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There is no order more noisily given or taken up with lustier
shouts on board a homeward…bound merchant ship than the command；
〃Man the windlass！〃 The rush of expectant men out of the
forecastle； the snatching of hand…spikes； the tramp of feet； the
clink of the pawls； make a stirring accompaniment to a plaintive
up…anchor song with a roaring chorus； and this burst of noisy
activity from a whole ship's crew seems like a voiceful awakening
of the ship herself； till then； in the picturesque phrase of Dutch
seamen； 〃lying asleep upon her iron。〃
For a ship with her sails furled on her squared yards； and
reflected from truck to water…line in the smooth gleaming sheet of
a landlocked harbour； seems； indeed； to a seaman's eye the most
perfect picture of slumbering repose。 The getting of your anchor
was a noisy operation on board a merchant ship of yesterday … an
inspiring； joyous noise； as if； with the emblem of hope； the ship's
company expected to drag up out of the depths； each man all his
personal hopes into the reach of a securing hand … the hope of
home； the hope of rest； of liberty； of dissipation； of hard
pleasure； following the hard endurance of many days between sky and
water。 And this noisiness； this exultation at the moment of the
ship's departure； make a tremendous contrast to the silent moments
of her arrival in a foreign roadstead … the silent moments when；
stripped of her sails； she forges ahead to her chosen berth； the
loose canvas fluttering softly in the gear above the heads of the
men standing still upon her decks； the master gazing intently
forward from the break of the poop。 Gradually she loses her way；
hardly moving； with the three figures on her forecastle waiting
attentively about the cat…head for the last order of； perhaps； full
ninety days at sea： 〃Let go！〃
This is the final word of a ship's ended journey； the closing word
of her toil and of her achievement。 In a life whose worth is told
out in passages from port to port； the splash of the anchor's fall
and the thunderous rumbling of the chain are like the closing of a
distinct period； of which she seems conscious with a slight deep
shudder of all her frame。 By so much is she nearer to her
appointed death； for neither years nor voyages can go on for ever。
It is to her like the striking of a clock； and in the pause which
follows she seems to take count of the passing time。
This is the last important order； the others are mere routine
directions。 Once more the master is heard： 〃Give her forty…five
fathom to the water's edge；〃 and then he； too； is done for a time。
For days he leaves all the harbour work to his chief mate； the
keeper of the ship's anchor and of the ship's routine。 For days
his voice will not be heard raised about the decks； with that curt；
austere accent of the man in charge； till； again； when the hatches
are on； and in a silent and expectant ship； he shall speak up from
aft in commanding tones： 〃Man the windlass！〃
VII。
The other year； looking through a newspaper of sound principles；
but whose staff WILL persist in 〃casting〃 anchors and going to sea
〃on〃 a ship （ough！）； I came across an article upon the season's
yachting。 And； behold！ it was a good article。 To a man who had
but little to do with pleasure sailing （though all sailing is a
pleasure）； and certainly nothing whatever with racing in open
waters； the writer's strictures upon the handicapping of yachts
were just intelligible and no more。 And I do not pretend to any
interest in the enumeration of the great races of that year。 As to
the 52…foot linear raters； praised so much by the writer； I am
warmed up by his approval of their performances； but； as far as any
clear conception goes； the descriptive phrase； so precise to the
comprehension of a yachtsman； evokes no definite image in my mind。
The writer praises that class of pleasure vessels； and I am willing
to endorse his words； as any man who loves every craft afloat would
be ready to do。 I am disposed to admire and respect the 52…foot
linear raters on the word of a man who regrets in such a
sympathetic and understanding spirit the threatened decay of
yachting seamanship。
Of course； yacht racing is an organized pastime； a function of
social idleness ministering to the vanity of certain wealthy
inhabitants of these isles nearly as much as to their inborn love
of the sea。 But the writer of the article in question goes on to
point out； with insight and justice； that for a great number of
people （20；000； I think he says） it is a means of livelihood … that
it is； in his own words； an industry。 Now； the moral side of an
industry； productive or unproductive； the redeeming and ideal
aspect of this bread…winning； is the attainment and preservation of
the highest possible skill on the part of the craftsmen。 Such
skill； the skill of technique； is more than honesty； it is
something wider； embracing honesty and grace and rule in an
elevated and clear sentiment； not altogether utilitarian； which may
be called the honour of labour。 It is made up of accumulated
tradition； kept alive by individual pride； rendered exact by
professional opinion； and； like the higher arts； it spurred on and
sustained by discriminating praise。
This is why the attainment of proficiency； the pushing of your
skill with attention to the most delicate shades of excellence； is
a matter of vital concern。 Efficiency of a practically flawless
kind may be reached naturally in the struggle for bread。 But there
is something beyond … a higher point； a subtle and unmistakable
touch of love and pride beyond mere skill； almost an inspiration
which gives to all work that finish which is almost art … which IS
art。
As men of scrupulous honour set up a high standard of public
conscience above the dead…level of an honest community； so men of
that skill which passes into art by ceaseless striving raise the
dead…level of correct practice in the crafts of land and sea。 The
conditions fostering the growth of that supreme； alive excellence；
as well in work as in play； ought to be preserved with a most
careful regard lest the industry or the game should perish of an
insidious and inward decay。 Therefore I have read with profound
regret； in that article upon the yachting season of a certain year；
that the seamanship on board racing yachts is not now what it used
to be only a few； very few； years ago。
For that was the gist of that article； written evidently by a man
who not only knows but UNDERSTANDS … a thing （let me remark in
passing） much rarer than one would expect； because the sort of
understanding I mean is inspired by love； and love； though in a
sense it may be a