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of modern ship…building … lay moored all in a row； stem to quay； as
if assembled there for an exhibition； not of a great industry； but
of a great art。 Their colours were gray； black； dark green； with a
narrow strip of yellow moulding defining their sheer； or with a row
of painted ports decking in warlike decoration their robust flanks
of cargo…carriers that would know no triumph but of speed in
carrying a burden； no glory other than of a long service； no
victory but that of an endless； obscure contest with the sea。 The
great empty hulls with swept holds； just out of dry…dock； with
their paint glistening freshly； sat high…sided with ponderous
dignity alongside the wooden jetties； looking more like unmovable
buildings than things meant to go afloat； others； half loaded； far
on the way to recover the true sea…physiognomy of a ship brought
down to her load…line； looked more accessible。 Their less steeply
slanting gangways seemed to invite the strolling sailors in search
of a berth to walk on board and try 〃for a chance〃 with the chief
mate； the guardian of a ship's efficiency。 As if anxious to remain
unperceived amongst their overtopping sisters； two or three
〃finished〃 ships floated low； with an air of straining at the leash
of their level headfasts； exposing to view their cleared decks and
covered hatches； prepared to drop stern first out of the labouring
ranks； displaying the true comeliness of form which only her proper
sea…trim gives to a ship。 And for a good quarter of a mile； from
the dockyard gate to the farthest corner； where the old housed…in
hulk； the President （drill…ship； then； of the Naval Reserve）； used
to lie with her frigate side rubbing against the stone of the quay；
above all these hulls； ready and unready； a hundred and fifty lofty
masts； more or less； held out the web of their rigging like an
immense net； in whose close mesh； black against the sky； the heavy
yards seemed to be entangled and suspended。
It was a sight。 The humblest craft that floats makes its appeal to
a seaman by the faithfulness of her life； and this was the place
where one beheld the aristocracy of ships。 It was a noble
gathering of the fairest and the swiftest； each bearing at the bow
the carved emblem of her name； as in a gallery of plaster…casts；
figures of women with mural crowns； women with flowing robes； with
gold fillets on their hair or blue scarves round their waists；
stretching out rounded arms as if to point the way； heads of men
helmeted or bare； full lengths of warriors； of kings； of statesmen；
of lords and princesses； all white from top to toe； with here and
there a dusky turbaned figure； bedizened in many colours； of some
Eastern sultan or hero； all inclined forward under the slant of
mighty bowsprits as if eager to begin another run of 11；000 miles
in their leaning attitudes。 These were the fine figure…heads of
the finest ships afloat。 But why； unless for the love of the life
those effigies shared with us in their wandering impassivity；
should one try to reproduce in words an impression of whose
fidelity there can be no critic and no judge； since such an
exhibition of the art of shipbuilding and the art of figure…head
carving as was seen from year's end to year's end in the open…air
gallery of the New South Dock no man's eye shall behold again？ All
that patient； pale company of queens and princesses； of kings and
warriors； of allegorical women； of heroines and statesmen and
heathen gods； crowned； helmeted； bare…headed； has run for good off
the sea stretching to the last above the tumbling foam their fair；
rounded arms； holding out their spears； swords； shields； tridents
in the same unwearied； striving forward pose。 And nothing remains
but lingering perhaps in the memory of a few men； the sound of
their names； vanished a long time ago from the first page of the
great London dailies； from big posters in railway…stations and the
doors of shipping offices； from the minds of sailors； dockmasters；
pilots； and tugmen； from the hail of gruff voices and the flutter
of signal flags exchanged between ships closing upon each other and
drawing apart in the open immensity of the sea。
The elderly； respectable seaman； withdrawing his gaze from that
multitude of spars； gave me a glance to make sure of our fellowship
in the craft and mystery of the sea。 We had met casually； and had
got into contact as I had stopped near him； my attention being
caught by the same peculiarity he was looking at in the rigging of
an obviously new ship； a ship with her reputation all to make yet
in the talk of the seamen who were to share their life with her。
Her name was already on their lips。 I had heard it uttered between
two thick； red…necked fellows of the semi…nautical type at the
Fenchurch Street Railway…station； where； in those days； the
everyday male crowd was attired in jerseys and pilot…cloth mostly；
and had the air of being more conversant with the times of high…
water than with the times of the trains。 I had noticed that new
ship's name on the first page of my morning paper。 I had stared at
the unfamiliar grouping of its letters； blue on white ground； on
the advertisement…boards； whenever the train came to a standstill
alongside one of the shabby； wooden； wharf…like platforms of the
dock railway…line。 She had been named； with proper observances； on
the day she came off the stocks； no doubt； but she was very far yet
from 〃having a name。〃 Untried； ignorant of the ways of the sea；
she had been thrust amongst that renowned company of ships to load
for her maiden voyage。 There was nothing to vouch for her
soundness and the worth of her character； but the reputation of the
building…yard whence she was launched headlong into the world of
waters。 She looked modest to me。 I imagined her diffident； lying
very quiet； with her side nestling shyly against the wharf to which
she was made fast with very new lines； intimidated by the company
of her tried and experienced sisters already familiar with all the
violences of the ocean and the exacting love of men。 They had had
more long voyages to make their names in than she had known weeks
of carefully tended life； for a new ship receives as much attention
as if she were a young bride。 Even crabbed old dock…masters look
at her with benevolent eyes。 In her shyness at the threshold of a
laborious and uncertain life； where so much is expected of a ship；
she could not have been better heartened and comforted； had she
only been able to hear and understand； than by the tone of deep
conviction in which my elderly； respectable seaman repeated the
first part of his saying； 〃Ships are all right 。 。 。〃
His civility prevented him from repeating the other； the bitter
part。 It had occurred