honolulu and the o~ appeal that the present Institute suggests. It Philippines are represented, but there are two will not and cannot help to hold the same intensi­ states where the work of the Institute does not fied, human feeling nor have so large and vital seem to be known and from which the Institute an appeal to everyone who sees it unless hun­ draws no support. They are Nevada and Idaho. dreds, even thousands, of interested men and We are wondering who will be the first to find women give of their substance, of their thought, us a subscriber, a reader, a friend, in either or of themselves toward its erection. both of these two states. [6] [7] THE LOOKOUT THE LOOKOUT

EDITORJS NOTE of that great institution there iS ,today a vast e~­ The following arlicle 01/ Ihe relics rece1llly dis­ cavation, the site of the foundations for an addi­ cO'7JeTed while l/Iakillg Ihe exca'uatiOlls for tli e tion to the building, required to meet the grow­ Anllex was 11:rittell by M1". Reginald Pelham ing needs of the floating population of the great BalIan of the New YO?'!, HistoTical Society who sea-port, , "as kindly gh'ell Ihe ((Lookout)} permission to The steam shovel and the workman's pick have UJe it. cut down into the old river bed, and disturbed the rotting ends of the piles of little Con's pier, and 'Treasure 'T rove from the River Mud the old logs that formed the one-time bulkhead. And do\vn in the hardened mud that was once the By REGINALD PELHAM BOLTON ooze below the tide, they disturbed an assortment Old Conraet Ten Eyck, whose home and shop of queer objects that have lai~ there, protected looked out on the square in front of the \Vest by their mud envelope, ever sll1ce they tumbled India Company's Tavern, that later became the o~-erboa rd from some old hooker made fast to Stadt Huys, in Nieu Amsterdam, was doubtless the string beams, or were hove into the stream wont to spend some of his time on the little pier as the best method for their disposal. Today that extended out into the waters of the Oost they are displayed on table and floor of an o~ce River, or to sit on the bulkhead of pine logs that 'n the Institute; and with all their crust of drIed margined the space that came to bear his name. mud, and their broken condition, they tel,l a story Coenraetje or Coentje-Little Conrad as We of their day and generation in no uncertall1 terms. should now know him-must have been a famili ar The most conspicuous, and perhaps the oldest, and quite conspicuous character in the locality. is a small cannon, three feet in length, of the His nickname indicates that he was short of stat­ moderate bore of two and a half inches, Perhaps ure, and perhaps rotund of figure. He was of it was one of three such guns that were moun~ed some importance, and at the slip or dock wh ich in the little battery which in 1679 was protectll1g came to be known by his name, the little trading the landing in front of the Stadt Huys, and there vessels from Europe and the \Vest Indies tied to are several round shot that may have formed discharge and receive cargoes of the hides and part of its munitions, " other goods in which Ten Eyck dealt. ' Here also is an old axe, long of bit, flarIng downwards, and weak in the eye, with part of How greatly Conraet would wonder to see its wooden helve still in place, Such axes were Coenties Slip today, its foreshore all fill ed in, brought from Holland in the Seventeenth Cen­ since r835, as solid ground, on which Jeanette turv, and were traded off to the Indians fo: land Park is formed, South Street beyond with its and beaver skins. It have used 111 stream of traffic, and above all the towering struc­ ma~ be~n t~e work of preparing the pIles fo~ little Conrad s ture that forms the refuge of the Sailormell of dock, and when its handle broke It wen~ headlo~g today-The Seamen's Institute, high above which into the water, followed by the execratIOns of Its the Light-house beams out over the Bay, Back OWner. [8J [9] THE LOOKOUT THE LOOKOUT

material, a piece of a tiny bowl decorated ,yith the Among a dozen and a half of black-green "cauliflower" coloring originated by Thomas glass .bottles, the.re are two of the squat pattern \Yhieldon in Straffordshire, before 1755, when that m the earlIest Colonial times carried th he entered into partnership with Josiah \ Vedg­ means of. cheer of inebriation. The rest a n~ a r~ wood, whose name is associated with the delicate those which were In use before and during the creamware, of which a little broken tea cup and vVar o.f Independence, many of "which have been some saucers also came to light. With these found m. the abandoned camps of the military of household articles there is associated half a dozen that penod. battered copper tea kettles. One wonders why One object alone bears a definite date I t 'IS ".". . a such excellent material was thus cast away on the pig of cas~ Iron, crudely moulded, and doubt- dock, and if their abandonment could have been le~s 1!sed, wIth others, as ballast for some old a reflection of the hostility to tea during the year wmdJa~mer , and the workman who made the of the famous "Tea Party." mould Impressed therein with his fin gers the Directly associated with that troublous period words "New York," the figure of an anchor, and is a double-head "bar-shot," 16 inches in length, the date 1757. a I :e used by the British navy, designed for There were other marine odds and L..... ~ , such use against the rigging of other war vessels, but as a broken anchor, three ship's blocks and fi ve : tiOl. .J employed, as many other specimens w~oden pulley wheels which must hav ~ had in)?! ha estified, against the American forces de- sp111c11es when they sank into the mud' or they fen, N ew York. With several solid shot, some would have floated away. Some deae ves and 6 inc, !s in diameter, and a few grape shot, we tarred rope ends speak of the repair ) .vork on have mute evidence of the bombardment of New ~he boat, and a :vooden pump valve, witl, part of YorH City on the afternoon of Saturday, July Its Jea~her. pack111g, tells of the leaky 01 ! tub in 12th, 177 6, by the British vessels Phoenix and which Its hfe was worn out. Rose with their tenders. We can even get some idea of the nationality of And here also is a reminder in these so-called ~he craft, for here are two pottery round-bottomed "temperance" days, of the convivial Colonial ~ars o~' amphorae, which doubtless held o r: -' ~ oil til <; , in a blue and white "Scratched Ware" beer m theIr day, and proclaim their Italian jrigin. mUb . having the seal with the letters G. R. And a number of large whorls, or Conch shells, (Georgius Rex) that warranted it to hold a are of vVest Indian extraction, brought to this standard pint. A clay-ware milk pitcher, a cast­ port !or the Campbell's vVampum factory at Pas­ iron cooking kettle, a heavy pewter plate, and a cack m N orthe~~t New Jersey, where today we leaden ink well carry us back again to the time may find quantIties of them around the si te of when little Ten Eyck's house, and his neighbor'S, the ol~ mill.' where their centers were sawed up faced the Stadt Huys Square, and a younger Ten and dnlled mto ~he white man's imitation of the Eyck perhaps shed tears over the loss of th e little coveted beads. wooden toy-boat that found its way also to the Here is a fragment of a much more fragil e bottom of the river. [10] [11 ] THE LOOKOUT THE LOOKOUT

Naturalization Memorials To date the Building Committee have received The road that leads to citizenship is a long and the following memorial or designated gifts to the complicated one for the foreigner, and every day sees a 'group of seamen waiting to get to the Building Fund: desk of the man who gives information of the Mrs. Frederick H. Alms- A seaman's room, In 1Iemoriam, Frederick requirements to be met. H erman Alms. A seaman's room. Sometimes the man has to untangle the seaman Mrs. Glover C. Arnold­ Daniel Bacon- A seaman's room, not only from the mazes of complicated forms In memory of Mary D. Bacon. but also from untrustworthy legal advisers who, Miss 11ary E. Baker- A chapel chair, having obtained a fee, make dazzling promises of In memory of her mother, 11rs. Elihu B. Baker. speedy results. Barber Steamship Lines, A room endowed ior use of destitute convalescents, In this case a seaman from Central Europe Inc.- In mcmory of 11r. Herbert came to the Social Service. He had been to see Barber. A chapel chair. a lawyer who told him his case was compli-:ated; Miss Emma Bates­ Beekman Family Associa­ A room endowed for use of that it 'would be difficult to secure him recognt:-n d stitute conyalescents, tion- In memory of Gerard Beek­ as a citizen; that he would have to charge II:m man. $IOO for so doing; that he might be able to effect A chapel chair, Mrs. F. H. Beers- I n memory of Hazyl Beers it because of his "pull"; and that he would require Young. an immediate payment of $25 as a retaining fee . Berwindvale Steamship 1 He paid it-nothing happened. \Vithin a reason­ Company, Ltd.- J1 officer's room. able time he received notice from his lawyer Berwindmoor Steamship Company, Ltd.- saying he had gone to Washington on his case. 11iss Eugenia J. Bowne- A chapel chair. When another delay resulted, he came to the 1Iiss Elizabeth A. Braine- A seaman's room, 1n memory of her father, Institute for advice. The naturalization man James H. Braine. found that his papers had been made out incor­ British American \Var Rc­ 2 seamen's roon1S. rectly; that his discharges from American ships lief- Mrs. B. H. Buckingham- A seaman's room. had been sent in with the wrong papers, which 11r. and 11rs. Howard F. necessitated beginning anew. Burns- A chapel chair. Mrs. 11ary D. Chafec­ A seaman's room. This was done-the Chief of the Burean h1d Mrs. Cornelia McLanahan A memorial room. Curtis- In memory of hcr father, his attention called to the case by the Institute. George "V. 1[cLanahan. Gherardi Davis- A seaman's room,. . Within twenty-four hours not only was the man's In mcmory of Ahcc DaVIS! citizenship assured but his belief in the wizardry beloved wife of GherardI of the naturalization man firmly established. Davis. l13 J 112J THE LOOKOUT THE LOOKOUT

Frederic S. Grand d'Haute­ A seaman's room, ville- l1rs. H. P. lIoseley- 2 seamen's rooms, In memory of Frederic S I n memory of her father, Grand d'Hauteville 1838~ Charles Phelps 'W illiams, 1918. 11rs. Robert Dixon­ and A chapel chair. In memory of her mother, Charles E. Dunlap_ A seaman's room. Fanny Mallory Williams. 11rs. Frederic S. Gould- A chapel chair. l1rs. 11argaret Mullins- A chapel chair, 11rs. Louise F. G. Grimke- In memory of Henry Mul­ An officer's room, lins, an old member of the In memory of Louis Rut. Floating Church. ledge Grimke, Headquar­ Miss Alice B. 11cClIlchcon- A seaman's room, ters Co. 327, Tank Corp. "1 n memory of Rougicr Battalion, A. E. F., 1918. - Thorne, a lover of the sea." 1\1rs. J. Amory Haskell- A ~orll1itory drinking foun. Mrs. George 1fcX eir- A seaman's room, tam, In memory of Selden Hib­ In memory of her husband bard. Jonathan Amory Hasl,ell. ' Mrs. H. W. Osborne- A chapel chair, Bayard C. Hoppin- A seaman's room, In memory of "Mr. and lIr . In memory of \Villiam Zenas King, Cleveland, 0., \Varner Hoppin. de v 0 ted Christians and Frederick Hussey- A drinking fountain in en­ Churchmen. trance lobby, \\' alter \Vood Parson - A seaman's room. In memory of his grand­ Pawling School- A seaman's room. father, Captain G e 0 r g e ).Irs. E d war d McClure A bedroom endowed for the Hussey, I'ew Bedford Peters.-- use of destitute convales­ Massachusetts. ' cents, In memory of her husband, 1I1rs. Cortlandt Irvillg- A seaman's room. 11rs. John Innes Kane- Captain Edward McCIIITc A gift, Peters. A memorial to her sister, lIrs. Susan 11. \ \'. I rice- A twenty-eight-bed dormitory, 11rs. Bridgham. In memory of Francis T. ~1r. and Mrs. C. B. Kefer­ A seaman's room, stein- White. In loving memory of C0111- Mr. and :Mrs. Arthur L. mander Downs Lorraine Reeder- A chapel chair. Wilson, U. S. N., Sl'Ptt'mb~r l1iss 11aria D. Rickard­ A seaman's room. 12, 1848-January 29, 1920. The l1isscs Righter- 2 officers' 1'001115 . Miss M. Elizabeth Lester- 2 officers' rooms, 11iss Sallie A. Roche- Staff or officer's room, In memory of her father, In memory of her d 'ar sis­ Andrew Lester, and ter, lIiss ~lary Caroline In memory of her brother, Roche. Charles Sumner Lester. 11rs. T. Shaw Safe- A seaman's room, Mr. C. H. LlIdington- A room endowed for use of In loving memory of T. destitute convalescents, Shaw Safe of London, Eng­ In memory of Ethel Saltus land, March 28, 1859-0cto­ Ludington, 1871-1922. ber 14, 1916. Rev. all d Mrs. Clifton lIiss Louise B. Scott- A seaman's room, Macol1- 2 chapel chairs. In memory of her father, Mrs. Sherley W. Morgan- A room, George S. Scott. "In loving memory of my 1[rs. E. H. Scoville­ A seaman's r00111 , "Granny's father and mother, Lowell Room." 1L Palmer and ,race H. Sl!amen's Church In titute Palmer." Association of Brooklyn­ A seaman's rool11. 11rs. George S. Morris- An officer's room, Seamen's Church Institute In memory of her grand­ As ociation of Sou t h father, Cap t a i n .1 allles Shore, Long Island- A seaman's room. Rogers. [15] [14] THE LOOKOUT THE LOOKOUT ~======

::.eamen's Church Institute \Villiam D. Winter­ A seaman's room.. Associ ation of Staten Mi ss Ethel Zabri skie­ A seaman's room. Island- A seaman's room. George Zabriski e­ A gi ft to be selected. Mrs. Elizabeth D. Shepard­ A gift for the Chapel. George Zabriskie- A Chapel chair, Mrs. lIaude S. Shriver- 2 Chapel chairs, In memory of his mother, In memory of Frederick S Martha L. Zabri kie. Salis bury and In memory Have you sent In your memorial subscription of Lucy A. Sali sbury. Miss Helen Hall Smith- A seaman's room, yet? In memory of J ohn H ewell Smith and ~l a r y H elen Payment m Full Smith. Mrs. William Eliot Smith- A gift, There was something about him that appealed "In memory of a dear sailor brother who many years to the Lady-Who-Gives-Relief when first she saw ago stood m uch in nee d of him. He had the tall vigor of the north and about such a home." St. Mary's School Peeks- him, a curious, childlike frankness of expression kill- ' 2 Chapel chairs. that made her know she could trust him. It was Mrs. Belle]. Stewart- A drinking fountain, T o the memory of Lieuten­ in the winter when he came. He had been injured ant Commander Ro b e r t on his ship, and $I ,OOO compensation had been Stewart, U. S. N. Mrs. Edward N. Strong- 2 drinking fountains paid to him which he had deposited in the little Gi ven by Evelina \V. Strong basement bank at the institution. He wanted a In memory of her hu sband Edward N . Strong. ' ship. And there seemed nothing in New York. Miss Mary L. Swift- 3 Chapel chairs, It was winter and times were bad. He decided to In mcmory of Th o m as go to Philadelphia. He also decided to take with J ohn Chew, IT . S. ~ .. 1777- 1846; Abby H ortense Chew him his $ I ,000. Against the advice of the man Swift. 182 1-1898 ; and Alex­ who runs the "bank" he drew it out and started ander J oseph Swift 1849- 1924. ' down South Street. Mrs. Lavinia Thorne- A drinking fountai n, Just what happened was never quite clear. In memory of her So n Rou- girr T horne. ' He met some men he thought he knew. There Miss Myra Valentine_ A drinking fo untain. was a drink-'-several, in fact-a taxi ride, he was Mrs. Richard Van Voorhis- An officer's room. In memor~' of Rochester evidently drugged, for when he woke up, every Cuming, Thomas Barnes cent was gone. He came back to the Institute Cuming. and A ll en J ackson Cuming. and the Relief-Lady tided him over for some time. Miss Elizabeth Van\Vinkle- A Chape l chair, Each day he was sure he would have a job, each In memory of E lizaheth Mitchell VanW in kle. night he returned despondent. The skeptical ]. Albert Van'N in kle_ A chapel chair. shook their heads. But the Lady-Who-Gives­ Mrs. Frederick ]. \Varren­ A seaman's room. Mi ss M. L ouise and Miss Relief never lost faith in him, though her patience Susan S. V\arren­ 2 Chapel chairs. and hopes were almost gone when he finally came Mrs. William R. W a ters- 3 officers' room In memory of my mother, with the glad news that he had a job running a i\l ary H arris Lcster; my hoisting engine on a ship going South. husband, \V illi am Rossiter Waters; and herself, Adele For several months there was silence. He had Lester Waters. disappeared and only a little card in the office file fl Gl (17] THE LOOKOUT THE LOOKOUT ======~~

showed what she had done for llim. Then one day, just before the summer holidays, came a fishing people about him. But one mornin~ he letter enclosing eight dollars to be applied to woke to find the "ark" famous. The. " me:lcan funds advanced and two dollars for the doorman ound-the-world fliers had stopped, ltke mlgra­ at the Institute. On the very next pay day came ;ory birds, on the Cove. They visited h}m. They a note with a cheque for payment in full-a note wrote about him and when. the Canadians came saying that he never could have pulled through along they did the same thmg, too. last winter without the help of the Institute, for The "Yanks," as he called them, all wrote he knew no one in America on whom he might their names on the door of his house, and the have relied. It was his hope to come back to the door became so famous in the neighborhood that Institute some day, but he hoped never to be some covetous neighbor stole it when the owner caught again by the South Street gangsters. was away. As for the Canadians, the~ were .so And the Lady-\Vho-Gives-Relief wore a confi­ pleased with his habitation,. that the AIr Serv~ce dent sort of smile. After all it is a pleasure to of the Department of N atJOnal Defenc~ conSid­ have one's faith in humanity justified. It gives ered buying his floating home as a stoPPll1~ pla~e one new belief in mankind and confidence in those for their "bird" men when they make theIr tnp one is helping. to Northern waters. It was here that he enter­ tained the airmen of both countries with his great ~ A Modern Noah collection of sea yarns. To the harbor of the House Mother's office He bears his sixty odd years lightly, th~s drift many interesting human elements of sea life. old man of the sea, for it would be easy to credIt Not the least interesting of those who have him with twenty years less. He has known visited her of late is an old seafarer who is having strange ports and out-of-the-way c?rner.s of the his first glimpse of New York after an absence of world the tropics and the long, whIte Wll1ters of nineteen years. Since last he sailed into the the North, hardships and times of ease, for he harbor much has changed in lower New York. has sailed on pleasure yachts that a decade or Where here and there a tower lifted its head, more ago were known throughout the great ports there is now a great cliff of towering buildings ; of Europe and America and who~e owners the present Institute building was not erected; roamed the seas with nothing but their fancy to horses' hoofs clicked up and down South Street, direct them. instead of rumbling motor lorries. But there He has also seen hard days round the Horn before steam appeared on the ocean. Through was still much of the Battery and South Street it all he has guarded a simplicity,. a that was familiar to him. c~lmness, and a love of his fellows that IS gIven to For the past eighteen years, he has been living few men nowadays. His are the fundamentals in Alaska, Prince Ruppert, where his "ark," an­ of the sea-courage, straightness, honor. And chored in Sea Cove where he sailed and fished, as he sat talking in the House Mother's room, was a quiet backwater of life known only to the reminiscing on the old days when sails still out- r18] [19] THE LOOKOUT THE LOOKOUT

ice performed. Then they laid their plans to g~t numbered stacks, one could not help but wish that to South Street. They got to Staten Island 111 some of the old picturesqueness of life before the 25 the company's launch. Then a long walk from mast would come back to the ways of the sea. their lanuing place to the New York ferry. "They are nearly all gone," he said, "the men And it was a nickel apiece-three nickels­ of that day-the old captains, the old seamen I that permitted them to cross to S?u~h Street, knew. And men have changed as ships have ,,,here, in the Apprentices' Ro?m billiards, the changed. But other things have changed for the Victrola fellows from other ships, tea and cbat­ better. \Vhen I was last in New York, a seaman tel', a piace to 'write, evening and dancing with never had a place like this to stay. I remember those nice volunteer girls who come in , made a the old 'Mission' and how crowded it was. I see now how crowded you are here, too, but I am wonderful afternoon and evening. Six bells-time to shove off-the ferry to glad to see also of what's going on next door. I was very proud to be one of those present when Staten Island-three nickels again I "\Vhere away, lads," said a man in a m?to~: the Philadelphia Institute opened. I wish I could "come aboard I'll run you over to your landing. be here for this but I am leaving in a week to go The ship-'eight bells-time to turn in I back to my ark in the North, to watch for more Casting up accounts of the day, eight hours­ great flights. total cost? "Looks like thirty cents," said the "You don't know, do you," said he, looking at youngest lad. Just twice three nickels but joy is the House Mother and the Lady-\Vho-Gives­ cheap when one is young I Relief-"of any lady who would like to spend the winter in Alaska?" . . . But we never could find out just what it was they told him. Phenix \Vith the demolishing of the auditorium, which Three N.ic~els has already begun that the fourth floor .o~ the ?ld In this day of high prices we do not think the building become the permanent admll1lstratlOn purchasing power of a nickel very great, but offices of the combined buildings, there goes out three tall, growing English lads recently acquired from this place the scene of many of the Insti- a wholesome respect for the amount of happiness tute's joy times. a nickel can bl,lY. Here it was that the friendships were made ~ outh at sea is proud and shy and does not through Fellowship Club activities, the movies, easily ask favors. So when they docked in and vaudeville shows, the Apprentices' night, and Bayonne and none of the three apprentices the Home Hour after chapel of a Sunday even­ aboard had any money, they could not even leave ing,-ghosts that will haunt the administrat~on the ship when off duty. department kindly ghosts of happy hours, ask1l1g Not until several days did they get a little only "wat~hman, what of the night"-\Vho money out of the "old man" for some extra serv- will build our new playhouse? [20] (21) THE LOOKOUT THE LOOKOUT

Giving High and Low 'Tide Generosity seems an innate part of a seaman's A man's intentions may be good. In fact, most make-up. (Ie is always willing to help a pal-.­ seamen's are. And it is their belief in the genuine he likes to do for those whom he counts his intentions of others that makes them compara­ friends, and generosity with him is usually spelle,d tively easy victims in wily hands. with capitals. No time has he for th~ landsn:an s smug system of budgetting and so It somet.lmes This time it was a young Welshman. He knew happens that his desire to give causes paillful the Institute; had stayed here. Just off a ship shrinkage of the wallet. Nor does he care to pub- where he had been paid off-he was on his way lish his gifts. to 25 South Street when he fell into the hands of Not long ago the House Mother was surprised a couple of "runners" who helped him with his to have delivered to her office a large and tempt­ baggage. iner basket of fruit. No card-nothing to identify They seemed to have unusual acquaintance with it.::> \Vho was she to thank? But she had learned his ship, referred easily to one or two men he to be canny in trailing her gifts. She waited. had shipped with. HOVil about a drink to cele­ The next day came a seaman, a man whom she brate arrival? And they took him into the near­ had befriended, and liked. And in the conversa­ est place where bad stuff, high prices, anO bad tion he made a casual inquiry as to whether or company can be found. not she had received a basket of fruit. Indeed she had, and she told him of her pleasure, and He woke in the gutter; his money, papers, let­ of her bewilderment in wondering who had sent ters, even his coat gone; his clothes in such shape it. 'It must have been you," she concluded. And that no one could have recognized in him the before he left he blushingly admitted that he was young Welshman who left the ship. the donor. It was thus he arrived at the Institute-desti­ N at five minutes later he was back in her room tute, discouraged to the point where nothing again, and blushing more than ever. "You .. seemed to matter. He was fitted out, fed, and couldn't lend me a couple of dollars for a few the tide of courage rose. days, could you? I'm plumb broke," said he of the generous heart. It reached a true high tide when the Employ­ ment officer found him a job and he shipped-out beyond the reach of land sharks. 'The Import of Export He was Polish. He came to the Social Service Department a year ago, said he ha~ entered A Stranger's Strange Story America in 192 I-wanted to be naturalized. IIe was advised and his first papers made out. Then ( Will be cOlltilllled i,l the NO'i!(, IIl~ r r isslI (, ) [23J [22] THE LOOKO,UT Church In titute of New York Inc porated 1&44

GERS OF THE OGIETY he fell under the enactment of a law passed by FFICERS A D Congress last year restricting immigration, and nt touching even men who had entered the country Honorar 1 G, D.D. RIGHT REV. WILUA before 192+ The law being retroactive the Pole Se retary and TreCU1M'W came under its inAuence. He had married, set up FRA K T W ARB IlTON a home, had a job, and two small children. H e reported to the immigration authorities whenever they desired, but the law does not always know the story underneath. IIe was held subject to de­ portation. vVhen he came to the Social Service they listen­ ed to his story, decided to make an investigation and stand by, that he be granted a fair chance to state his case. Lay r t e- A good workman, he had dependents on him, ()BEItT 1... HARlU 0 had been an officer during the War in the Russi an B T. ostU D ~\rmy, served loyally, been wounded. His wife and children were frantic at the thought of losin g him. It might mean that they would become pub­ ou .. lic charges. It was the Social \Vorker who un­ covered all these facts when the man appealed to the Institute for help, and it will be on this evi­ dence that the case will be judged when it comes up for a hearing. \Vhatever the decision the I n­ stitute will have proved again its humane h elp and service for those who are in need of intdli­ gellt comprehension.

D DS lhcrint nde'" REv. ARCHIBALD R. MA FIELD, "J r

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