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Show "Nautical Novelties" The eustrm cf raising hands and eyes heavtnwi'.j (is, when taking an oath is cf great antiquity. The head was baled to the Diety or Superior Authority when taking the oath. When the Bibie was collected collec-ted into a volume, the right hand was placed upon the Bible during Hip nriminivtrar.inri nf Th nnrh and upon completion the Bible was kWsed. In fact, the kissing cf the Bible continues in some localities, 1 and was a general custom in this: countr until about fifty years ago. ' when the custom of raising the bared right hand, with head u: eovertci. became general. The Bible is svill used in the Navy for the twi bring of the ccurt, judge a.dvc cate, l-ccrder, and witnesses of courts-martial. The practice of the right hand ungloved came from the early days in England when all criminals were branded on th: right hand. The hard was barea ill order to ascertain whether or not the witness to be sworn wa. b.andid. Medals and dec:raticns received by officers and enlisted men cf the United States Navy ars worn on the left breast. This custom may be traced from the practice cf the Crusaders in wearing the badge of honor cf their order near the heart. Also, cn the left side was the shield of the Crusader, for the large shield carried by th left arm, protected both the heart and the feadr-c of honor. It is believed that the practice of putting buttons on the cuffs ol men and boys coats originated in the British Navy. A British commentator com-mentator once wrete: "In the earlier ear-lier days of the last century, small mit:s of boys eight cr nine years old and even younger, were sent to sea. When these small boys were first at ssa, they were one and all so woe.'ully homesick that they had continuous cases of sniffles, and for the first part of their term of service serv-ice they were forever rubbing the poor little hc.xesick and dripping ey s and noses on the cuffs of their coat:. This was so detrimental to th; appearance of their uniforms that it led to the sewing cn of buttons." The galley (kitchen.) smokepipe is referred to by all sea-faring men es the "Charlie Noble." This name was derived from the British merchant merch-ant service Captain Charlie Noble, who required a high polish on the galley funnel. The funnel of his -"alley was of o pper and its brightness bright-ness became known " in ail ports visited by his ship. In the old days of hard drinking at sea, the expression "Dead Marine" Mar-ine" was generally accepted as syn- emymous with, an empty bottle. The -tor is told that William IV, when Duke of Clarence and Lord Higr dTriral. at an official dinner said pointing at seme empty bottles. "Tske away these maiines." A dig-nifi dig-nifi d and elderly Major cf Marines present rose from the table and said: "May I respectfully ask why your highness applies the name cf the corps to which I have the hen or to belong to an empty bettle?" The Duke with the tact and characteristic char-acteristic grace that was his, retorted re-torted promptly, "I call them mar-in's mar-in's because they are gcod fellows who have done their duty and are ready to do it again." The above 'Nautical Novelties" were furnrhed by the Navy Recruiting Re-cruiting Station. Salt Lake City, Utah. |
