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MY LIFE AMONG
THE BLUEJACKETS
First Impression .... October igog
Second ,, .... November igog
Third ,, .... December igog
Fourth „ .... March igio
MY LIFE AMONG
THE BLUEJACKETS
BY
AGNES WESTON
FOURTH IMPRESSION
JlonDon
JAMES NISBET ^ CO., LIMITED
22 BERNERS STREET, W.
1910
Printed by Ballantvne, Hanson &' Co
At the Ballantyne Press, Edinburgh
DEDICATED
TO THE
OFFICERS AND MEN OF THE
OLD AND NEW NAVY
WHOSE
FRIENDSHIP I VALUE
FOREWORD
THE ANCHOR WATCH
On board our ships there is a watch called " the
anchor watch " — the ship is lying at her moorings,
and there is not much to guard against, but, all alert,
the men are at their posts ; still there is a certain
amount of leisure, and many a life story is told and
many a yarn is spun during those quiet hours.
I have been asked to write the story of my life,
but how to do it amidst a whirl of work I did not
know, and whether if written it would do any good
I could not be sure ; however, I am taking advantage
of a short " anchor watch " to put down a few
recollections, and if they interest and stir up any
person to work for God's glory, and for the good
of others, I shall be amply repaid.
AGNES WESTON.
Royal Sailors' Rest,
Portsmouth.
vU
CONTENTS
CHAPTER I
CHILDHOOD
PAGE
Old P'amily History— A Naval Hero — My Father and Mother —
Called to the Bar — Little Folks' Picnics — My First School . i
CHAPTER II
GIRLHOOD
School-girl Life — Ups and Downs — Happy Days on River and
Seashore— The Crimean War— Captain Peel's Naval Brigade
— The Residency, Lucknow 21
CHAPTER III
WHAT SHALL I DO WITH MY LIFE?
Rev. Canon Fleming — ConBrmation — Astronomical Work — Riding
and Swimming — Our House on Lansdown— I Take up the
Organ — Gloucester Cathedral — Dr. S. S. Wesley ... 34
CHAPTER IV
TRAINING FOR LIFE WORK
St. Stephen's and Work there— An Early Friend and Cambridge
University— France— Italy— Hospital Wards— Working Men's
Guild — Be you a Teetotaller ? 50
is
CONTENTS
CHAPTER V
EARLY WORK IN THE SERVICES
PAGE
The 2nd Somerset Militia — Readini^ and Coffee Rooms — Savings
Bank — Bristol and Wells Cathedrals — Classes and Meetings —
Up and Down Lansdown Hill .... . .66
CHAPTER VI
MY FIRST BLUEJACKET FRIEND
Soldiers and Sailors— Sick Berth Steward of H.M.S. Crocodile^
Letters to Men of the Fleet — Invitation to meet the Men at
Devonport — Miss Wintz — Our First Meeting — Her Family and
Earlier Days — Her Life Decision 72
CHAPTER Vn
OUR BOYS IN BLUE
The Boys of H.M. Training S'ervice — Mrs. Winlz's Kitchen —
Arthur Phillips^Quarter-Deck of H.M.S. Impregnable —
Address to One Thousand Boys — Royal Naval Temperance
Society— Admiral Sir W. King Hall, K.C.B.— H.M.S. Topazc
and the Grog-Tub— A Rough Trip to H.M.S. Thalia— ^y
Father's Death — Two Millions of Boys 8$
CHAPTER Vni
THE REQUEST OF THE BLUEJACKETS, AND WHAT
CAME OF IT
Deputation from Gunboat Dryad— CXoso. to the Dockyard Gates and
right among the Public-houses — The First Birds to Roost at the
Devonport Sailors' Rest — Monday, 8th May 1876— Work at
the Sailors' Rest — Carrying Government Stores . . 102
CONTENTS xi
CHAPTER IX
TO WALES AND THE MOUNTAINS
PAGE
Blood Poisoning — Pass of Llanberis — Snowdon and the Glydrs —
Tiic Swallow Falls — At Work Again — Bodmin Gaol — Our
Fighting Uog — The Arctic Expedition — Alert and Discovery —
Monthly Letters to the Arctic Regions — Prince Edward and
Prince George — Lieutenant Charles Prater, R.N. — Royal Naval
Christian Union 112
CHAPTER X
OUR PORTSMOUTH MUSIC-HALL
Loss of H.M.S. ^«rv^//(r£r— Saturday Night Entertainments — Rats
and Sewers — Site Obtained — One Thousand Guineas — " Coffee
Pot " f. " Beer Jug "^Right about Face— Our Savings Bank —
«« Impossible "and the "Growl Book" 122
CHAPTER XI
THE CAPTURE OF THE PUBLIC-HOUSES
Shaking out a Reef — A Life Secret — Public-houses Carted Away —
Our Big Coffee Palace — Ashore a/id Afloat and the American
Navy — Under the White Ensign— A Tot too Much — Fighting
Charlie — Nelley Abbey — Meetings from Land's End to John
o' Groat's House I3S
CHAPTER XII
THE EGYPTIAN WAR
Jack Ashore— "Well Done, Cottdor'"—Vix. Arabi the Teapot— The
Wall that Jack Built — Church Congress, 1885 — Swiss Rambles,
Schaffhauscn, Lucerne, Furka, Eggishorn, Zermatt— A Royal
Visit to the Sailors' Rest IS*
xii CONTENTS
CHAPTER XIII
THE SHIP THAT NEVER RETURNED
PAGE
Loss of H.M.S. Serpent — Admiral H.R.H. the Duke of Edinburgh
— Brave Men and True — First Aid — Meetings on Board Ship —
The Royal Naval Exhibition, 1892 — Her Majesty Queen
Victoria presents a Cabin — Sailors' Wives Half Pay . , 162
CHAPTER XIV
SIGNALS OF DISTRESS
The Loss of H.M.S. Victoria — George Edgcombe — Immediate
Help — Stricken Homes — Fund Raised and Spent . . . 173
CHAPTER XV
MY MOTHER
My Mother — Her Life and Example — The British Women's Tem-
perance Association — A Bicycle Accident — In Hospital — Kind-
ness of Naval Friends 181
CHAPTER XVI
MY SILVER WEDDING
Twenty-five Years on Active Service — Admiral Prince Henry of
Prussia — Foreign Governments — Under the Searchlight — South
African War— Visit to ILM.S. T^rrz-^/t;— Launch of H.M.S.
Ocean by H.R.H. the Princess Louise, Duchess of Argyll —
Visit to H.R.H. the Duchess of Teck— H.R.H. the Duchess of
York 188
CHAPTER XVII
" SAY ' AU REVOIR ' BUT NOT GOOD-BYE "
Naval Brigade for South Africa — Farewell Meeting on Board R.M.S.
Briton — The Battle of Enslin — Ladymith and the 4.7 Gun —
Christmas Puddings — Ashore and Afloat, and Monthly Letters
to South Africa— The Dash on Pekin — H.M.S. Centurion —
Prince George of Wales and Torpedo Boat No. 79 . . .196
CONTENTS xiii
CHAPTER XVIII
'• OUR BELOVED QUEEN "
PAGE
A Marvellous Reign — The Dean of Windsor — My Reception by Her
Majesty at Windsor Castle — My Queen is my Friend — A Blue-
jacket's Testimony — The Passing of a Great Queen- Empress —
Borne by her Sailors — The Diamond Jubilee Block, Portsmouth
— Its Opening by the Empress Frederick of Germany — The
Passing Away of H.R.H. the Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha,
1900, and of the Empress Frederick of Germany, 1901 . .211
CHAPTER XIX
AMONG THE PINES
Ilindhead— Our Little Chalet — The Degree of LL.D. conferred by
Glasgow University— The Return of II. M.S. Terrible — Loss of
H.M.S. Condor and Col/ra — Grief-stricken Families — Kindly
Help— the Victoria Memorial Block, Devonport — Visits to
American Warships — Visit from H.R.H. the Princess Henry
of Battenberg — The Loss of H.M. Cutter ^^^zz;^— Visit to Cam-
bridge University 225
CHAPTER XX
"the sailor's wife, the sailor's star should be"
At Safe Moorings — Captain of my Ship — Guilds of Sailors' Wives —
Naval Disaster Fund— " Medically Unfit "—Cadet Corps-
Sailors' Sons— Greenwich School— Mrs. Wintz's Home Call . 240
CHAPTER XXI
UNDER THE SEARCHLIGHT
Admiral Lord Charles Beresford and our Devonport Work — Our
Services and Meetings — My Chum Jini— Royal Naval Tem-
perance Society — Real Backbone — Our Boys in Life and Death 256
xiv CONTENTS
CHAPTER XXII
" there's sorrow on the sea "
PAGE
Lights Out — Loss of H.M.S. Tiger — A Snow Squall— Loss of
1 1. M.S. Gladiator — Jack a Comrade and a Nurse — Dr. Suzaki,
LJ. Navy — A True Blue — Temperance Restaurant at the Royal
Naval Barracks, Portsmouth 274
CHAPTER XXIII
" THE FRENCH MAID "
Capture of " Fi-ench MaiiV — Our Sleepers — A Tour round our Insti-
tute — Kitchens, Engine-Rooms, Baths, Dormitories . . 288
CHAPTER XXIV
HISTORIC SPITHEAD
The Old Victory — The Coronation Fleet — Hospitality — Visit of
Japanese Warships — Friendship — German Warships — Kindness
of the Kaiser — The American Fleet — " L'Entente Cordiale" —
Russian Ships — Liternational Courtesies at the Royal Sailors'
Rest 299
CHAPTER XXV
THE FAMOUS SIGNAL
October 2ist — Lost in a Jungle — " Cease Firing" — Forty Years of
Work — Christmas 190S — Royal Honours — I Live among my
Own People — " God's Hand has been upon the Tiller" . . 319
ILLUSTRATIONS
Agnes Weston
Ensleigh, Lansdown ....
The Late Dr. Dowkontt
Showing Cabin to Mother
Royal Sailors' Rest, Portsmouth
Royal Sailors' Rest, Devonport .
The Late Empress Frederick of Germany
My Mother
Royal Naval Barracks, Devonport — A R.N.T.S
Meeting
Her Late Majesty Queen Victoria
Among the Pines
Visit to a Sailor's Wife
" At Home " to Russian Sailors .
Our Cadet Corps Inspected on Board H
" Indomitable"
Old Sailors' Visit to H.M.S. "Victory"
Trafalgar Signal, H.M.S. "Victory"
His Majesty King Edward the Seventh
PAGE
Frontispiece
73
103
122
.M.S
138
160
181
189
210
225
241
257
272
299
319
326
XV
MY LIFE AMONG THE
BLUEJACKETS
CHAPTER I
CHILDHOOD
"Home, lioniej sweet, sweet home."
I HAVE seen tears run down rough and bronzed
faces at our Sailor's Rest when the famihar strain
of " Home, sweet home " has been played or sung ;
it touches a sacred chord in every heart, as it does
in mine, as I think of my early home, and the dear
ones whose love encircled me there.
When I first saw the light I do not pretend to
remember, but the place was the metropolis of the
British Empire, and our late beloved Queen Victoria
was not only on the throne but had commenced her
happy married life.
I have always been thankful that the greater part
of my life was lived during the reign of Victoria
the Good, and that she took a personal interest in
the work that God called me to do among her British
bluejackets. It may seem to some that I ought to
have been born within sound of the boatswain's
A
2 MY LIFE AMONG THE BLUEJACKETS
whistle, and of the morning and evening gun, but
it was not so. Dear, smoky old London was my
birthplace on March 26, 1840. A lingering affec-
tion for it has run through my life, and is strong
now, although my sun is " swinging towards the
West."
My father was a Cambridge man, having taken
his B.A. there with honours. He always thought
that there was no University like Cambridge, and
no College like Trinity, of which he was a member.
He read hard, so hard that his sight failed him at
one time, but his courage was so indomitable that
he still continued working for his degree, although
he was obliged to pay a reader to be eyes to him.
Cambridge in the twenties and thirties, and Cam-
bridge now, are very different places. I have heard
my father speak of Dr. Whewell, Professor Sedgwick,
and many another whose name became famous. The
Rev. Charles Simeon was a power for good in those
days, and the undergraduates used to crowd his
church, sitting on the pulpit stairs or anywhere to
get within sound of his voice, and his influence for
God was not to be told.
A romance attached to my father's University
career. He loved the beautiful daughter of Robert
Bayly, Esq. — Mr. Robert Bayly of the Western
Circuit, Bencher of Gray's Inn ; but a Cambridge
degree and a call to the Bar were all-important
in the eyes of the prospective father-in-law, and
the young man had to work for many years before
Agnes Bayly became his bride. I have often heard
him say that, like Jacob, he served seven years
before the wedding bells were allowed to ring.
CHILDHOOD 3
My father's family was an old family, with a
pedigree stretching back through the history of
England. We were never particularly great or
grand, but those connected with us, with whom we
were intertwined, are chronicled in our pedigree, now
in the Harleian collection in the British Museum,
as " an ancient and knightly family."
"Handsome is as handsome does" is a sound
proverb, always true. The Normans at the Conquest
W'Cre very probably no better than the people whom
they conquered, but there came over with Duke
William a certain Reginald de Raoul de Bailleul, of
good Norman family. His property was a castle in
Normandy called Renoard. He came in for a share
of the spoils, and was made Viscount of Shrewsbury,
1080, and was afterwards married to Aimeria, niece
of Roger, Earl of Shrewsbury.
Roger the Earl had adopted this girl, and showed
great affection for her by treating her as a daughter.
I cannot pretend to unravel such a love story, and
the old chronicler, Ordericus Vitalis, gives me small
help here, but Doomsday Book tells us that William
the Conqueror bestowed upon Reginald four manors
— Weston, Barton, Bruton, and Newton, to be held
in capita en chef du roi. Reginald was evidently a
fortunate man, and he became possessed, possibly
through his wife, of no less than sixty-six manors,
conferred upon him by Roger Montgomerie, Earl of
Shrewsbury, his uncle by marriage, whose Viscount
he became. Those old days were dark and stormy
ones. The Earl of Shrewsbury and his Viscount
were always fighting the W^clsh, and the large county
conquered by the brave old warrior, the Earl of
4 MY LIFE AMONG THE BLUEJACKETS
Shrewsbury, still bears the name of " Montgomery-
shire." Earl Roger was killed fighting the Welsh in
the time of William the Second.
Meanwhile another Reginald grew up, the eldest
son of the first Reginald and Aimeria, and he held
the lands in Normandy. He was doubtless young
and rash, and, like many another young man, he
espoused the cause of Duke Robert in his attempt
to gain the crown of England. It was a very bad
move for Reginald, for it cost him his castle of
Renoard in Normandy, which Henry the First burned
to the ground, and this ill-fortune sent him on a
crusade against the Moors in Spain. The second
son of Reginald and Aimeria, Hugh de Bailleul de
Weston, succeeded his father in the English estates
in the time of Henry the First.
We pass through Ralph or Ranulphus, the third in
succession in the time of Stephen, to Sir Hamo de
Weston, a famous Knight Crusader in the stormy
times of Richard Coeur de Lion. He went, as he
considered, to do God's work in trying to wrest the
Holy Sepulchre from the unbeliever ; and I like to
think of him and another Crusader, whose story I
must tell later, as belonging in those rough and
warlike days to a band of men who hazarded and
often gave their lives, although in an ignorant way,
to God's service. Sir Hamo lies in the church of
Weston-under-Lyziard, near Rugeley, with his feet
crossed, to this day. Two generations passed, and
another Crusader appeared upon the scenes in the
time of Henry the Third and Edward the First.
An interesting story is told about him. In one of
the battles in the then far east he had a hand-to-hand
CHILDHOOD 5
conflict with a Saracen standard-bearer ; Hugh, or
Hugo de Weston, after superhuman efforts, killed the
Saracen, and took the sacred standard. For this
brave deed Prince Edward changed his crest, giving
him a Saracen's head, with the death cry of the dusky
warrior, '< / am spent," for his motto. The old crest, an
eagle and the Saracen's head, were both used by
the family, until the Earl of Portland returned to the
oldest, the eagle, retaining both shields. The eagle
is used to the present day, and although, being on
the distaff side, I have no right to it, I like to think
of my old forbears when fighting some of my own
battles.
We must hurry down the stream of time, past
Sir John de Weston, Constable of Bordeaux, in the
time of Edward the Second and Edward the Third,
to whose memory there is an old stained window in
Weston Church, to Richard Weston, the eldest son of
Sir John by his second wife. So things come and go
in this changing world. I hke to think of Robert
Weston, Lord Chancellor of Ireland in the days of
Queen Elizabeth, because he was a sincere and
earnest Christian, served his Queen faithfully, and
was esteemed by her. We never know how far a
good man's prayers may travel for his successors.
Richard Weston, the first Earl of Portland, was a
different character altogether ; he was a collateral.
His career as far as this world was concerned was
striking. Knighted by James the First, he was made
Privy Councillor, and Chancellor of the Exchequer
in 1624, created a Baron in 1628, Earl of Portland
163 1, and received the Order of the Garter in 1633.
He was also made Governor of the Isle of Wight,
6 MY LIFE AMONG THE BLUEJACKETS
and Lieutenant-Governor of Southampton. Charles
the First was much attached to him, but his Hfe ended
in 1634, and he hes in the Portland Chapel in Win-
chester Cathedral. Curiously enough his son Jerome
married Lady Frances Stuart, daughter of the Duke
of Lennox, and a ward of Charles the First, who
gave her away, and Archbishop Laud performed the
wedding ceremony.
So the figures flit across the scene. This Jerome
Weston had a son named Charles, who was killed in
a naval battle against the Dutch in 1665. He was
unmarried, and the title soon became extinct, to be
revived again by William the Third, who bestowed it
on the present holders, whose title became Dukes of
Portland.
I hope that I have wearied no one with these
reminiscences. My father was much interested in
our genealogical details, and used to say "that any
vitality in the old stock should be used for God and
for Good." There is not much naval element ; I
wish there was more. Charles Weston, third Earl of
Portland, was killed afloat ; but he was in the army,
and the soldier element predominated in those old
days.
In my mother's family we had a brave sailor, Cap-
tain Richard Rundle Burges, R.N., of H.M.S. Ardent.
He was killed on the nth October 1797, also fight-
ing the Dutch, cut in two by a chain shot, and his
bravery and success were so great that Parliament
voted a sum of money to erect a monument to him
in St. PauFs Cathedral, where it stands, if I remember
rightly, in the nave, in the south aisle. The inscription
runs thus : —
CHILDHOOD 7
" Sacred to the memory of Richard Rundle Burges,
Esq., Commander of His Majesty's sloop the Ardent,
who fell in the 45th year of his age while bravely
supporting the honour of the British Flag in a daring
and successful attempt to break the enemy's line
near Camperdown, on the nth October 1797. His
skill, coolness, and intrepidity immensely contributed
to a victory equally advantageous and glorious to his
country.
"That grateful country, by the unanimous act of
her Legislature, enrols his name high in the list of
those heroes who, under the blessing of Providence,
have established and maintained her naval superiority
and her exalted rank among the nations."
Such is the short simple story of a hero ; his monu-
ment is not far from that of his brave commander,
Admiral Lord Duncan. When in the smoke of the
battle the signal came from Admiral Duncan that the
Ardent should engage, Captain Burges did not think his
vessel close enough, and he reserved his fire until he
was so near to the enemy that every shot went home.
Death was busy on board the Ardent. Hers was one
of the smallest crews in Admiral Duncan's fleet, but
her death roll was the largest — 148 men killed and
wounded. Her stout oaken hull had 98 round shot
taken from it, sufficient hard knocks for one day's
battle.
When Captain Burges fell his ship was surrounded
by no fewer than five of her enemies, but she con-
tinued to fight till quite disabled. In his despatch
home Admiral Duncan wrote : " And here I have to
lament the death of Captain Burges of His Majesty's
Ship Ardent, who brought that ship into action in the
8 MY LIFE AMONG THE BLUEJACKETS
most gallant and masterly manner, but was unfortu-
nately killed soon after. However, the ship continued
the action till quite disabled. The public have lost
a good and gallant officer in Captain Burges, and I,
with others, a sincere friend." He was a fine officer,
and it is recorded of him that he was a man of
honour, integrity, and gentlemanlike and courteous
manners, and he became one of the heroes of
Camperdown.
My cousin, Ellie Bayly (Edna Lyall), mentions
that in the early part of her career, when downcast
and disheartened by the chilling attitude of publishers,
she received new impetus and energy while standing
one dark day before the monument, and she felt
that the success that had attended this old member of
her family would, by God's grace, attend her if she
persevered. She did persevere, and won a position
in the front rank of English writers of her day.
Ancient history having passed in review, I must
begin with my own earliest recollections. My
memory goes back to a time when I was a very
small child, and when my delight was to ride round
the room on my father's shoulders, clutching his
hair. I am afraid that I was very much spoilt, as
two elder children, Charles and Robert, died as
babies, and when a third child, a daughter, was born
and lived, the joy was very great.
My father was then at the Bar, a member of
Lincoln's Inn, where he had chambers ; he worked
hard, but his great delight was to get back to his
wife and little child. I have a shadowy remembrance
of the romps that we had together ; few children
could possess a kinder or more indulgent father —
CHILDHOOD 9
my playmate as a child, my guide, teacher, confidant,
and friend as I grew up. He was a very handsome
man, with black hair, dark eyes, and good features —
very like the picture of the old Earl of Portland by
Van Eyck (some say Vandyke) that hung in our
dining-room ; and he was also a very scientific man,
becoming a Fellow both of the Geological Society
and the Royal Astronomical Society ; best of all he
was one who always looked from Nature up to
Nature's God.
He never believed that God's great books of
Revelation and Creation could clash, even if they
appeared to do so ; it was our duty to suspend our
judgment, and we should see how wonderfully they
would agree if we waited for more light on the book
of Science, which might err, but God's Revelation
never.
Both my father and my mother, who was the
dearest of mothers, were earnest Christians, having
given their hearts to God in the early days of their
lives, before their marriage, through the preaching
of the Hon. and Rev. Baptist Noel, at that time a
most popular and earnest Evangelical clergyman in
London. It required some courage in those days
to avow yourself a decided Christian, and to do such
work as visiting the sick and teaching little children.
Young ladies in the twentieth century can do any-
thing, and go anywhere ; in my mother's young days
such things were not permitted for a moment ; if she
went out she must be attended by a footman. Those
were times before gas, before the London police,
before railways and steamships, to say nothing of
telegraphs and telephones. George the Third was
lo MY LIFE AMONG THE BLUEJACKETS
king, and Merrie England was anything but the
comfortable and free home that it is now.
Coaches did the journey between London and
York, London and Exeter, &c.; the Bath coach was
a crack coach, and "old mother Bristol," as the
Bristol coach was called, was a smart turn-out.
Young ladies spent a great deal of time at home,
in old-fashioned housekeeping, embroidery, papier-
mach6 and tambour work, and "slumming" was
unheard of. A sedan-chair carried them to evening
assemblies, and for journeys into the country it was
either the public coach or posting. I have heard
my mother tell of the delights of going on the
Western Circuit with her father. At that time, about
1830, the judges posted in their own carriages,
horsed at various stages ; the sheriffs met them at
the borders of the counties, and the mayor and
corporation of the city in which the Assizes were
held, also met them in great state as they entered
the city boundary, as representatives of the king.
Mr. Robert Bayly used to take his wife and a
daughter, on several occasions that daughter was my
mother. I am afraid that the terrible outcome of
some of the trials did not affect the young ladies or
the young barristers. The Assize balls were duly
held and, I doubt not, keenly enjoyed. My grand-
father was a man of great acumen and forensic
knowledge, and he was merciful withal ; he was a
Bencher of Gray's Inn and loved his profession.
Arrived at Plymouth from Exeter, the ladies of the
party generally stayed with their relations who had
settled there for many years, while the father pro-
ceeded to Bodmin, I was favoured indeed in both
CHILDHOOD II
my grandfathers. On my father's side, Samuel
Weston, descended lineally from the old stock, was
an embodiment of a fine old English gentleman,
full of probity and honour ; while my grandfather,
on my mother's side, was a specimen of the old-
time barristers of the land, a man respected and
honoured.
A young and beautiful girl was my mother, with
life opening before her, when she was convinced, as
I have said, of the claims of the Lord Jesus Christ, and
became a true Christian ; the young couple, whose
engagement lasted for seven years, were of one heart
and one mind, and helped each other in the Christian
life.
In those old days Bloomsbury was a district almost
sacred to the law ; instead of being, as now, noted for
its hotels and boarding and lodging houses, it was
peopled by gentlemen " learned in the law." Queen
Square, Bedford Square, Russell Square, were mostly
tenanted by Judges, K.C.'s, and others of high stand-
ing and long purses ; the streets leading out of these
squares were the abode of junior members of the
profession. The means of locomotion were restricted,
and legal men walked backwards and forwards to
chambers in Gray's Inn, Lincoln's Inn, or the
Temple ; it was probably better for them than a
rush to catch a district train from Belgravia or the
suburbs.
My grandfather lived in Queen's Square, and
every house almost sheltered an historical name. I
was born in a street leading out of Russell Square,
where married barristers congregated, called Great
Coram Street. I did not feel very proud of
12 MY LIFE AMONG THE BLUEJACKETS
my birth-place when I saw it a few years ago,
and found how it had descended in the social
scale.
In 1836 my father and mother were married, and
very shortly afterwards King William the Fourth died,
and a young girl was called from Kensington Palace
to the throne, to become the great Queen-Empress,
and to deserve the highest of all titles, " Victoria the
Good." Often and often in the twilight my mother
used to tell us of the news coming to London in the
dead of the night that King William had died at
Windsor Castle, and then the next day, that bright
June morning, the touching history of the breaking
the news to the young girl at Kensington Palace, and
the saluting her as Queen.
Her first desire, expressed to the Archbishop of
Canterbury, " I ask an interest in your prayers, your
Grace," was characteristic. The young Queen took
all hearts by storm, and my mother's stories of the
Proclamation, the Coronation, and, later still, the
Queen's marriage with Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg,
afterwards the Prince Consort, were better than fairy
stories to my childish ears. We were all brought
up to be loyal, in a few words, to " fear God, and
to honour the King " ; but my mother little thought
that the Queen, whose advent caused her so much
joy, would many years afterwards " command " her
daughter's attendance at Windsor Castle, that she
might hear about her work, and speak loving words
of cheer that will never be forgotten. The marriage
of the Queen took place very early in 1840, and my
mother was able to see a good deal of the interesting
ceremonial. All this I can only give from stories
CHILDHOOD 13
told in after years on winter evenings when we loved
to cluster round her knees.
In 1842 a little brother, Robert Bayly Weston,
came to cheer my solitude, a bright splendid boy,
who would have made a history for himself had he
lived, but God took him in 1848 when 5^- years
of age. After him came my only sister Emily,
and then another brother, Charles. We were a large
and yet a small family, several brothers in heaven,
and three of us here on earth. After the birth of
my sister my mother's health, that had never been
very strong, failed, and the unanimous opinion of
her medical men was that she would not live long in
London.
At that time I was about five or six years old,
and I have a shadowy remembrance of leaving the
London house and being taken to Paddington, and
thence by that new-fangled arrangement, the rail-
way. Bath, years before, had been the fashionable
place for the " cure," the great health-resort of
Beau Nash and all the leaders of fashion. Those
days had passed away, but still the old streets and
promenades remained, the Pump Room and the
Baths were still under the shadow of the Abbey ;
outside many of the Queen's Square houses hung
the great bronze extinguishers into which the link-
men used to thrust their torches on carrying some
lady of fashion into the wide entrance-hall on her
return from rout, card-party, or ball. Bath had
become a place for education, and houses and
crescents climbed Lansdown Hill, which overlooked
the city.
My new home, and my home for many years,
14 MY LIFE AMONG THE BLUEJACKETS
was Sion Place, Sion Hill, on Lansdown, stand-
ing prettily embowered in trees and lawns. This
move was the first great event in my life, and
the journey by rail in those days would leave
a never-to-be-forgotten impression on a child of
five years old. Our new home, with its country
sights and sounds, fields and farms stretching away
behind, became very dear, and when, in 1846, a little
brother came to complete our family circle our joy
was great.
I can see that bright nursery now, and the night
nursery behind, in which we little folks slept.
Children's impressions are strong, and die hard. One
of my remembrances of the day nursery, as clear to-
day as ever, is the fact that two coloured pictures of
typical bluejackets of those days hung on the wall —
" Outward Bound " and " Homeward Bound " ; I was
never tired of looking at them, and of thinking how
much I should like to know those brave men, and
to hear all that they had to say. I little thought
then that I should count so many hundreds of
England's bluejackets my friends, and should be
proud to do so.
From our nursery windows we had extensive
views, and we used to think that the pine-trees on
Coombe Down, away on the horizon, were palm-
trees growing in Africa, and that the black thunder-
storms that often came from the north were sent by
the farmer whose homestead stood in that direction.
My first deep sorrow was the death of my little
brother Bobby. He was a handsome, bright-spirited
boy, full of fun and frolic, and he and I were
inseparables, and perfect pickles, delighting in every
CHILDHOOD 15
kind of childish adventure, and, I am afraid, a terror
to our nurse. I distinctly remember a journey to
Brighton, and a happy time with our grandmother at
Brunswick Terrace, now almost in Hove, then the
sudden illness that came down as a " bolt from the
blue," and death drew near, the first that I had ever
seen. I remember how the dear little fellow repeated
as his last words —
" I think when I read that sweet story of old,
When Jesus was here among men,
How He called little children as lambs to His fold,
I should like to have been with them then."
Clasping a little ship in his hands that had been given
him by his father, and with these sweet words on his
hps, he was gathered home, and I sobbed myself to
sleep heartbroken.
Since then I have often thought how deep my
parents' sorrow must have been — another little son
removed to the Home above. Children have strange
and often terrifying ideas about death, but we were
taught so much about the Good Shepherd and the
loving Saviour that heaven seemed very near. This
was the last death in our family until my parents
were taken home, each at a good old age. My
sister Emily, my brother Charlie, and myself have
passed through life together.
Soon after my little brother's death, after we had
returned to Bath, an incident occurred that left a
very vivid impression on my mind. We had been
promised a delightful trip on a bright summer day
to Keynsham, a pretty village on the river Avon,
near Bristol. My father always laid himself out to
i6 MY LIFE AMONG THE BLUEJACKETS
make his children happy, and my mother, who was
an invalid, and confined very much to the sofa,
furthered all these trips, and delighted to hear what
we had done on our return.
How we counted the days and watched the
weather as the eagerly looked for Saturday drew
near. We were to get up early and to walk to
Twerton, a country station not far from our house.
Of course we could scarcely sleep, and at break
of day we were peering eagerly from the nursery
window to see what the day was like. O joy ! it
was a bright, beautiful summer morning. Dressing
and breakfast were soon over, and, carrying our
luncheons, and my father slinging his geological
basket and hammer over his shoulder, we were
soon under weigh. Twerton was reached, and
in those old days, when foot-bridges were not
thought of, the line had to be crossed. I ran on,
and when about half-way across, with a whistle and
a roar, the Bristol express came round a curve
right upon me. What happened I scarcely know,
but I found myself in my father's strong arms, and
heard his fervent " Thank God " as he snatched
me from the jaws of death.
Many a narrow escape I had in my childish days ;
once running away in the Sydney Gardens, I was
dashed headlong against a stone parapet, and was
picked up by my horrified mother and a strange lady,
whom we knew afterwards as the Countess of Cam-
perdown, apparently dead.
Once again, when out in a rowing boat on the
Hamoaze, the harbour at Devonport, which in after
years I was to know so well, a steamer came down
CHILDHOOD 17
upon us, the boatman lost one of his oars, and could
only row in a circle ; I can see the steamer now,
looming above us, and her paddles cleaving the water.
At the last moment our cries were heard, and the
order was given to " reverse the engines " and to
" port the helm," and we just escaped by God's
goodness. And once again a careless marksman,
with a rifle, fired across a public road down which I
was walking ; I heard the sharp ping of one bullet as
it whistled past my ear, and the thud of another as
it struck a tree close by : but the loving care of God
was over me yet again, and I was saved from sudden
death.
Many a happy picnic I can remember as the
years of childhood passed on, to Wick Rocks, to
Hampton Down, to Bradford-on-Avon by the barge
on the canal, a grand water trip. Then we looked
forward to summer holidays, with a month at Tenby
or Ilfracombe, as the case might be.
All these glorious outings were made of value ;
we searched for fossils, for ferns, for sea-weeds,
crabs, and sea-anemones ; and we were taught
their names and habits, and shown their beauties.
I only wish that I could remember now all that
I learned of British flowers, ferns, grasses, mosses,
and lycopods, as well as the wonders to be
found on the sands and rocks and in the tide
pools.
The journey to either Ilfracombe or Tenby was
always made by steamer from Bristol in those days ;
the Avon and the upper part of the Bristol Channel
were delightful, but if there was a capful of wind, once
get the Flat and Steep Holnes astern, and the steamer
B
1 8 MY LIFE AMONG THE BLUEJACKETS
became very lively, and we young folks somewhat
taciturn.
If the trip was to Tenby the dreaded Worms
Head had to be doubled, and I remember to this
day the awful feeling that the ringing of the dinner-
bell evoked ; but once on dry land all the troubles
fled away and the days passed like wildfire — digging
and building sand castles to be washed away by the
next tide, bathing, shrimping, hunting for anemones
and crabs, all was delightful, until one day I seized a
large crab not quite in the right place. He managed
to get his big nippers into each of my thumbs, I
was handcuffed by the crab, and shrieking with pain,
I am ashamed to say, and it was only when he was
killed that his grasp was unloosed.
One of my most solemn early impressions was
hearing a sermon at Immanuel Church, Weston-
super-Mare, in which the preacher graphically de-
scribed the Last Day and the Great White Throne,
and besought us all to give Christ our hearts, and to
flee from the wrath to come. I was much awed,
and, in a childlike way, asked Christ to be my Saviour
and to shield me in that day ; the impression faded
away and became dim, but I have no doubt it was
one of the many links in the chain of love that
afterwards drew me to God.
And here let me say that I believe in the con-
version of children, early and decidedly. A child is
never too young to learn to love the Lord Jesus
Christ definitely, and to yield heart and life to Him.
He blessed little children when on earth, and He
blesses them now ; and if parents, instead of waiting
till their children are grown up, would lead them to
CHILDHOOD 19
the Saviour in their tender years, we should see
much more vital Christianity. The faith and love of
a child will enable him to grasp truth more clearly
and decidedly than the grown man ; and if a mother
would pray with her children, and encourage them to
pray, as well as praying for them, many a young
heart would respond to the infinite love of its
Redeemer.
When I was about nine years old I went to my
first school as a day boarder ; it was very near my
home, but I am afraid that, attended by my nurse,
I " crepl like a snail nmmllittgly to school." The
mistress was a Miss Spiller, of whom I have a
shadowy remembrance, and of whom also I stood
somewhat in awe. The house was bright and
cheery ; I recollect the long garden stretching
down to the High Common with its apple trees —
sometimes in blossom, sometimes laden with fruit.
Kindergartens were unknown in those days, and
memorising was the principal thing ; the spelling-
book and elementary arithmetic, also the copy-
books in which the copies were set were in
vogue. Many a blotted copy gave me bad marks ;
and as to arithmetic, the smeared slate and tearful
eyes often testified to my failure in the world of
figures.
I was, I am sure, rather a naughty child, full of
fun, and I daresay that I was troublesome to my
teachers, but I made, child as I was, some warm
friends among my schoolfellows. I have no doubt
that they could tell many tales " out of school "
about me that I have forgotten ; but as I write the
distant past unrolls itself faintly before me, and I can
20 MY LIFE AMONG THE BLUEJACKETS
see the old house, the old school, the dear faces of
father and mother who were all the world to me, my
little sister, and younger brother still in the nursery,
on whom, I am afraid, in the first stage of school-girl
life I wickedly looked down. These scenes pass
before me as pictures upon a screen, and as such
I try to reproduce them, simple as they are.
CHAPTER II
GIRLHOOD
Childhood, with all its joys and sorrows, which are
photographed on our hearts through hfe, seems so
long, and yet how quickly it passes by.
When I was about twelve years old I was pro-
moted to another school in Somerset Place, Bath ; it
was one of the best schools at that time. I was a
very small and insignificant shrimp, and looked up to
the senior girls with great awe and respect. As far
as I can remember there were some thirty girls, the
schoolroom was large, bright, and sunny, and the
desks were ranged round it. Pianos resounded in
every room, and masters came and went. It was
a new and a large world to me, and brought its
temptations and trials.
Of course I duly took my place in a low class,
and soon began to find the work pretty stiff, for it
was " real earnest " ; school routine was composed of
all work and little play. Croquet and tennis were
not invented ; hockey, the horizontal bar, &c., would
have excited a holy horror in the minds of the ladies
that ruled our girls' schools, or, as they were called,
" young ladies' establishments," in the fifties : a walk
once a day round the Park, or up Lansdown Hill,
two by two, graduated as to height, the tall girls
2X
22 MY LIFE AMONG THE BLUEJACKETS
first, and the young ones bringing up the rear,
was considered exercise enough for young ladies : in
the summer evenings it was supplemented by a stroll
in a small garden at the back of the house.
Our athletics were represented by a drill-sergeant,
who came once a week and taught us stiff soldierly
walking, and a French dancing mistress, who en-
deavoured not only to teach us dancing, but to instil
elegance of pose and deportment ; these lessons I
thoroughly enjoyed as a little outlet for animal
spirits, and a desire for more exercise than was
thought suitable for young ladies.
On the weekly holiday, however, the reaction set
in, and with one or two chosen friends, carrying our
luncheon, we used to make trips into the country,
ostensibly for primrosing, blackberrying, nutting, and
so forth ; then we climbed gates and hedges, and
raced across fields like veritable tomboys, coming
back bronzed, scratched, and torn, but supremely
happy. I made many and true friends then, and
we are friends now, and a familiarity and bonhomie
exists between us that years cannot quench. There
are few friends like school friends ; and there is, I
believe, no discipline better than the school world,
where everyone finds his or her level, where angles
are knocked off, and lifelong friendships are made.
I am afraid that I was by no means a pattern
school-girl ; I was much too impetuous, daring,
and given to frolic and practical jokes. My
revered rhistress told me on one occasion that
" I should bring down my parents' grey hairs
(but they were not grey then) with sorrow to
the grave." This statement troubled me for a
GIRLHOOD 23
time, but as I saw no signs of impending sorrow at
home I soon got over it. Our punishments were
committing to memory passages from classical
writers, writing so many hundred lines, drinking
large doses of camomile tea, a very noxious de-
coction said to improve the memory, and, in very
bad cases, solitary confinement or expulsion. I am
glad to say that I escaped the two last, but I had fre-
quent experience of the three first, the camomile tea
having imprinted itself most clearly on my memory.
However, I got on with my studies, and rose from
class to class, occupying the coveted position of head
of the school before I left. Our studies included
English grammar and spelling, composition, recita-
tion, arithmetic, geography, and history, science as
far as contained in Mangnall's Questions and a few
other books, French, German, drawing, music, and
singing ; this was about the curriculum, including, of
course, religious instruction, for girls of my time.
I had the great privilege of spending my Sundays
at home, and they were in the best sense of the word
happy days. As my memory travels back to my early
childhood I have always a remembrance of happy
Sundays ; nothing dull or gloomy was ever associated
with them, and that not because we were good chil-
dren and naturally enjoyed good things, but because
the Christianity and sound common-sense of our
parents made Sunday the happiest day of the week.
We were more with them on a Sunday than on
any other day. Our week-day games and books
were put away on Saturday nights, and our bright
Sunday picture-books and Sunday puzzles were
brought out. Parents seem to leave their children
24 MY LIFE AMONG THE BLUEJACKETS
now on Sundays for " week-end " engagements, but
in the old days the week-end engagements were at
home. As Httle children the Sunday picture-book,
or puzzle, which our father helped us to look through,
or put together, while he told us the beautiful Bible
stories, always made a happy hour ; then the pretty
hymns for children just coming into vogue were
delightful, and I can see the little party now stand-
ing around the piano, while the mother played, and
the children sang : « O that will be joyful," " A little
ship was on the sea" "/ think when I read that sweet
story of old," and many another, with more energy
than harmony.
As we grew older we were taken to church in the
morning, and it was considered a treat to go to
church, and later in the afternoon there was a
stroll through the fields, and the honour of dining
with our parents and not in the nursery. Yes,
Sunday was a bright and happy day from start to
finish, and this is what it should be. We went
to All Saints' Church, where a little later Canon
Fleming ministered for some years.
About this time I had my first taste of travel ; it
was on a very small scale, but I thought of it by
day, and dreamed of it by night ; it was no less than
a journey to Ross and a trip down the Wye by boat
and waggonette — the beauties of Symond's Yat, and
the grand view from the summit, the visits to
Raglan and Goodrich Castles, and so on to Tintern.
We were a party of four — my father in charge,
and the three children. I have never seen Tintern
Abbey since and I never want to, as I should prob-
ably be disappointed. The picture is sharp and clear
GIRLHOOD 25
in my memory, the bend in the river, the Abbey old
and hoary standing on its green sward, and then,
best of all, the visit to the Abbey in the moonlight.
Sir Walter Scott said :
" If thou wouldst view fair Melrose aright :
Go visit it in the pale moonlight."
The same may be said of Tintern. Flooded with
moonbeams, its arches and pillars throwing deep
shadows, and the whole structure clothed with the
vague glimmering beauty of the light of a summer
moon, which threw both the Abbey and the river
into silver — all this was an experience not to be
repeated. The next day on to Chepstow with its old
Castle, and then back to Bath, my father's geological
basket heavier than when he started.
My knowledge of geology is very meagre, but it
was my delight as a school-girl on half-holidays not
only to help my father in collecting fossils (many an
Encrinite, Trilobite, and Ammonite having been un-
earthed by my quick fingers and sharp eyes), but I
was also allowed to help him in arranging his collec-
tion, sorting out, mounting, and naming under his
supervision. He had a large collection, and fre-
quently used to start on long geological trips to
the coal measures for ferns and fossil trees, to the
country round Lyme Regis, and other places, to
the valley of the Thames, &c., for fossils belonging
to the London clay, and so on. With hammer,
chisels, and fishing-basket he would walk twenty and
thirty miles a day, and would return, to my great
delight, with his treasures.
The country people looked upon him rather
26 MY LIFE AMONG THE BLUEJACKETS
suspiciously, and wondered what all this knocking
about of the rocks meant ; it did not seem quite
canny ! One old lady in the train complained
grievously of a fishing-basket being brought into
the railway carriage, and of the very disagreeable
smell of the fish in the aforesaid basket. She was
amazed when she saw the stones, and gave it as
her opinion " that a man who carried stones about
on his back must be somewhat crackit in the head."
And so school life and home life passed brightly
and happily on, without care or trouble or the
slightest anxiety about anything. My young days
were simple days, but happy days. School work
grew as I worked my way up. I was fond
of music and singing, and had the advantage
of very good masters, and I was very fond
of composition, which was then a strong point at
schools. A subject was given and the girls had to
write an essay upon it. These essays were read
and judgment passed upon them, and marks given.
Some of the girls were completely nonplussed, and
would sit for hours, pen in hand, but no thoughts
came.
Here I was able to give a little help, although I
can see now that I ought not to have done it, and
am quite prepared to be lectured as to being under-
hand and deceitful, yet I may truly say that this
thought never occurred to me. The girls wanted
help, and I was glad to give it. So I would write
five or six essays on the same subject, each one
different from the other. The girls read them and
received their marks, and I was greatly improved
thereby in composition. But looking back upon
GIRLHOOD 27
it, I see plainly enough that they were sailing under
false colours, and that the false colours were my
own hoisting ; but, as I have said before, I was by
no means a good girl at school, though I believe
that I was fairly popular.
We used from time to time to have grand suppers
in various bedrooms, and sometimes in the box-room.
I can see these suppers now 1 They generally took
place when a box or hamper had come from home,
although the rule was that these boxes and hampers
were to be given into the charge of the housekeeper,
and that each girl was to have a share. But that
always seemed unfair, and besides that, the rare fun
and excitement of a midnight supper was lost.
The first point was to smuggle in the hamper and
stow it away in a quiet corner. This was difficult,
but not impossible, although there was always a
danger that it would be found and confiscated. The
friends were invited, and when the eventful night
came, and girls and mistresses had retired to bed,
the owner of the hamper would steal forth, and
would unpack and lay out the supper to the best
advantage. The danger of lighting the gas was
too great, and candles were used, stuck round the
top of a box. The supper was of course delightful,
and the excitement intense ; the creaking of a board,
the rustling of a leaf outside, or the scratching of a
mouse would bring our hearts into our mouths. All
the good things possible were bolted, and the rest
swept into the hamper, and we stole away, white-
robed figures, to our beds.
On one occasion we were not to escape so easily.
One of the mistresses woke up, and her room being
28 MY LIFE AMONG THE BLUEJACKETS
at an angle with the room in which the feast was
going on, and the bHnd having been most carelessly
left up, she espied a glimmering light, thought of
fire, and proceeded to find out the cause. We were
all in full blast, making speeches, when all at once
a footfall fell upon our ears, and the next moment
a tall figure, candle in hand, and severity on every
line of her countenance, stood before us — we were
caught in the act.
In answer to my doubtless very improper sug-
gestion that she should join us, she took all our
names to report to the head mistress, confiscated
our good things, and ordered us to bed. The next
morning judgment fell upon us, and for several half-
holidays we were writing out the impositions, in
hundreds of lines from Shakespeare and Milton.
The important and exciting day of the term was
when the decisions were arrived at and the prizes
given. The whole school was assembled, with many
of their friends, and a concert took place, vocal and
instrumental. I had to take part in both, and I
literally knew what it was to feel my tongue cleave
to the roof of my mouth when I had to sing, and
my hands trembled as if I had the palsy, and the
music swam before me when I had to play. This
stage fright gradually passed away, but for years it
possessed me, and I never can forget my agony when,
acting as honorary organist at St. Stephen's Church,
I waited for the bell to cease chiming, knowing that
then I must begin my voluntary.
After our concert at school the head mistress read
the 13th chapter of the ist Corinthians, to show
us that the spirit of love, and not of jealousy, should
GIRLHOOD 29
fill our hearts. I am afraid that we did not attend
much to the Bible, as the fateful Prize List was about
to be read. At last the secret was out, and one girl
after another went up to receive her well-earned
prize amidst the applause of her schoolfellows ; and
then, O joy ! the holidays commenced, and we were
free.
And so the school years rolled on. The year
1855 was an eventful one for the country. With the
year 1854 war was declared against Russia, and
wild excitement reigned ; the soldier and the sailor,
not thought much of in times of peace, were every-
thing in time of war. Ships were commissioned and
sent to the Baltic and the Black Sea, regiments
marched to various railway stations to entrain for
Portsmouth, Southampton, and other ports, from
whence on crowded transports they sailed for the
seat of war. Poor fellows, they went off amidst cheers
and band playing ; but the siege of Sebastopol, and
the terrible winter in the Crimea, where food and
clothes were at a premium, and the men frozen to
death in the trenches, left its mark upon thousands.
We were all greatly excited, and worked hard to
make warm things for the soldiers ; they probably
never reached them, but we did our best, and re-
joiced as we thought of the men enjoying our
mufflers and comforters. Every scrap of news was
caught hold of ; some of the girls had relations in the
army, and the list of killed and wounded was eagerly
scanned.
I had no relatives in the Crimea, so the terrible
news was shorn of its horrors to me ; but my time
was to come. My two soldier cousins were serving
30 MY LIFE AMONG THE BLUEJACKETS
in India, although my cousin Charles, Captain, after-
wards Major Weston, was in England with his wife
and little golden-haired daughter at this time. No
sooner had the black storm-cloud of the Crimean
war rolled by than the blacker storm of the Indian
Mutiny broke over the country, with its fearful
massacres and unspeakable wrongs.
General Wheeler, Commandant at Cawnpore, had
lived in Bath, and we were acquainted with both
himself and his charming daughter. Miss Wheeler.
How little we thought what a sad fate awaited her,
as in order to escape from the Sepoys she met
her death. The well of Cawnpore will always be
a sacred spot to every Englishman. My cousin
Charles was ordered out to join his regiment, leaving
wife and child in safe keeping at home ; when he
got out, the regiment having become disaffected and
having gone to pieces, he was given a post as captain
(or in naval language, lieutenant), in the Naval
Brigade, composed of bluejackets and marines, under
the command of Captain Peel, R.N.
The bluejackets' dash and gallantry just suited the
young military officer. After a while there was a
fort to be taken, and the command of the expedition
was given into Captain Weston's hands. He drew
out the plans with soldierlike care, and divided his
men ; a detachment was to be led by himself, and
another detachment was lying ambushed to take the
fort in the rear. The night was dark, and all went
well, until the commanding officer received a shot
through the chest, which carried in a button and a
piece of his uniform.
He fell, and the bluejackets forgot all the arrange-
GIRLHOOD 31
merits, and only thinking of avenging their captain,
they charged over him ; the men in ambush joined
them, and by force of dash and numbers they took the
fort, spiked the guns, put the rebels to the sv^ord,
and, dashing back, secured their wounded officer,
and carried him to a place of safety.
I have often heard him praise the bluejackets as
"splendid fellows, but a little too hasty, and some-
what forgetful of strategy " on shore. Be it remem-
bered these were bluejackets of the olden times, but
their pluck and courage was only equalled by their
kindness and tenderness ; they nursed him under the
doctor, if not with the skill of a trained nurse, yet
with the gentleness of a woman ; and when he was
ordered down the river to Calcutta, and thence to
England, a party of them took him in the boat, and
parted with him, after carrying him to his hotel, with
tears in their honest eyes and parting cheers for
their " soldier captain, who was the best officer they
had ever served under."
He returned to England looking very ill, with his
arm in a sling and useless — X rays were not known
then — and as month after month passed on it seemed
unlikely that he would ever get the use of it ; but,
staying at Dunrobin Castle, the Duke of Sutherland's
seat in Scotland, one night a fire broke out ; the
servants and all the gentlemen visitors manned the
hose and the pumps ; the young soldier, in the excite-
ment of the moment, thought nothing of his arm,
and, after one moment of agony, pumped with all his
might, and from that time the strength and power so
long lost came back to him. This cousin is alive as
I write these words, and is every inch a soldier and
32 MY LIFE AMONG THE BLUEJACKETS
an Englishman ; and although he might have wished
that my work had been among the men of his own
profession, he says : " Well, you can't do too much
for Jack, who has done so much for me."
My other soldier cousin was Captain Gould
Weston (afterwards Lieutenant - Colonel Hunter-
Weston) ; he was detailed to Lucknow under
General Lawrence, whom he loved as a son loves
a father ; together they went through the awful
siege, and General Lawrence died in his arms.
In those days news was slow in transmission, and
often incorrect, and I shall never forget the anxiety
we went through, not knowing the fate of our dear
ones, especially Gould, shut up in the Residency.
He was mentioned in despatches for bravery, as was
Charles, and many of their plucky acts I may have
forgotten, but one Lucknow incident imprinted itself
on my memory.
The water in the garrison had become tainted,
and the one well of fresh water lay down a narrow
pathway, which was so swept by the enemy's shot,
that it was called " Death's Alley " ; every well was
useful, but some dried up and others got tainted,
and there was nothing fit for the women and children
except this one ; the men, being stronger, could
manage with other wells.
Who would volunteer to go for this water and
risk death ? I am proud to say that a young officer
volunteered to do it, and fearlessly he went down
" Death's Alley " ; he was seen by the Sepoys, and
shot and shell whistled around and over him ; calmly
he went and drew the water, and as calmly returned,
untouched. " I thought of the women and children,"
GIRLHOOD 33
he said ; " I could not bear to hear them moaning,
and the children crying for water."
The joyful day when the skirl of the bagpipes
heralding the approaching Highlanders was heard
could never be forgotten. It was a joy indeed to
welcome this brave fellow back, and it is my happi-
ness and pride now to see the traits of the father in
his son, Lieutenant-Colonel Aylmer Hunter- Weston,
D.S.O., who distinguished himself in the Boer War
by his gallant conduct.
CHAPTER III
WHAT SHALL I DO WITH MY LIFE?
I WAS now between sixteen and seventeen years of
age, and had been for some months at the head of
the school, and the time came on for leaving. It
was a time that I had looked forward to with great
delight, and yet when it came I was sorry — sorry
to leave the many warm friends that I had made,
and sorry to embark on an unknown future. How
true I have since found the words to be :
" My barque is wafted to the shore
By love divine :
And on the helm there rests a hand,
Other than mine."
The Good Shepherd who had watched over me
during the careless days of school life was going
to draw me nearer to Himself. I did not know it,
and should have repudiated it violently at that time.
Although I was leaving school, and life stretched
before me, I did not wish to be " religious " ; I had
other hopes and other aims, and the future looked
very rosy and golden.
Just before this time a young clergyman, the
Rev. James Fleming, afterwards Canon Fleming,
was appointed to All Saints' Church ; he succeeded
the Rev. Arthur Sugden, who was well known
34
WHAT SHALL I DO WITH MY LIFE? 35
to us, and as school-girls are violent partisans,
and have more heart than judgment, we resented
the change, and thought that Mr. Sugden had been
forced by the then Rector of Walcot to resign.
Whether this was true or not I cannot say, but all
the girls, myself included, were bitterly opposed to
Mr. Fleming ; of course he knew nothing of this, but
I carried my resentment so far that I would not
listen to his preaching, but stopped my ears, and
read novels during the sermons.
Mr. Fleming's preaching, as I knew afterwards to
my joy, was clear, faithful, and vigorous — Christ
first, last, and midst ; and it told upon his congrega-
tion ; the numbers increased until the church would
scarcely hold them, but I was untouched still. How
little we know the course of God's loving Providence.
Had any one spoken personally to me in those days
I should have resented it, for I was reserved and
proud, and it would have driven me further off; but
the Holy Spirit drew me on, and little by little I
began to listen to the preaching, then I became
interested, but I was hard and stony indeed.
I knew that my parents were praying for me, and
yet — no, I could not give up, as I thought, youth and
society for Christ. And so some months passed by,
and Mr, Fleming was anxious that I should join his
confirmation class. If I was hard and proud, I was
honest ; I had seen so many going forward to con-
firmation, in which they would promise to renounce
the world in order that they might come out at the
Easter ball, that I went so far as to tell Mr. Fleming
of my difBculties, and he most kindly and sympa-
thetically entered into my feelings, and advised me
36 MY LIFE AMONG THE BLUEJACKETS
to wait until the rite should become a reality to me,
and in the meantime not to forget prayer, and to
study my Bible.
This I did, and gradually the mists rolled away. I
saw myself as God saw me, as a sinner indeed, only
to be saved by the blood of Jesus Christ God's Son,
that cleanseth from all sin ; and as I rested my all
upon the Saviour the burden of sin rolled away,
and I realised the glorious truth that He had borne
my sins, and that by His stripes I was healed.
I was happy indeed, life had a new meaning to
me. I remember writing a little note to my father
and mother and telling them all about it, and how
overjoyed they were. I found, to my amazement,
that they had been praying for this from my baby-
hood ; the next thing was to tell Mr. Fleming, and
to ask to join the confirmation class. I need not
say how kindly he welcomed me, and how he
rejoiced that he had been the means of so much
blessing to me, and so a friendship commenced
between us, which grew and strengthened with
years.
It was a sad blow to us all when he went to Cam-
berwell, but his success and popularity was always
a joy. I met him from time to time, and spoke
in his parish when he was at St. Michael's, Chester
Square. He took the greatest interest in my work
among the sailors, and became one of the Trustees
of the Royal Sailors' Rests, which post he held until
his death. He wrote me many a kind and loving
note, and our friendship of over forty years was
never marred by any misunderstanding. I often used
to wonder that the man who could draw Sunday after
WHAT SHALL I DO WITH MY LIFE? 37
Sunday such congregations of all ranks — the aristo-
cracy, Members of Parliament, thinking and scientific
men, and working folk — did not become somewhat
puffed up ; but he was always the same, the simplicity
that was in Christ was in him ; there was no thought
of self, the Master was his all in all, and his main
desire was to hold the Lord Jesus Christ up as a
Prince and a Saviour ; and whether he preached at
Sandringham or at St. Michael's, or recited to our
bluejackets and their wives in the large hall at
the Royal Sailors' Rest, Portsmouth, his charming
personality won all hearts. He has gone to his
reward, and I value more than tongue can tell a
message of love that he sent me just before he passed
away.
I duly went through his confirmation class, and
was confirmed by the Bishop of Bath and Wells in
Walcot Parish Church. It was a solemn service to
me ; I felt the reality of it ; I had given my heart to
Christ, and my one desire was to be used in His
service, and I felt that confirmation enabled me to
stand up boldly on my Master's side.
The Bishop's earnest fatherly admonitions, the
bright face of Mr. Fleming, my spiritual father, and
the hand laid upon my head in blessing, all com-
bined by God's help to make my confirmation a
reality to me, and I began to try to do a little for
Him who had done so much for me. I had a class
in the Sunday-school, and a few old and invalid
people that I used to visit and read to.
The great Adversary never rests : if he finds that
those that might have been on his side are slipping
from him, and that he cannot hinder the light of God's
38 MY LIFE AMONG THE BLUEJACKETS
love shining in their hearts, he will try to throw dust
into their eyes, and so it was in my case. Doubtless to
a great extent it was my own fault ; I was becoming
unwatchful and cold, slipping back ; outwardly all
was the same, but inwardly darkness began to settle
down. Higher criticism and new theologies had
not come forward under those names, but the same
temptation with which the evil one assaulted our
first parents in the Garden of Eden, the doubting
spirit, has always been current, and that temptation
assaulted me.
Dr. Colenso's works were published, and were
attracting great attention, and geological science was
used by some to undermine the teaching of the
Bible. I read these books with avidity, and the
darkness gathered round my heart, a sad contrast to
the bright sunshine that was there before ; but as in
the natural world, the sun was still there, although
a London fog had settled upon my spirit. I suppose
that we must all buy our own experience, and buy it
dearly. I doubted everything, even the love of God ;
for hours I used to wander about in the fields
swallowed up in a maze of darkness, doubts, and
fears, and almost despair.
I quite allow that it must seem strange, as it does
to me now, that I did not consult Canon Fleming, or
my own father, who, as a scientific man, knew all these
difficulties, had battled with them, and had come out
on the sunny side. Whether it was pride or reserve
in my heart I do not know, but I told no one of the
storm that was raging within, and every foothold
seemed swept away. I prayed and strove, was
diligent in " good works," as they are called, and at
WHAT SHALL I DO WITH MY LIFE? 39
times happiness and tranquillity would come, and I
heard what I now know to have been the voice of
God's Good Spirit in my heart. Then again doubts,
misgivings, sceptical delusions crowded my soul.
At this time my father took up the study of
astronomy, in concert with a great friend of his,
a naval officer, who had a lo-inch reflector equatori-
ally mounted in his garden. My father gave a great
deal of time to the study of the heavens, and
eventually started a 6-inch reflector of his own, and
joined the Royal Astronomical Society, of which,
later, he was elected a Fellow.
Night after night we used to work this telescope,
studying the mountains and ravines of the moon,
Mars with his snows and strange markings, Jupiter
with his satellites, Venus, the most brilliant of the
planets, and Saturn with belt and satellites. At our
house on Sion Place we were on classical ground,
for the great Sir William Herschel had formerly lived
but a bowshot from us, and had swept the heavens
to such effect, coupled with his wonderful mathe-
matical calculations, that he discovered the planet
Uranus.
I cannot describe the delight that this study gave
me, and the wonderful views of God's might as
Creator ; " that there must be a God behind all
created things " was firmly impressed upon my
mind, and the first words of the Bible became very
real to me, " In the beginning GOD."
An eclipse of sun or moon was a very busy time,
or an occultation, or a transit, or the approach of
a comet, or the study of Mercury, which must be
just before sunrise. Many a night slipped away,
40 MY LIFE AMONG THE BLUEJACKETS
and many a daylight hour was spent in bed at this
time of my life. I felt that I was not fit to teach
others, which was very true, but God was teaching
and training me.
Our 6-inch reflector was an excellent instrument,
resolving nebulae, and showing the binary stars of
different colours. I seemed to live in fairyland, and
the old words were often in my heart, " the undevout
astronomer is mad."
It is not surprising to myself that the mental and
spiritual conflicts that I had gone through had some-
what undermined my health. The family doctor
was called in, and he prescribed fresh air, and plenty
of it. I was to throw away books and to take
to riding, swimming, walking, &c. &c. This was a
very pleasant prescription, and my father soon made
arrangements for me to carry it out.
Riding had not been in my curriculum, or swim-
ming either, but both these arts were to be learned,
and ere long, dressed in the long riding habit then
in vogue, with beaver hat and long feather, I was
mounted upon a quiet nag, and under the care of
a good riding-master, Mr. Cavill, an old cavalry
soldier, I was soon learning to sit, to trot, to canter,
and to explore the country round Bath. At last
I was advanced to the control of a beautiful little
mare with blood in her, " Jenny Lind " by name.
She and I became very good friends. I had always
a piece of bread or a lump of sugar for her, and her
pretty head and bright eyes were turned to greet me,
with an eager whinny, as I came out of the house.
We knew one another, and felt one, and as I write I
can almost hear the wind whistling past, as once on
WHAT SHALL I DO WITH MY LIFE? 41
the open downs we broke into a canter, and then
into a gallop, clearing furze-bushes and ditches,
sometimes to the consternation of the riding-master
and other pupils, whose heavier horses could not
keep up with the spirited mare.
All this riding was, I am sure, a great boon to me,
and so was the swimming, although I had to learn
in the tepid mineral bath near the Pump Rooms.
Still the art was acquired, and when in the summer
we went to the seaside, my joy in that respect was
complete — plain swimming, fancy swimming, treading
water, diving for sixpences and other small things
thrown into the sea. There are, I think, few more
exhilarating and useful arts than that of swimming
and diving, disporting yourself in a new element.
If I had my will every boy and girl in the country
should learn to swim.
Time had slipped by since I had left school, and
it was now, as far as I can remember, about the year
1859 or i860. My father began seriously to think
of building a house on the top of Lansdown, some
700 feet above the sea. I know that one of the
thoughts in his kind heart was that it would be good
for me, as well as for my mother and for my
brother and sister, who would go up and down the
hill to school, and that also on the top of the hill he
could build an observatory, with a larger telescope
and a revolving dome. All this was a great delight,
and the purchase of the land, the plans for the house
and grounds, gave plenty of scope for thought and
brain work.
We left our old home in Sion Place for a house
in St. James' Square, that had belonged to a friend
42 MY LIFE AMONG THE BLUEJACKETS
of ours, and my father and myself were up and
down Lansdown every day, living in the open air,
ajid watching the walls of our new house arise.
About a quarter of a mile off Beckford's Tower, as
it was called in old days, stood in grounds that were
once lovely. The eccentric and wealthy William
Beckford lived in Lansdown Crescent, but he wanted
to build a high tower on Lansdown, in which he
could collect works of art, and from which he could
see another tower on his estate at Fonthill ; added to
this he made a road from Lansdown Crescent to
Lansdown Tower, up and down which he could
ride without any one seeing him. I remember the
awe with which, as children, we looked at the great
nail-studded doors that guarded this wonderful
road.
Mr. Beckford seemed to think that the air of
Lansdown would make him invulnerable, but he
died in due time, leaving instructions to his daughter,
the Duchess of Hamilton, that he should be buried
in the Tower grounds near to his favourite dog.
The Duchess solved the difficulty by giving the
Tower and a large piece of land to the Rector of
Walcot for the time being for a cemetery. It was
duly consecrated, and is very dear to me, for both
my father and my mother lie there side by side,
awaiting the glorious morning of the resurrection.
While our house was building, I took up the study
of the organ ; the instrument fascinated me, the
difficulties were great, especially the system of in-
dependent pedalling, just coming into vogue ; but
the joy of having not only one instrument, but a
whole orchestra, by means of stops, at your command.
WHAT SHALL I DO WITH MY LIFE? 43
was so great that I determined, if it was possible, to
master it. My uncle, Mr. Charles Fox, had a very
fine chamber organ in his house, of some twenty
stops and two and a half octaves of pedals ; he was
very fond of organ music, and encouraged me in my
desire, and a cousin of mine, a good organist, taught
me the rudiments.
On my return home after this visit to Plymouth,
I was most eager to go on with the study, and my
parents, both of them very musical, took the greatest
interest in this new departure. I think from what I
have heard since, that they considered that I had
boundless energy which must be worked off, until
God Himself should show the channel through which
it was to flow.
At that time J. K. Pyne, Esq., was organist of
the Abbey Church, Bath ; I was placed under his
professional teaching, and he took unfeigned interest
in my progress. The organ was not in those days
in the north transept as at present, but placed across
the nave, at the entrance to the choir, on a handsome
carved oak organ-loft. It was a fine instrument —
three rows of keys and some fifty stops ; the original
organ was built by Father Schmidt, but it had been
added to from time to time ; still there were some
stops, notably a stopped diapason, of exquisite
sweetness.
I studied Rink's Organ School, then advanced to
Handel's Choruses, and J. S. Bach's Fugues. The
Rev. Charles Kemble was Rector of the Abbey then ;
he used his vestry as a study, and often used to walk
up and down the aisles enjoying the music as I
played piece after piece. I studied Thorough Bass
44 MY LIFE AMONG THE BLUEJACKETS
and Counterpoint, and worked up the history of
music, and also the mechanism of the organ.
This I wanted sometimes, when a note would
begin "ciphering," or something would go wrong.
I remember once hearing a story of a frightful noise
as the wind was pumped into the organ at St.
Margaret's Church, Bath ; fortunately the organist
was only practising, not playing for a service. He
lighted a candle, and went into the organ, to be met
by a heavy body swinging through the air, and a
cloud of dust, which put out his candle, and he
honestly confessed that he left the organ more quickly
than he entered it, just in time to see a large cat
rushing down the aisle.
After I had worked for some time under Mr. Pyne,
as well as I can remember about the years '64 or
'65, he proposed that I should aim higher, and,
if possible, should become a pupil of the celebrated
organist and composer, Dr. S. S. Wesley, of
Gloucester Cathedral. Dr. Wesley was a man of
genius ; he took but few pupils, and the idea of a lady
pupil, I may say, as we became fast friends after-
wards, was very repugnant to him. However, at the
earnest request of his friend, Mr. Pyne, he offered to
hear me play, if I would meet him at a church at
Cheltenham, and then give his verdict. Accompanied
by my mother, I went to Cheltenham, and found the
church. It was open, and so was the organ, and
the blowers were present, but where was Dr.
Wesley ? He had been there, and would return
again, if I would familiarise myself a little with the
instrument.
Stage fright and a strange organ were a terrible
WHAT SHALL I DO WITH MY LIFE? 45
combination ; however, I tried over one or two pieces,
got bolder, pulled out all the stops, rang for plenty
of wind, and embarked in Bach's Fugue in G Minor ;
somehow or other I got on, fingers and feet flew
over the keys, and when I closed I heard a deep
voice from the church saying, " How soon can you
come to Gloucester ? " It was Dr. Wesley, who had
come into the church quite unknown to me, arriving,
as my mother told me afterwards, when I commenced
the fugue.
We had a little friendly conversation, and he asked
whether, although I was not going to take up the
organ as a profession, I wished to be taught as an
amateur or as a professional ? I told him that " I
wanted hard, sharp training." " You shall have it,"
he replied grimly ; " come back with me to Gloucester,
and I will ask the Dean to allow you to study upon
the Cathedral organ."
Gloucester Cathedral is a magnificent pile, with
its stately Norman nave and lovely choir, and at that
time, as at Bath, the organ was across the nave, at
the entrance to the choir ; for effect there is nothing
like it ; the full tones of the pedal stops, and the
sweet notes of choir, swell, and solo organs are
heard to grand advantage, not to be obtained, I think,
when they are placed in transepts, or divided into
two or three parts far from each other, as is some-
times the case.
Once at Gloucester I had not only to work, but
to work hard, practising five hours a day. I soon
became enamoured of the organ, and knew its every
stop and beauty. Dr. Wesley was very good, but
very strict ; a false note was agony to him, and woe
46 MY LIFE AMONG THE BLUEJACKETS
to you if you repeated it twice, but he spared no
pains in teaching me, and was, I may truly say,
kindness itself.
Mendelssohn said : " Dr. Wesley is the greatest
organist that the world has ever seen, or is likely to
see." It was an education indeed to hear him play ;
his voluntaries were all impromptu compositions.
When the chanting of the Psalms came he would
close his music-book, open his Prayer-book, and
accompany the choir as only a man can who is a
genius, and a deeply religious man. The anthems
again were a treat, especially his own anthems, and
among them perhaps the grandest was " The Wilder-
ness." He greatly delighted in congregational sing-
ing, and when the nave of the Cathedral was full
it was grand to hear him peal forth the " Old
Hundredth," every verse different, and also to hear
the outburst of song from that grand congregation.
He played all Handel's choruses from memory,
without any music, and when he felt like it, at the
close of the service, a magnificent chord would show
that he was going to compose a fugue that no one
had ever heard before, or probably would ever hear
again, unless he jotted it down. All the musical
people would remain, and would have a rich treat.
He was singularly simple, and disliked the praise of
great people, but would often smile at his pupils
when they praised him, and say, " Well, I am glad
that you liked it."
One of my fellow-pupils was Kendrick Pyne, as
he was called then, afterwards Dr. Kendrick Pyne,
the organist of Manchester Cathedral. It was plea-
sant to me, and brought back old times, to read
WHAT SHALL I DO WITH MY LIFE? 47
the well-merited eulogy pronounced upon him a
short time ago, when he retired from the organist-
ship of the Cathedral, by the Dean of Manchester.
He was the son of Mr. Pyne of Bath, and my fellow-
pupil at Gloucester : we could both of us tell a few
tales of each other, if we cared to, I dare say.
Having to practise for so many hours I was fre-
quently in the Cathedral after dark, the only lights
being in the organ-loft, and my own lantern by
which to get out of the building. There were many
ghost stories connected with the Cathedral, and one
was the story of a warrior, I think a Crusader, who
was buried under the organ-loft. The story was
that he frequently appeared, always after dark, and
walked down the nave, his mailed feet and spurs
being plainly heard on the pavement, walking to the
west end ; he would return up one of the side aisles,
and his footsteps would suddenly cease at the little
chapel where his grave stood.
I had heard all this, and many other stories from
my fellow-pupils, but I hope that natural pluck and,
above all, trust in God, kept me calm. However, I
was to be tested, as the sequel will show. One evening
Dr. Wesley was giving me a lesson in the Cathedral
after dark ; in the feeble glimmer of the lamps in the
organ-loft the great columns of the nave looked
vast, black, and mysterious indeed. I was studying
a difficult piece of music with him, when a messenger
arrived, to say that a musical friend was waiting at
his house on important business.
" Would you allow me to go for a few minutes,"
he said, " while you practise that piece ? I shall soon
return ; " adding, as he went down the stairs, " I hope
48 MY LIFE AMONG THE BLUEJACKETS
you will not mind my locking you into the Cathedral ;
we are not allowed to leave the doors unfastened."
Despising as I did all supernatural fears, I replied,
laughing, " Oh no, I have plenty to do, lock me in
by all means," and I went on diligently studying
the difficult music, without giving any thought to
" spooks," even if they hailed back to the Crusades.
All at once I heard a muffled footstep, and the
organ-blower came out white and trembling ; he had
heard it too. We listened ; the footsteps, evidently
mailed, and with spurs on, became more and more
distant, and almost died away ; but presently we heard
them returning from the west end of the building ;
they approached nearer and nearer, until they
paused in the side chapel at the foot of the organ-
loft stairs. I must say that I felt my flesh creep,
and that something supernatural seemed near, but
I crushed down my fears, and, lantern in hand,
rushed down the stairs and saw — nothing.
A few minutes later the clash of the keys in the
door announced Dr. Wesley's return ; after a short
time he detected something rather strange about me,
and wrung from me the unwilling confession that I
had not seen, but had heard the ghost. The story
lost nothing, as may be imagined, from the organ-
blower, and my fellow-pupils were very much awed,
and determined never to practise after nightfall in
the old building.
The happy days of study and work at Gloucester
passed all too quickly, and I returned to my home
at Bath ; but my father was so pleased with the
report that Dr. Wesley kindly wrote of me, that he
promised me a chamber organ, with two and a half
WHAT SHALL I DO WITH MY LIFE? 49
octaves of radiated pedals and a nice number of
stops, in the house that he had built. This organ
was a great pleasure to me during the years that I
remained at home, and it went with me to Devon-
port and was put up in our hall at the Sailors' Rest.
I found that all the various subjects that I had
mastered were of the greatest use in my future
work, laying a substratum of health and strength
that I retain to the present day, and enabling me
to supervise the bands and the music that are such
an attraction to the bluejackets, their wives and
friends, at the Sailors' Rests.
CHAPTER IV
TRAINING FOR LIFE WORK
As I have before mentioned, my life has been lived
out in the reign of our great Queen Empress. True,
she has passed away for some years, and as I write
I am still strong and active, and I think have
years of life before me. I honour the King, who
has been kindness itself to me, both as Prince of
Wales, and since he has ascended the throne ; but
I loved m}^ Queen, and I love her still, and when
my time comes I hope that I may be able to stand
at the post of duty to the end as she did.
When God has a work to be done He trains the
workers, and sometimes the training ma)^ seem long,
but He never makes a mistake, and He clears the
way day by day. The clouds and darkness that I
have spoken of, the valley of the shadow of death
through which I passed in earl}? life, was real solid
training. " I KNOW now, in whom I have believed,"
and I am able to sympathise with, and sometimes to
help others, who are plunging through the same
darkness. Other experiences that I have passed
through in my younger days have been made a
blessing to me in dealing with the trials and tempta-
tions that beset Jack's pathway, so that I can feel
now that God by His power has made all things
to work together for good and for His glory.
■;o
o
Q
<
O
5
TRAINING FOR LIFE WORK 51
I am still dealing with the portion of my life
running from about '61 or '62, when I was twenty-
two years of age, to '73. I returned from Gloucester
to our home on Lansdown. It was very dear to me
for thirteen consecutive years, and it was the home
to which my heart always turned when far away
from it, until my mother's death in 1895.
The situation was beautiful and I must try to
describe it. It stood some 700 feet above the sea,
the lawn sloped away, and the ground fell rapidly,
the down stretching behind it. It justified its
name of ^^ Ensleigh" — end of the lea — bestowed
upon it, and the view from the lawn or windows
on a clear summer's day is not easily described or
forgotten. The ground suddenly descends, and the
eye is carried over a fertile and beautiful valley to
a fine range of hills, one interlocking the other —
Hampton Down, Farleigh Hill with its tower, Little
Solsbury, another picturesque hill, till about twenty
miles off the panorama is closed by the chalk downs
of Wiltshire, and the edge of Salisbury Plain, in-
cluding the romantic Clay Hill, near Warminster,
while far below rise the towers and roofs of the
old city of Bath. The air was pure and exhilarating,
and although the climb up Lansdown was stiff, we
thought nothing of it in those young days. The
move to the new home early in the sixties was a
grand event ; the grounds were prettily laid out by
Sir Joseph Paxton, and contained many beautiful
trees and shrubs, with kitchen garden, stables, fernery,
croquet-lawn, &c. — all these added to its pleasures.
My father carried out his project of building
an observatory and mounting a 9-inch reflecting
52 MY LIFE AMONG THE BLUEJACKETS
telescope, some lo feet long, with a revolving dome
and clock-work arrangements to keep the object,
whether moon, or star, or planet, in the field of the
telescope ; his museum of geological specimens was
below.
On migrating to this new house our church be-
came St, Stephen's Church, and after some changes,
the Rev. Philip Eliot, now the Very Reverend the
Dean of Windsor, had the pastoral care of the
church and district; it was very pleasant to us, for
he was the son of an old and valued friend of
my father's. He was very earnest and zealous, an
excellent preacher, and good parish clergyman.
I took a class at the Beacon Hill Sunday-school
at his request, and I think that I had experience
in every age of childhood ; beginning with the infants,
I then passed on to the boys' school, where, after
experience in several classes, the unmanageables
began to be handed to me. I liked these unmanage-
ables very much, and at last I had a class that I
would not have exchanged for any other in the
parish.
One of my fellow-teachers, who has become a life-
long friend, was a Miss Walker ; her father had been
high in the Indian Civil Service, as it is called now.
She was a true Christian of very remarkable powers
and intellect, and she was a great help to me both
intellectually and spiritually. Some time afterwards
she married Professor C. C. Babington, Professor of
Botany at Cambridge, a man combining high in-
tellect with earnest Christianity. They were most
kindly in after years, and got me up splendid meet-
ings in Cambridge in connection with my work.
TRAINING FOR LIFE WORK 53
I remember them very well. One was in the Town
Hall, with the Vice-Chancellor in the chair, attended
by "town and gown"; the undergraduates became
so interested that they got up meetings in their own
rooms. I recollect one at Trinity College ; the room
was crowded ; six sat on a sofa built for four, four
sat on two chairs, others on the floor, and yet others
on the window sills with their legs hanging over the
quad. These meetings were conducted with great
decorum, the host saying a few words, and intro-
ducing me ; they listened with breathless interest and
seemed never tired. Sometimes these meetings were
at eight o'clock in the morning, followed by breakfast,
and sometimes in the afternoon, when five o'clock tea
was de rigueiir.
My only difficulty lay in the kindness of my hos-
pitable hosts, who insisted on my tasting all the good
things on the table, from Cambridge sausages upwards.
I can see their young earnest faces now, and many
a clergyman I have met in various parts of the country
who has reminded me of the meetings at Trinity,
St. John's, Jesus, Caius, and Emmanuel Colleges.
Bishop Tugwell was going over our Royal Sailors'
Rest, Devonport, recently, and he mentioned that he
had never forgotten one of those college meetings
which he had attended, and what an inspiration it
had been to him. It is a great delight to me to
think that God may have spoken through my simple
story to young men who were coming forward to
be our statesmen, legislators, clergy, and also dis-
tinguished men in other walks of life.
Through the kindness of my uncle, the late Mr. John
Bayly, of Plymouth, I was invited to take part in a
54 MY LIFE AMONG THE BLUEJACKETS
most delightful tour about the year 1871. I was
a '< little Englander " and never had been out of
my native land, so the prospect of the journey
was exhilarating indeed. The party consisted of my
uncle, his brother-in-law, Mr. Windeatt, my cousin
Agnes Bayly, and myself ; our luggage, by my uncle's
orders, was to be limited. The route was to cross from
Plymouth to Cherbourg by one of the ocean-going
steamers, and then to travel first of all in Normandy.
We waited at the Royal Hotel, Plymouth, for the
signal that the tender would shortly put off. It was,
I believe, about midnight when we stepped on board
the big liner waiting for us in Plymouth Sound, and
the only thing to do was to turn in.
I slept soundly after watching the Start Lighthouse
sink below the horizon, and at about four or five
o'clock was rather roughly aroused by being rolled
out of bed on to the floor. However, it was but the
Race of Alderney, and a little movement was to be
expected. Thoroughly aroused, I dressed, and, after
a while, went on deck ; it was a glorious scene. The
sun was dancing on the water, and before us lay the
splendid breakwater or Digue of Cherbourg, and the
town itself stretching before us with its dockyard,
building slips, houses climbing the hills, &c. Here
we were transferred to another tender, and the big
ship pursued her course.
Our tour in Normandy was most interesting ; we
visited Rouen, Caen, Vire, Domfront, La Rochelle,
and many another old place. The views of the
castles interested me very much, for in the olden
times a certain de Bailleul left his castle to follow
Duke William to the conquest of England, while his
TRAINING FOR LIFE WORK 55
son, another Reginald, by following the fortunes of
Duke Robert, had his castle razed to the ground for
his pains. Leaving Normandy with its orchards,
the Devonshire of France, and its peasants with their
quaint dresses, we proceeded to Poictiers and on to
Dijon. The picturesque volcanic district of Auvergne
was the next halting-place — Nismes with its wonderful
amphitheatre and Roman remains, Lyons, that beauti-
ful city, and so on to Marseilles, the old port of the
Phoenicians and the cradle of Christianity, and we
were now on the shores of the classic Mediterranean.
I do not remember how far the railway went on,
possibly to Cannes and Nice, but certainly no
farther, fortunately for me. The drive from Nice to
Genoa along the famous Corniche Road is seldom
enjoyed now, and it is not to be matched in the
world. I forget how long it took us, but it was all
too short — the sea with its exquisite colour, now
blue, now like a peacock's breast, beating the rocks
hundreds of feet below ; the long narrow valleys up
which we drove spanned by a bridge, which we
crossed and drove down the other side ; the olive
trees, cork trees, ilex, and hardy palm. We stopped,
I think, for a night at Bordighera, where the palm
trees grow well, and, passing Monte Carlo with its
lovely gardens and terraces, and its hideous gambling
and ruination, that blot on the Mediterranean, we
went on to Mentone and thence to Genoa.
Genoa is redolent of the sea, and of the old days
when the Genoese were masters of the sea, and their
admirals unmatched. We stayed in the Genoese
Admiralty of olden days, a palace turned into a
hotel. You might ^^ dream that you dwelt in marble
56 MY LIFE AMONG THE BLUEJACKETS
halls" and wake up to find the dream true, and
marble staircases into the bargain.
After exploring Genoa, with its churches and all
its wonders, we turned our steps once more north-
ward, and proceeded to Milan. It was delightful to
visit the picture-galleries, and to revel in the old
masters, and also to see the churches, but the
Cathedral, a dream in white marble, has fixed itself
upon my memory, and also the view from the roof.
Our next halting-place was Turin ; my memory is
somewhat hazy as to Turin, although a royal palace,
beautiful public gardens, churches, and picture-
galleries were all duly visited ; but the following
Sunday, which we spent at Susa, at the foot of the
Alps, not very far from the entrance to the Mont
Cenis tunnel, is photographed upon my memory.
The tunnel was then making ; it took fourteen years
to accomplish.
The Sunday that we spent at Susa, before crossing
the Mont Cenis, was one of those glorious days more
common in Italy than in England — the deep blue
sky and the white clouds that sailed across it, the
woods of chestnut and other trees, and the rampart
of the Alps glistening with snow, will never be
forgotten. The next day we crossed into Savoy,
and, surrounded by the grandest views, came past
the lake of Annecy to Chambery, and so on to Paris.
As our tour had been greatly prolonged, our stay in
Paris was short ; and, via Havre and Southampton,
we were soon on terra firma in old England again,
after a most delightful trip.
But I must return to earlier days. I was now no
longer groping in the dark as to spiritual matters,
TRAINING FOR LIFE WORK 57
and afraid to utter truths that I had not realised
myself ; and although feeling myself less than the
least, I felt certain that God was training me for some
life-work ; what it was to be, I did not know. There
is an old English proverb, " Do ye nexte thynge," and
I prayed to be shown what that next thing was,
and to be able to do it.
In the early part of the year 1868, through the
kind interest of the chaplain, the Rev. E. J. Wright,
I received permission to visit the patients at the
Bath United Hospital. It was a joy to me to take
the poor fellows flowers from our garden, or the
woods, with a little text tied on to each, and in the
summer beautiful roses. How their faces used to
light up as I came into the ward with the basket,
and carried it round from bed to bed.
The chaplain arranged that I should hold a short,
simple service in each ward, once a week. It con-
sisted of prayer, reading a portion of Scripture, and
giving a short address. I can see them now, some
sitting near me at the table, some sitting up in
bed, and others unable to move, still listening, a
tear sometimes stealing over their faces. After this
little service we had many a quiet talk.
One afternoon I remember, while I was conduct-
ing the service in the " Albert " ward, a poor fellow,
terribly crushed by an accident in the stone quarries,
was brought in. The trail of his blood lay on the
floor over which he was carried, and a deep solemn
hush came over us as he was laid on a bed, the
screens placed round, and doctors and nurses
gathered inside ; after examination they pronounced
it to be a hopeless case. Hearing this, I asked the
58 MY LIFE AMONG THE BLUEJACKETS
doctor whether I might be allowed to speak to him.
" Oh, yes," he said, " but you will do him no good ;
he will never be conscious in this world, so it doesn't
matter what you say to him." Armed with this per-
mission I sat down by his side, and, asking God for
the right word, and that he should be able to hear
and understand it, for he was apparently unconscious,
I put my hand on his shoulder and repeated the first
text that came into my mind.
'* God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten
Sort, that whosoever believeth in Him, should not perish,
but have everlasting life''
After a short pause, I repeated it again ; he moved
slightly, his lips quivered, and big tears rolled down
his rough cheeks. This was my answer, and I felt
that I could leave him, and who could say what
passed between that soul and God. He died in the
night without regaining more consciousness.
On another visit I found a poor fellow lying in
the Edinburgh ward, near his end. He mentioned
Miss Marsh, and the loving words that she had
spoken to him, and he sobbed bitterly as he told me
of his wife and children, whom he was about to
leave. I tried to point him to the Lord Jesus Christ
as the object of his faith. We were disturbed by
men from the other wards trooping in to the service,
but after it was over, he beckoned me to him, and
said earnestly, " I've decided to trust Jesus."
Dear Miss Marsh, what a blessing she has been
to thousands, and what a factor in my early life.
Her books, " Life of Captain Hedley Vicars, 97th
Regiment," " The Life of Major Vandeleur, Royal
Artillery," " English Hearts and English Hands,"
TRAINING FOR LIFE WORK 59
" Work among the Navvies at the Building of the
Crystal Palace " — all these books stirred and
helped me wonderfully. Miss Marsh has been
a grand pioneer in women's work for God ; I owe
her a debt of gratitude not to be told, and it
was a happiness to me to receive a letter, dictated
by herself, not long ago. She has lived to a con-
siderable age, and earth will be the poorer when
she leaves it.
The coal-pits of Radstock and other places were
not far from Bath, and are often the scenes of acci-
dents of various kinds. One day as I went from
bed to bed in the Albert Ward the cradle over one
of the beds told of a fracture ; the view of the man's
face was blocked, but when I got to the head of the
bed, a white mask, with holes for eyes, nose, and
mouth, met my gaze, and the nurse told me of a
sad accident. The man was a collier and had
been brought in from the Radstock pits. The
accident had occurred in blasting ; both his legs
were fractured, and his face blackened and burned
by gunpowder.
As far as I could judge by his voice he seemed
glad to see me, and as well as he could he said
a word about his wife and little children. I went
in to see him every day. He was as simple as a
child, but the doctors feared that he would die of
blood poisoning as one of the fractures was com-
pound, and the wonderful antiseptic treatment in
vogue at the present day was not invented. I never
saw his face, but I repeated to him as we talked
together a little prayer of Miss Marsh's that I often
used myself, " O God, wash me from all my sins in
6o MY LIFE AMONG THE BLUEJACKETS
my Saviour's blood and I shall be whiter than snow.
Fill me with the Holy Ghost, for Jesus Christ's sake.
Amen."
He repeated these words after me with deep
feeling, and afterwards said, " I often say them to God
at night when the ward is quiet." " Do you think
that He hears you ? " I said. " I am sure He
does," he answered. The next day the nurses said
that the doctor thought that he was sinking. He
had been asking for me. I went up to him and
took his hand. I had to bend down over the white
cotton mask to hear his words. " God bless you,"
he said ; " I'm very near death, but I'm not afraid
of it now I've got Jesus." I went to see him the
next day, but the sheet was drawn over his face ;
he had just passed away. This hospital work was
a real experience to me, and I carried it on until
other work claimed me.
I was asked about this time by Messrs. Drummond
and Co., of Stirling, to weave any incidents into tracts
and booklets ; this I did, and my pen began to be
enlisted in good work. Messrs, Drummond, Messrs.
Partridge & Co., and the Religious Tract Society
published these little books, which obtained a wide
circulation, and I hope did good. I still worked
away at the Sunday-school under the Rev. P. F.
Eliot. The unruly classes seemed to be my lot.
A strong, rough character becomes a wonderful
tool in God's hand whenever guided by the Holy
Spirit.
As time went on my senior boys continued to
stand by me, and as they grew on to eighteen
and nineteen years of age they were too old for
TRAINING FOR LIFE WORK 6i
the school, and at Beacon Hill then we had no
class-rooms.
At Mr. Eliot's wish I moved first into the vestry
of St. Stephen's Church ; the class increased, m.arried
men joined, and we soon became too large for the
vestry, and one of the members of the class offering
his kitchen in Winifred Lane, we adjourned there,
Mr. Eliot coming in to see us, and giving us every
countenance and help. The kitchen was crowded,
and much blessing in changed lives and homes fol-
lowed these simple ministrations. The fame of it
spread ; as our American friends would say, " it
caught on," and a deputation of working-men waited
upon me to ask whether I could not have a class
nearer the parish church further down the hill. I
could not give up my old friends in Winifred Lane,
but the Rev. Canon Bernard, rector of the parish,
kindly allowed me the use of the parish school-
room in Guinea Lane after the school was over.
I used to go first to Winifred Lane at three
o'clock, then on to Guinea Lane for a five o'clock
class, eating a sandwich as I went. The schoolroom
at Guinea Lane formed a good centre, and the at-
tendance was from eighty to a hundred every Sunday.
I remember our opening Sunday well. There
had been frost and snow and then a thaw ; this
was caught on Sunday morning with an ice grip
which turned it into a sheet of glass.
Those that know Lansdown Hill will appreciate my
difficulties. To get a wheeled carriage up or down
was impossible, and to walk in the ordinary way, even
with ice clamps, on such a hill was very difficult ;
but a countryman suggested a simple remedy.
>.■
62 MY LIFE AMONG THE BLUEJACKETS
" Borrow a pair of your father's or brother's socks,"
he said, " and put them over your boots, and I'll
guarantee that you will go and come back safe as
a trivet." I followed his advice and got down safely,
meeting a large body of men, and so this work
prospered.
After a while, about 1868, so much had grown out
of the Sunday Class — Penny Readings, which were
then in vogue, Temperance Work, Prayer Meetings,
&c., that the schoolroom was no longer suitable. I
had a good committee of working-men around me,
and with my father's consent and approval we rented
a Mission Room in East Walcot that just suited us.
The men helped me to fit it up, and it was opened by
a large tea meeting, to which every man might bring
his " missus."
It was a nice, bright, warm opening ; the " mis-
suses," if they had been hostile before, were quite
won over, and expressed their approval of the work
in no measured terms. *' Well there, my Jim do
like it ; as soon as he's washed and had his tea, then
he do want to go off to Miss Weston's rooms, and
now I see it for myself I don't wonder." " My Bill
he likes it a sight better than the public-house ; he
has given up the drink, and he says this is the public-
house without the drink, and this is a wunnerful cup
o' tea ; Miss Weston do know how to make it strong
and sweet." " Keeps the men in a good temper,"
said another woman, " and gives them something
to do and to think about ; we do thank you, Miss
Weston, for looking after our men-folk."
All this and much more was said at our socials,
when husbands and wives came together, and better
TRAINING FOR LIFE WORK 63
still, I have an entry in an old diary which I will
transcribe: "Tuesday, May 23rd. — Had a prayer-
meeting ; there were only 1 2 men present ; they
prayed most earnestly for a revival in their midst,
nor did they pray in vain. The result was soon
apparent ; many men were stirred up, a house to
house visitation was proposed, and the more earnest-
minded set to work to visit their fellow-workmen,
and to induce them to come to the meetings."
Once again: "Wednesday, June i8th. — The meet-
ings still continue large and earnest, prayer is offered
up. God has indeed been good to us, and many a man
has testified that he has given his heart to Christ."
And so, with the manifest blessing of God the Holy
Spirit, the work went on.
I was now fairly busy ; God had opened out to me
lines of work. In the Hospital, at my Mission Room,
teaching in the Sunday-school, and visiting in my
district, also acting frequently as honorary organist.
A friend of mine, now passed to her reward, Miss
Williams, of Catherine Place, Bath, took me down to
her district, which was in Avon Street, a very low
part, a rendezvous of tramps, gypsies, and outcasts ;
she had wonderful influence over these people, and
she was what I was not at that time, a strong total
abstainer.
She saw the terrible evil of the drink, and the need
to combat it, not only by talking about it, but by
taking up the cross, and denying herself a luxury,
that she might set her people a good example. I
did not see the necessity of such a drastic measure ;
I thought that I was under no temptation myself,
and that the glass of wine that I took occasionally
64 MY LIFE AMONG THE BLUEJACKETS
did me good, and could do nobody any harm if
they followed my example : " ifs " and " buts " are
dangerous things.
My friend got up a large temperance meeting in
Avon Street, and she asked me to be one of the
speakers, to which I willingly consented. The room
was crowded, and the meeting was bright. I spoke,
proving to my own satisfaction the evils of drink,
and others much more fitted than myself spoke as
well. At the close of the meeting several people
came up to sign the pledge ; amongst others was a
man, a chimney-sweeper, with plenty of marks of his
profession upon him ; two friends were with him, one
on each side. He had without doubt been " liquor-
ing up " to stand the ceremony.
" Our chum is going to sign the pledge," said one
of his friends; '* he's about sick of the drink, and he's
going to give it up, aren't you, Jim ? " " Yaas,"
answered Jim, "give me the pen." He stood for a
moment balancing the pen in his hand, and, looking
me straight in the face, he said in Somerset dialect,
" Before 1 zigns, I wants to ask this lady one question.
Be you a teetotaller. Miss ? " This was the crucial,
the leading question that had been hanging over me
ever since I had worked in the good cause.
It was an awful moment ; what could I do, what
could I say ? if only the floor would have opened
and swallowed me up. But no such good luck ; the
audience as well as the man waited for my reply. I
had to say, " No, I am not exactly a teetotaller, but I
only take a glass of wine occasionally." ** Right you
are," answered my tormentor ; " that's exactly what I
do ; I take a glass sometimes for the benefit of my
TRAINING FOR LIFE WORK 65
health." "Nonsense, Jim," said his friends, "you
don't take a glass, and you don't know when to
stop ; give it up, man." " Nothing of the sort," he
replied ; " I'll do what the lady does ; I shan't zign,"
and, throwing down the pen, he shouldered his way
out of the room.
My duty was plain, which was to take up the pen
and to sign my name where his would have stood,
and from that day to this, by God's help, I have kept
it, and hope to do so all my hfe through.
" I p7-omise Thee, dear Lord, that I will never cloud the light
Which shittes from Thee tuithin my soul, and ?nakes my reason
bright :
Nor will I ever lose the power to serve Thee by my will :
Which Thou hast set within my heart Thy purpose to fulfil —
Oh let me drink as Adam drank before from Thee he fell.'
Oh let me dritik as Thou, dear Lord, when faint by Sychar's
well,
That from my childhood pure fro?n sin of drink and drunken
strife,
By the clear fountains I may rest, of everlasting life.^^
This is a promise that I would that every Christian
should see the way clear to make to God. I did not
see it before, but at that meeting in a flash it was
shown to me, and, as Frances Havergal said, " What
you once see, you never can unsee," I always felt
that by my inconsistency I had lost that man, and
I prayed for many years that some one more faith-
ful might win him.
At last, after a lapse of thirty years, I heard that
this very man was still alive, and had become a
temperance man and a Christian. I thanked God
and took courage when that good news came to me.
E
CHAPTER V
EARLY WORK IN THE SERVICES
Step by step I was led along into work in the great
naval service of the country, a service for which I
have always had a profound admiration. I think
that some of the finest men of the world are to
be found in the British navy, and whatever may
betide, I feel that I may say, as Nelson is supposed
to have done, if he could look upon the navy of the
twentieth century, " My ships are cJianged, my guns
are changed, but the spirit of my mer% remains!'
I have always been glad that my work was not
laid out in narrow lines. Every one serving in the
navy is welcome at the Sailors' Rests, whatever his
denomination may be, whether with a creed or
without one. Our religious teaching is on the
simplest lines, truly interdenominational. On the
same broad lines men of the sister service, the army,
are welcome to use our Institutes ; although, as there
are Soldiers' Homes, we make no attempt to get
them to come. Dockyardsmen are also on our trust-
deed, but the wives, mothers, and widows of our
naval men are always at home in our halls, our
class-rooms, and our restaurants — all are planned
for, and, as I said, all are welcome.
The work being on this broad basis, it is not
66
EARLY WORK IN THE SERVICES 67
surprising that I should begin my work in the service
by trying my hand at a little soldiering. The 2nd
Somerset Militia assembled every year at Bath for
their annual training, and in those days before the
time of depots or camps they were billeted all over
the town, mostly in public-houses. The chaplain,
the Rev. A. L. Dixon, was a friend of mine, and was
the incumbent of a densely populated poor parish
in Bath. He was very anxious that something
should be done for them to allure them away from
drinking places, and we projected a coffee bar, with
a nice large room behind for reading, entertain-
ments, and meetings.
An old friend of my father's, Colonel Pinney of
Somerton, was colonel of the regiment, and his
sister, Lady Smith, was deeply interested in every-
thing for the good of the men. With such kind
friends at headquarters, I had all the encouragement
that could be desired. All my own spare cash I
threw into the undertaking, and then I asked friends
to help me, which they willingly did, the colonel
and officers and Lady Smith giving most liberally.
Suitable premises were secured, and the nice bright
coffee bar, with its shining urns, coloured glasses,
pictures, &c., seemed to draw the men at once.
There was a tariff, and I acted as treasurer ; the
takings were regularly banked, and proper accounts
were kept ; then the reading-room was comfortably
fitted up and well supplied with papers, games, &c.,
also with writing-paper and envelopes, and pen and
ink, free. Many a love letter and a few lines to
father and mother were written there. We had
popular meetings every evening in the reading-room
68 MY LIFE AMONG THE BLUEJACKETS
— songs, readings, magic lanterns, step and clog
dancing by the men themselves, and everything
else that we could think of to give them pleasure.
I can see the men crowding in now, and filling the
benches, and never moving until we closed, a grand
contrast to Jack, who is somewhat mercurial in his
temperament.
We had a smaller room for Bible-class and
religious meetings, and they were well attended.
Many of my kind friends helped me in various ways.
The Sunday Bible-class, which was in the evening, I
took myself, and also played the harmonium, and the
testimony of the sergeants and the officers was that
" now that the men had been taken in hand, and
kept out of the public-houses during drinking hours,
they were not like the same men." I see that one
of the entries in my diary runs thus : " Monday,
May loth. — The militia reading-rooms have been
crowded this evening with men, including many non-
commissioned officers. I spoke to them on * The
good soldier of Jesus Christ.' Many remained behind
to our prayer-meeting, and many signed the temper-
ance pledge."
When the training closed, with the Colonel's per-
mission I presented each man with a New Testa-
ment, and before they were disbanded they were
drawn up on the parade ground, and I spoke a few
words to them. Then accompanied by two sergeants
carrying the baskets of books, I placed one in each
man's hand. They gave me three hearty cheers for
the books and all that had been done for them
during the training, and also three more for all the
kind friends that had helped so kindly.
EARLY WORK IN THE SERVICES 69
When after some years I left Bath for work
among the men of the navy, these coffee and reading-
rooms were carried on by my sister. She had many
more difficulties to contend with than I had, for the
camping-ont system came into vogue, and she had
to follow them to Lansdown, to Claverton, to the
Black Down Hills, near Taunton, and elsewhere,
but she developed the work, and now that such
radical changes have taken place in army and militia
organisation, she has given her time to work among
soldiers, mostly of the Devonport and Plymouth
garrison, and the little seed that I was permitted to
plant in the sixties has, by her work and example,
grown into a large plant. My sister, like myself, is
a voluntary worker, and is only too glad to give all
her income that she can spare to her work.
These efforts among the redcoats led me to
understand and appreciate some of the difficulties
and trials of the army and those connected with
it, and I kept in touch with many of the militiamen
for some years ; a good many enlisted in the regular
army and wrote to me from India and elsewhere.
When the training was over and the men had left,
and their letters were beginning to come to me, I
was asked by a Clifton lady, Mrs. Fyffe, connected
with the " Carus Wilson Soldier Work," whether I
would do something in corresponding with Christian
soldiers and sending them packets of nice reading
every month.
This seemed to link in with my militia letter-
writing, and also to give me an opening to regions
beyond, so I acceded to the proposal, and a list
of about a dozen men was sent to me. I wrote
70 MY LIFE AMONG THE BLUEJACKETS
away, and every month packed and sent off my
parcels, and very nice letters I received from the
men. I am afraid at this length of time I have not
any by me that I can quote from, but the men said
how thoroughly they appreciated the Christian kind-
ness and interest shown in them when so far from
home.
I went on with this letter-writing, &c., from about
1865 to 1868. All my other work went forward,
and this was for a wet day and to fill in the time.
Meanwhile I enjoyed my country home and garden
and a good game of croquet, which was then played
by old and young. My organ work was also very
dear to me, and I visited Bristol Cathedral and Wells
Cathedral, and as a pupil of Dr. Wesley's, with his
recommendation, had no difficulty in getting full
access to the organs. I remember at Wells playing
a grand double chorus from Handel's oratorio,
" Israel in Egypt " — " The wafers overwhelmed their
enemies!" the rolling of the waters being carried out
on the pedals. After I had got about half-way
through I received a hurried message, I suppose from
the organist or precentor, to say that I must " stop
the waters " at once, or the tremendous reverbera-
tions of the 32-foot and 16-foot pedal stops would
shake all the glass out of the windows. I need
not say that the rolling of the waters came to an
abrupt close !
Meanwhile we were a very happy family party
at our country house. My only brother was at
Trinity College, Cambridge, where his father had
been before him. My sister was at home, and she
was, as she is now, active in good work. My father
EARLY WORK IN THE SERVICES 71
was getting on in life, but was very vigorous, although
an accident met with in falling from a ladder had
robbed him of some of his activity.
Still he was always at work in one way or another.
He was a great linguist, and taught himself German
that he might be able to read German astronomical
works. He was not quite so able to climb into
the cradle and work his large telescope, but he kept
himself abreast of the times, and contributed papers
which were printed in the proceedings of the Royal
Astronomical Society.
My mother delighted in all his pursuits, and in her
garden, although she was not very strong. It was
good to see the dear old people reading and strolling
about together ; theirs was truly the love that wears
well. I used to go down to Bath every day, always
walking, and after the meetings I walked up the
lonely hill again, attended by my little bull-terrier
dog who, with his fierce face and patch over one
eye, looked the embodiment of a fighter, and was
better than any policeman. No tramp or rough
character would walk on the same pathway as myself
and my dog, especially when they heard his low
rumbling growl. I had him, however, quite under
control, and he never had occasion to hurt any one.
So in this happy life my years glided along, and
though I had many friends in the army, I had none
in the navy.
CHAPTER VI
MY FIRST BLUEJACKET FRIEND
The time had come when the first Hnk of the chain
was going to be forged, which was to bind me to
the navy, and which was to separate me from home,
and from those dear to me there. The naval Hnk
had come above water, but, like every other link, it
was a part of a chain of which we cannot see the
beginning or the end.
One of my soldier correspondents was ordered to
India ; he wrote to me telling me that in a few days
he would be at Portsmouth with his regiment to
take passage in an Indian transport. I wrote him
a few friendly, cheery words to Portsmouth, re-
minding him of that Friend who is as near to us in
India as in Aldershot.
The troopship put to sea, and I expect that for a
few days the soldier passengers were hors de combat !
Still, before they arrived at Bombay via Suez, my
young soldier friend had become acquainted with the
sick-berth steward of H.M.S. Crocodile, named George
Brown ; he had enlisted under this name, but he was
a Pole, with all the fine characteristics of the race, and
his name was George Dowkontt. However, he bore
the purser's name, George Brown, while in the service,
and by that name I knew him in those early days.
One day the two men were walking up and down
n
'/<?^r~ /^^;^
MY FIRST BLUEJACKET FRIEND 73
the deck together and the soldier said, " I say, Brown,
would you like to read a letter written to me before
I left England by a lady who corresponds with
soldiers ? " " That I should," was his reply ; the
letter was put into his hand, and he read it. Then
turning to the soldier he said, " You redcoats seem
to have kind friends who help you in the Christian
life. I would give anything to have a letter like
that ; no one has troubled about me. Do you think
that lady would write to me ? "
With the enthusiasm of youth the soldier replied,
" I am sure that she would ; she has written to a red-
coat, why not to a bluejacket ?" And thus the seed
was sown that has resulted in thousands of written
and printed letters, exchanged with men all over the
navy ; and this correspondence, this golden cord of
friendship, binds myself and my work to every ship in
the service. Of course, with its growth, I have been
obliged to associate secretaries with myself, but all
letters still pass under my eye and supervision, and
great numbers are replied to by my own hand.
I duly received the letter that my soldier friend
promised to write about George Brown, and without
having the slightest idea that this was to be my first
sailor friend, the pioneer, so to say, of all that were
to follow, I wrote him a letter of interest and advice.
He has often, both in public and private, described
the receipt of that letter. " First," he said, " I couldn't
believe that it was for me, but the address was right
enough, so I took it into a corner of the sick bay
and read it ; and I am not ashamed to say that
when I saw its kind and loving words, I went down
on my knees, and thanked God that He had given
74 MY LIFE AMONG THE BLUEJACKETS
me a Christian friend at last in place of my dead
mother.
This event happened in April 1868. It is a very
small matter, but it has been a pivot on which much
has turned. In replying to George Brown I asked
him if he knew any other Christian men on the East
Indian station, or indeed anywhere, who would be
glad of a letter from one who would be very pleased
to write to them, and to help them on in the
Christian life.
He sent me the names and addresses of several,
and I set to work to write. It was rather difficult at
first, not knowing the men at all ; but forty years ago
letters travelled slowly, men's relations and friends
rarely wrote to them, and the receipt of a letter on a
foreign station was an event.
Many years before, when men could not write,
they used to pay one of the writers from the purser's
office to write for them, and I believe the cost of a
letter was one shilling, so that the writer must have
done well ; he would write a letter from dictation, or
he would write composing himself ; he was equally
happy at a love letter, a letter of sympathy and
condolence, a business letter, or a letter to father
or mother. If he composed, it was read aloud to
the admiration of the purchaser, or sometimes of
the mess.
A naval officer gave me one of these letters written
by dictation during the operations in the Baltic
during the Crimean war. Two men wanted each of
them to write to his wife, but as they could only
muster a shilling between them, they agreed to have
a joint letter written to the ladies, to suit both. It
MY FIRST BLUEJACKET FRIEND 75
commenced, " H.M.S. — Dear Polly and Susan, —
This letter comes from your loving husbands ; they
wish to tell you that they are well. We are thrashin'
the Roosians, and mean to thrash 'em again ; and
when that's done, we'll get back, so no more from
your loving husband Bill , and your loving hus-
band Jack ."
How the wives liked this joint letter, history does
not reveal ; but times have changed marvellously,
and in 1868, when I first began my correspondence,
I do not remember receiving any letters written
by ships' writers. Very probably in this twentieth
century, it would be the last way of beginning a
w^ork for God in the navy, " the old order chaugeth,
yielding place to the new;" but it was very different
then, and in this way my work commenced. Such
links bind our sailors to their country and to friends,
and are valuable not only as regards the men
personally, but also in a service point of view — by
weaving a few more chains between themselves and
the old country. I found that my letters were grate-
fully received in the right spirit, and cordially re-
sponded to.
One poor fellow, serving on board a man-of-war
at Rio de Janeiro, was a frequent correspondent ;
his letter used to come with the regularity of clock-
work. At last he wrote telling of bitter disappointment ;
he hoped to have been returning home, but he was
suddenly drafted to another ship, and had to remain
out on the station for an indefinite time. " I had
hoped to have seen my wife and little children soon,
but it was not to be. My old ship sailed out of
harbour yesterday, homeward bound ; we all manned
76 MY LIFE AMONG THE BLbEJACKETS
the rigging to cheer her out ; she looked splendid as
she passed flying the homeward bound pennant ; but
I could not cheer, there was a lump in my throat.
What should I do now without your letters ? they
drive away my trouble, and make Jesus seem very
near to me. Do write to me again ; my heart is
almost broke at having to stay out here — but God's
will be done."
A few months passed and another letter came from
him, written with a trembling hand in pencil, in
which he says : " I am very ill with fever, and feel,
oh ! so weak ; but Jesus is with me, my Saviour and
my King. Something seems to tell me that I shall
have to get to the other side and meet my dear ones
there, and I shall meet you too." I wrote a letter
in answer by the next mail, but he had already
entered the haven of rest ; as he said to his mates,
" I'm going home by a shorter cut than by old
England." My letter came back to me with one word
— " Dead " — written across it, in red ink.
Month by month the correspondence with sailors
grew immensely. One man written to on board any
ship would send the names and ratings of other
shipmates who wanted to be on the roll. Some of the
naval chaplains also, hearing of the correspondence,
began to take an interest in it ; and among them was
the late Rev. Richard Price, R.N,, and several others,
who kindly volunteered to procure and send me on
the names of Christian men.
I was able, through the simple means of letter-
writing, to make friends with hundreds of blue-
jackets and marines. " We never light our pipes
with your letters," a sailor wrote to me, '' because
MY FIRST BLUEJACKET FRIEND 77
you thinks about and cares for us." I did not wish
to supersede, but to supplement the written letters ;
and I began to write a general letter every month,
and to print them for distribution among the ships'
companies. I have in my hand, as I write, a little
volume of monthly letters written during the first year
of issue, and I see that the date is May 1871.
My great desire in all letters, whether printed or
written, is to speak a word to each man alone, and I
cannot be thankful enough that I am able to do
this month by month, and year by year ; and ever
since May 1871 to the present day, making a
period of thirty-eight years, I have never missed a
month ; it is true that many have been written
under great difficulties and in strange places —
some in Switzerland during summer holidays,
some on beds of sickness ; some of the most
difficult were written in hospital, where I lay
tightly strapped on a plank bed with a compound
fracture of the leg, but I had the use of my arms,
and by balancing a pad above my head and writing
after the fashion of a fly walking on the ceiling, I
managed that letter.
I have never dictated one. I always felt that
while the men cared to read them, they should go
straight from my heart — I hope to theirs.
When they cease to care for them I should, as the
sailors say, " pipe down," and feel that that part of
my work was done. But I get so much cheer from
letters from my sailor friends that I still go forward.
A man writing to me said : " I do thank God that
I ever saw your Monthly Letter, and I must tell you
about it, because it will encourage you to send them
78 MY LIFE AMONG THE BLUEJACKETS
to all my mates in the service. I was very miser-
able on account of bad news received from home ;
some one very dear to me had pitched me over, and
so I determined to fling up everything and to
drown my misery ashore. On my way to ask for
leave I passed one of the mess tables on which lay a
Monthly Letter just arrived by the mail ; I took it up
and read the text on the cover, ' There is a Friend
that sticketh closer than a brother.^ It hit me hard,
and, ashamed of myself, I turned back, and by
prayer and faith sought and found that Friend who
has been my all in all ever since."
A naval officer, now of high rank in the service,
racily describes the advent of a packet of these
letters when he was a young officer on the West
Indian station. He says : " I took the parcel on the
lower deck of our ship and distributed them among
the ship's company.
'' It was a Sunday afternoon, and they all rushed
at me with * One for me, sir ! One for me ! ' so that I
had to stand against a gun in order to keep off the
crowd.
" I went round the decks half-an-hour afterwards,
just to note what they were doing with them. It
would have cheered your heart to have seen that
sight — groups of men sitting cross-legged on the
deck round one, the best reader probably, who was
seated in the middle reading the letter to his listening
messmates. It was a good sight indeed on board
a warship on a Sunday afternoon."
As I go on with my story, I shall be telling the
history of Ashore and Afloat, our monthly paper,
which is eagerly read by the men, but that will
MY FIRST BLUEJACKET FRIEND 79
come in its place. I could tell stories belonging to
past, present, and future times about the Monthly
Letters, but they will find their niche as I spin the
yarn of my life. God has blessed them very much,
and they have spoken to hearts and consciences.
So the year 1871 ended brightly, the year of the
commencement in such a small way of my work
among British bluejackets. 1 can see as I look back
that all the early training and discipline, with its
joys and sorrows, was fitting me for the work
planned for me ; and as the years of life have sped
by, I have seen in the development and success of it
the Master's handiwork.
The year 1872 glided by, correspondence in-
creasing, and men often saying that when the long
commissions were over, and they returned to Ports-
mouth or Devonport, tl:at they must meet me, or
they should think me a myth. A few years were
destined to bring very great changes to our home,
but at that time all went on as usual. An interesting
event to us in our small circle was the engagement
of my brother to Miss Watson of Fairfield, New-
bridge Hill, near Bath, which was followed by his
marriage in March 1873. Meanwhile I was very
busy with all my avocations, and time flew fast.
In the autumn of 1872, at a drawing-room meet-
ing for the study of prophecy, conducted by the
Rev. W. Bassett, afterwards Rector of Dulverton, I
met a young lady who was to become my partner in
the work that was opening before me. 1 remember
it as if it were yesterday.
Some ladies known to me entered, bringing a friend
with them, young, fair, golden-haired, the embodiment
8o MY LIFE AMONG THE BLUEJACKETS
of health and vigour. I wondered who she was, and
I am afraid that I thought more of the unknown
visitor that morning than of Mr. Bassett's prophetical
explanations ! The meeting over, the company
quickly dispersed ; and if I had any curiosity it was
not satisfied, and the incident passed from my mind.
This was in November 1872.
The New Year dawned, and with it I received
many letters from my sailor friends telling me that
their ships were coming to Devonport and to Ports-
mouth to pay off, and that they should count on
meeting me, and I felt that I ought to go certainly
to Devonport. I had relations in Plymouth who
would, I was sure, take me in ; only one event really
tied me to Bath, which was my brother's marriage,
and that took place in the spring.
A kind invitation came from my uncle and cousins
at Plymouth inviting me to make their house my
home, and another letter came, written by a lady
residing at Stoke, Devonport. I did not know who
this lady was, but she wrote most cordially, saying
that she had heard that I was coming to Devonport
for naval work, and would I address a meeting of
sailors' wives in St. Aubyns Parish, and that her
mother hoped that I would stay with them for as
long as my work detained me.
I felt that this was a most kind invitation, coming
from a stranger, and half wondered that she had the
temerity to ask me. I wrote promising to lunch at
her mother's house on the day on which I was to
speak at the meeting for sailors' wives. Arriving, I
was shown into the drawing-room, and in a moment
a youjig lady entered. I was amazed ; I had pictured
MY FIRST BLUEJACKET FRIEND 8i
an elderly and rather severe person, and here was
the very reverse, all youth, brightness, and smiles ;
and to crown all, this was the very same lady that I had
met at the class at Bath, when my thoughts strayed
somewhat from our prophetical studies.
We became friends at once, and have continued
friends ever since, although thirty-six years have passed
over our heads. There is a very grave suspicion,
especially among members of the opposite sex, that
women cannot remain friends for any length of
time ; they are sure to quarrel and part.
The late Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, formerly
H.R.H. the Duke of Edinburgh, when he was
Admiral Commander-in-Chief at Devonport, during
1890-92, said, "One thing amazes me about your-
self and Miss Wintz — you have been close friends
and working together all these years, and have not
quarrelled and parted yet." " No sir," I said, " I
think there is no fear of it ; it takes two to manage
such a work as this, and we each have our own de-
partment." "True," he said, "but it is splendid, two
women rowing in one boat all these years, and never
capsizing her." How can we account for these things ?
In no way, except by the power and will of God.
Miss Wintz came of a most interesting family ;
her father was a Swiss gentleman of high standing,
and his estates were on the Rhine, just below the
Falls of Schaffhausen. He was President of his
Canton, and held many high offices. The visit of
a young English lady to Switzerland turned his
thoughts away from mountains and glaciers to the
little island in the Northern Sea ; and such is the
magnetic power of love that, although in those days
F
82 MY LIFE AMONG THE BLUEJACKETS
travelling was by diligence or on horseback, he
came to England to search for the lady who had
captivated him without knowing her whereabouts.
How he found her under such difficulties is remark-
able ; and how, when found, she was persuaded to
leave home, relations, and country to follow the
man of her choice to far-off Switzerland is a
romance indeed.
But so it was ; and in the old Chateau, with its
vineyards, terraced gardens and park, the roar of the
Falls resounding through the clear Swiss air, several
children were born, and the youngest but one,
Sophia Gertrude Wintz, a bonnie fair-haired lassie,
has lived a life interwoven with mine, and but for
her our work would never have been what it is.
The life in the old Chateau must have been very
delightful indeed for the little people ; the Alps,
white and glistering, could be seen from their terrace
in clear weather. The Rhine comes round in a
lovely swift bend, the waters clear and green, with
the glacier tint from Lake Constance ; the rushing of
the waters, the snow-white foam, the rainbows play-
ing about it, the rocky island that cleaves it in the
middle, and the solemn thunderous roar of the
waters, can never be forgotten by those who have
seen and heard it. Mr. Wintz was the possessor of
the property on the Schaffhausen side, and also of the
ferry across the river. The Chateau of Laufen,
their nearest neighbour's house, stands opposite.
The Wintz's are a very old family, and derived
their name and origin from the Castle of Winzenau,
near the town of Olten, on the river Aar, in Switzer-
land.
MY FIRST BLUEJACKET FRIEND 83
In the year 1148 they were the founders and
patrons of the Monastery of St. Urban (Canton
Aarau). The first of the names of whom we have
a clear record was Berchtold de Winze, who fought
in the famous battle of Morgarten in 13 15, against
the Austrians, the result of which was most disastrous
to him, his castles and estates being confiscated, and
becoming the property of the town of Solothurn.
Through the help of a nobleman, Uhich von
Clingen, whose castle was situated not far from
VVinzenau, he was made Abbot and free citizen of
Stein, near Schaffhausen, and once more planted
his family in their old possessions. From him was
descended John Conrad Wintz, who married Marie
Magdalene de Wald-Kirch, a lady of noble birth.
His estate was beautifully situated over the Falls of
the Rhine, with a town residence in Schaffhausen.
After the death of Miss Wintz's father the property
was sold.
I shall never forget paying a visit with Miss Wintz
to the old home. A large hotel has been built in
the grounds, but there is the old Chateau. We stood
on the terrace, where she had so often romped as a
child, and attended divine service in the large salon,
conducted by the Rev. Canon Morse of Bristol ; we
received the Holy Communion under her old roof-
tree, and we rambled through the vineyards, running
down to the Rhine ; we crossed by the ferry to get
under the Falls, and when the name was mentioned,
the peasants would take nothing, but rejoiced in seeing
a member of the family of the old Seigneur.
The family left Schaffhausen for the education of
the children, specially of the eldest son, at Heidel-
84 MY LIFE AMONG THE BLUEJACKETS
berg University, but his career was cut short by
fever, and then the mother's heart longed for her
native land, and, once rooted there, Switzerland
faded away : not so to the father, the mal-de-pays
was strong with him, and he could not rest unless
he could breathe the Swiss air every autumn.
Miss Wintz was sent to school, and in due time
took her place in the gay world. She came of a
naval family ; her great-uncle, by marriage, Admiral
Sir Lewis Jones, G.C.B., was the doyen of the British
navy. Her only brother entered the naval service,
and is now Admiral Lewis Wintz. She has also
cousins, and other relatives, officers of high standing
in the army and navy.
On leaving school it was small wonder that the
young girl rejoiced in a life of gaiety, which she
tasted to the full ; but that life with all its charms
did not satisfy her. Balls, races, theatricals were
soon shorn of their first delight, but still in the very
bloom of life and youth the claims of the real King
of Life, the Saviour, were brought before her, and all
her society engagements were given up for a service
that was infinitely better. She too felt that she was
capable of definite work, and she asked God to guide
her to it. That same year we met and commenced
our joint work together, which has continued ever
since, and will continue, we believe, through eternity.
CHAPTER VII
OUR BOYS IN BLUE
I HAVE always thought that one of the best points
about this work was that I was able to begin with
the boys. In 1873, when I first went to Devonport,
two, or, to speak more correctly, four old ships were
used as training ships for the Royal Navy. These were
H.M.S. Impregnable, Implacable, Lion, and Foiidroyanf,
or, as the boys facetiously called her, " Food I want,"
and were lying in Hamoaze. I suppose that with the
old Circe receiving hulk some 4000 boys would have
been in training at the same time. H.M.S. St. Vincent
lay at Portsmouth, H.M.S. Ganges at Falmouth, and
H.M.S. Boscawen at Portland.
Of course this was somewhat altered afterwards,
and now the principal training establishment is at
Shotley, near Harwich, and the training ships at the
ports are mostly abolished ; but we still have H.M.S.
Impregnable at Devonport, and although weird tales
come to me sometimes that she will depart, I cling
to her, and do all that I can for the fine young
fellows on board ; but during the early part of my
work I was able to work a great deal among the
boys, especially at Devonport.
During the first year, while staying at Mrs. Wintz's
house, Miss Wintz and myself began to plan what
we could do for these boys. We had no Sailors'
65
86 MY LIFE AMONG THE BLUEJACKETS
Rest in those days, but every Sunday afternoon
hundreds of them were strolling aimlessly about
the town, no door opened to them, except the doors
of the public-houses, and it was against the regula-
tions for them to go into them. I consulted some
naval officers, and they were not very cheering.
"You'll never catch the boys; they like a run
ashore to stretch their legs, and they won't come to
you, or any one."
However, I was determined to try. I took the
Mechanics' Institute, not a very lively-looking place,
I must say ; I hoped that a basket of buns might
pave the way, but the buns failed utterly ; the boys
looked in, and fled.
What was to be done ? Here Mrs. Wintz came
forward most kindly, and she offered her large
kitchen every Sunday afternoon ; possibly that
might draw them, and it did draw ; the very word
" kitchen " spelt comfort and home. I can see the
boys cramming the kitchen, sitting on the fioor and
window-sills when the benches were full, and some
on the kitchen stove with its cold plate.
How the boys sang ! We read the Bible together,
and talked about it, and had plenty of singing, and
each boy at first took away a bun with him, but after
a few Sundays the kitchen seemed a sufficient draw
without the buns, and they were abandoned.
And what friendships I made ; they last to this day,
and many bright fellows are safely moored in the
heavenly port. One of my earnest helpers was a
curly-haired lad of about seventeen. He was a
typical British bluejacket, bright and sunny, and
an earnest Christian. " I'll help you," he said to
OUR BOYS IN BLUE 87
me in the times of the kitchen meetings ; " I'll go
out into the park and streets and fetch them in ; I'll
be your recruiting sergeant." True to his word,
he would fetch them in, and would come up the
garden walk with a dozen or so boys following him,
like the tail of a comet, and when the room was full
he was satisfied.
One day he said to me, " I'm so sorry, but I'm
drafted for sea. I'm going this week to the Triumph;
I shall miss those happy Sunday afternoons." I
reminded him of the presence of Christ everywhere
with us. " Yes," he said, " that's true ; it's my only
comfort. He will help me to stand up for Him, and
not to be ashamed of my colours."
We had some prayer together, and he went away
saying, " The Triumph will be here again in six months,
and when she drops her anchor in Plymouth Sound,
I shall be up to the meeting like a shot."
Dear fellow, about three months after the ship
left, I had a letter from his Captain, Captain H. D.
Grant, R.N., and he said : " We have had one of
your boys on board, Arthur Phillips ; he was a
splendid seaman, had just been rated, and the
Commander said, ' one of the best royal yard's-
men he ever had.' His influence on board was
remarkable ; the men would stop swearing when
he was near, because they said it hurt him so. He
was never ashamed to kneel down under his
hammock for prayer, before the hands turned in.
" The other day after dinner, when the men
mustered for divisions, he was missing ; I ordered
the ship to be searched, and presently from below
came a hail, ' We've found him, sir.' I hurried
88 MY LIFE AMONG THE BLUEJACKETS
below, and there in the chain locker where he had
fallen, his little Testament beside him, was Phillips ;
a man's arm was round his neck, and as the lantern
shone on his face, he looked in a calm and holy sleep.
"There was no mystery about his death ; he had
gone on the orlop deck during dinner for reading
and for prayer as usual, one of the chain lockers had
accidentally been left open, and in the darkness he
had stepped into it and death was instantaneous.
No mark was on his body, not a bone broken ; it was
simply the shock, and the face was calm in death."
When I visited Bebington Cemetery, near Rock-
ferry, some years later, the sexton told me that he
never could forget that funeral — only a young sea-
man, but he was followed by his Captain and all the
officers and ship's company. The Captain spoke so
earnestly there was scarcely a dry eye among them-
selves and the hundreds of people who crowded the
cemetery. The sexton led me to the grave, nicely
kept by himself, and on the tablet that his shipmates
^ad paid for I read these words :
In Memory of
ARTHUR PHILLIPS
Seaman of H.M.S. Triumph
Aged i8 Years
Who was killed by an accidental fall on board the said
ship on the i6th July 1874 during the visit of the Channel
Squadron to Liverpool.
His remains are interred near this spot, and this
memorial is erected by his shipmates to testify their
esteem for the consistent Christian conduct he always
manifested.
" Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord!*
OUR BOYS IN BLUE 89
On a bright summer day in 1873 I stood for the
first time upon the quarter-deck of a man-of-war,
with the white ensign gleaming in the sunlight, as it
floated over the stern, an emblem of England's
naval power.
The Captain had sent his galley to the officers'
steps in the dockyard, and I was received with
tossed oars, and with " Give way there " by the
steersman. I was rapidly rowed alongside H.M.S.
Impregnable. Just before we came alongside a
shrill whistle was heard, and the side boys rushed
down the companion, each holding out the silken
cord by which I was to step on the grating. At the
head of the ladder I was met by the Captain and
officers, and was warmly welcomed on board. It
was decided that the boys should be mustered on
the quarter-deck, while we ourselves stood upon the
poop of the old three-decker. The sea of faces was
a grand sight indeed. Captain Wilson, V.C., intro-
duced me to the boys in a few manly words, and
then the way was open to me to speak to them.
If ever I had strength from above, I had it on
that day. I was quite inexperienced, but all listened
with the greatest attention, and the only disturbing
elements were the hoarse cry of the sea-gulls as
they circled round, and the wind in the rigging.
When the boys laughed it looked like a burst of
sunshine sweeping over a cornfield on a summer
day.
After I had finished, a vote of thanks proposed
and carried, and caps replaced, I asked the Captain
"whether any boy wishing it might join the Royal
Naval Temperance Society ? " " Certainly," he said,
90 MY LIFE AMONG THE BLUEJACKETS
" and I shall honour the boy that makes such a
stand." Two hundred and twenty-five lads signed
the temperance pledge on that day, and I returned
from the ship to carry the photograph of that
meeting always with me.
The National Temperance League had taken up
temperance work in the navy, which had been
started years before on board H.M.S. Reindeer by
the men themselves. A splendid inaugural meeting
was held at Devonport, April 28, 1873. It was
presided over by the Lord Bishop of the diocese. Dr.
Temple, who was supported by Admiral Sir William
King Hall, Admiral-Superintendent, Captain Herbert,
H.M.S. Cambridge^ Captain Wilson, H.M.S. Impreg-
nable, Captain Bridge, H.M.S. Implacable, and a large
number of naval officers, bluejackets, marines, the
local clergy, and the general public. The hall was
crammed to the doors. This meeting was to start
temperance work in the navy, and at the request of
the National Temperance League I gladly promised to
do all I could.
A valued agent of the League, Mr. Samuel Sims,
remained to organise meetings on board ship. But
this was a very difficult matter, as meetings on
board ship, unless presided over by the Captain, or
the chaplain, were against the Queen's regulations,
and I was looked upon with great terror and
suspicion by commanding officers. " What can I
do, sir?" one of them said to Admiral Sir William
King Hall. " If she were a man, and said anything
against the regulations, I could march her over the
side, escorted by a file of marines, but I can do
nothing to a lady."
OUR BOYS IN BLUE 91
The kind Admiral, himself a teetotaller of long
standing, was puzzled. He could see nothing but
good in the movement, but he knew full well that
the etiquette and rules of the service, as well as a
strong prejudice, were all against it.
He agreed to be surety, on condition that I would
give a short address to the dockyardsmen at their
dinner hour, at which both himself and his chaplain
would be present. That meeting was held, and both
the Admiral and chaplain were satisfied, and the
word was passed to all the ships in the harbour,
" Don't be afraid to let Miss Weston come on board,
and speak to your ship's company ; I'll stand security
for her," and brave Captain Wilson of H.M.S.
Impregnable, who had won the Victoria Cross, was
characteristically the first to let me in.
There are certain peculiarities about the navy
that remain to this day. One is that if you are
outside, they will never let you get inside ; and
another is, that if you once get inside and establish
a precedent, no one will be allowed to despoil you
of it, if the fight is to the death.
Mr. Sims, cheered and encouraged, continued his
organising work, visiting ship after ship to ask the
Captain to allow me to speak to the ship's company,
and he succeeded so well that, during the year 1873,
I paid visits to thirty-eight ships of the Royal Navy
and Government establishments, and took some six-
teen hundred pledges, and formed a great many
branches ; but to me, perhaps, the most interesting
event was a meeting got up at Portsmouth by my
first bluejacket friend, Mr. Dowkontt, formerly known
to me as Mr. George Brown, of H.M.S. Crocodile.
92 MY LIFE AMONG THE BLUEJACKETS
The meeting was crowded by bronzed bluejackets,
who had been my correspondents for some years
past. They seemed to have expected that I should
appear as a very old lady, but when they saw me
strong and vigorous they cheered again and again,
until the roof re-echoed.
It was a joy to grasp them by the hand and to
hear them say that this was the day that they had
looked forward to for years, one of the happiest in
their lives. I heard many stories that night, both
of written and printed letters, that made me thank
God indeed. " I have been looking forward to this
day for years," said a marine, as he came up with
beaming face to be spoken to, "and to tell you
what a blessing those letters were to me."
We riveted personal friendships that evening that
have never grown cold, notably that with Mr., later
Dr., Dowkontt. He did good work at the surgery,
speaking to the dockyardsmen and others carried in
injured, and visiting them at their homes. When
his term of service was over, he went to Liverpool
as a worker in the Medical Mission, but his talents
were so great that, by the help of some wealthy
Liverpool gentlemen, he was sent to America to
study for the medical profession.
This he did most efficiently, and passed his exams
so well that he graduated as Doctor of Medicine. I
received a post-card from him in which he told me
of the happy event, and said : " Does it not seem
wonderful that a bluejacket serving on the lower
deck of the British navy not long ago should be able
to write M.D. after his name?" He has since done
splendid work in connection with the Medical
OUR BOYS IN BLUE 93
Missions. I have just heard that this old friend has
passed away to his reward.
During 1873, besides all the work on board our
ships of war, I was able to go to London to stay
with a friend who became afterwards one of our
trustees — Miss Mason, of the " House of Rest for
Christian Workers," then situated at Kilburn, now in
St. John's Wood. It was a wonderful work, and it
is so now, preaching a sermon every day to those
that will listen on the text " Have faith in God."
Miss Mason looks to God, as Mr. Miiller of the
Bristol Orphanage did, to supply her needs, in
answer to prayer and faith : and the answers were
most striking. There would be no food in the
house, and either food would come in or money.
The rent would be due. I have heard earnest prayer
offered for money to pay that rent, and I have seen
that money come in, oftentimes a larger sum than
had been asked for.
As we returned towards the West of England, I
took Miss Wintz to my home at Bath to introduce
her to my father and mother, after which she was to
go to Plymouth, and I was to remain at Lans-
down. Both our homes were cemented together by
mutual friendship, and the companionship of such
a friend reconciled my father wonderfully to my
pursuing a work that must naturally take me from
home.
I little knew all that my parents went through in
coming to the decision that they would give me up
for God's service. I have found out since that it
was a real surrender to them, but they made the
sacrifice willingly, and when, a year later, 1 stood by
94 MY LIFE AMONG THE BLUEJACKETS
my father's coffin, I felt thankful indeed that I always
had his consent and blessing on my work.
The year 1874 was a year long to be remembered ;
a house in Fore Street, Devonport, now part of
the site on which the Royal Sailors' Rest stands,
was secured. I was able to visit a large number of
ships that year, and to speak to hundreds of men.
Apropos of ship visiting, I must tell one story that,
although it has been told before, is, I think, worth
telling again.
H.M.S. Topaze, of what we used to call the
" Gem " class, was being repaired in the Devonport
Dockyard. Her guns had been removed, and she
was evidently within " stone walls " for some time.
The Captain of the ship invited me on board, and
the men were mustered on the main deck ; they
listened very attentively, and many a one looked
touched.
When I had finished speaking I asked the Captain,
"Whether any men that wished it might join the
Royal Naval Temperance Society ? " He gave a
cordial assent, and my eyes roved round to see on
what place I could put the pledge-book. I have
often used a gun, but as I have said, they were gone.
" Could I have a little table for my book ? " I
whispered to the Captain. <' Yes," he replied, " any-
thing in the world. I'll send to my cabin for a
table."
He did so, but the table seemed long in coming,
and the men inclined to melt away. I cast another
despairing glance around, and I saw what I thought
to be a bread tub standing not far off. " Could I
have that bread tub?" I asked; "it would make a
OUR BOYS IN BLUE 95
nice little table turned over." I saw the Captain
smile and tug at his moustache, and the men seemed
on the brink of bursting into laughter. " Yes," he
answered, " anything that we have is at your com-
mand. Here, men, a couple of hands roll over that
grog-tub."
The secret was out ; 1 had asked for the grog-tub
from which the rum and water was served for the
daily ration. If the tub could have rebelled no
doubt he would have done so, but discipline is strict
on a ship of war, and he was laid on his side amidst
loud cheers, rolled down the deck, and placed before
me, making a very good table.
More than sixty men enrolled their names there
and then, and one young sailor, after signing, laid
down his pen and, significantly tapping the tub with
his knuckles, said, " There goes a nail in your cofiin,
old fellow." The Captain took up the book when
the last had joined, and, running his eye down the
lists significantly, added, " Sixty odd nails to-day,
and if they all hold firm I won't give much for the
old grog-tub's life."
I am glad to report that these nails held extremely
well, and twenty years later, when I was speaking in
the neighbourhood of London, and told this story, I
heard a little noise in the gallery, and a tall man
stood up and said —
" I am a nail that's held firm ; I was a youngster
then, and since that time I've married the sweetest
wife in England and have three little children. There's
no drink in my home ; all are helping me to stand
firm ; as the Captain said that day, it was a good
day for me and mine." I often had, as the men say,
96 MY LIFE AMONG THE BLUEJACKETS
to rough it, going off in very stormy weather to
Spithead or to the Ganges at Falmouth, sometimes
speaking on board a gunboat rolling very consider-
ably ; but I was a fair sailor, and if it was possible
to send for me I felt in honour bound to go.
I remember once going to speak to the ship's
company on board the Thalia. She was lying in
Plymouth Sound, about to leave for foreign service.
I went down to the Mount Wise steps, at Devonport,
and the boat was soon alongside in charge of a
midshipman. The wind had risen considerably, and
had shifted since they had left the ship, and I saw
that the coxswain looked rather anxious; but the
midshipman was very full of courage ; he took the
tiller and we began to leave the shore behind. He
then gave orders for sailing ; the coxswain whispered
to him, but he replied, " It's all right, only a capful
of wind."
If a capful, it was a very large one. We began
to run before it, but on rounding a point of land
it was upon us in all its fury. The midshipman
looked frightened, but the coxswain and others
managed to furl the sail, and we were rocking away
over a dangerous reef in the Sound known as the
Devil's Bridge. Here my career, and probably that
of others in the boat, nearly came to an end ; we
were in imminent danger. The officer of the watch
on board H.M.S. Thalia saw the peril, thought that
we should be lost, and instantly sent to our
assistance.
How long we should have remained afloat I do
not know, but the steam launch came down upon us
from the ship and took us in tow, and after a little
OUR BOYS IN BLUE 97
time I was on her deck ; I had been an hour and a
half coming that short distance. The midshipman
was severely admonished, and I held my meeting,
returning ashore in a steam launch, which was safe,
but lively.
Sorrow sometimes bursts upon us like " a bolt
from the blue." I had been at home, my father
well and bright, enlarging his house, full of energy
and life. I went away to Chatham, and was re-
turning to Portsmouth for work there. It was a
brilliant June day, the country between Guildford
and Havant looked lovely. Reaching Portsmouth,
I went to Southsea to stay with an old friend, in-
tending to go across the water to speak to the men
at Haslar Hospital that evening.
As I came downstairs to tea a telegram was placed
in my hand, which 1 carelessly tore open, and as I
glanced over it I was turned to stone. It was from
my brother — " Our father died this morning^ will you come
home at once." I could scarcely believe it, and yet
there were the terrible words. How I got home
I hardly know; in those days of slower railway
travelling I could get no farther than Salisbury
that day. I remember pacing my room at the hotel
all through the night in an agony of grief, almost
despair, but at the same time I never realised the
loving presence of God more than in that hour of
darkness.
The next morning, by the first train, I got to Bath,
and soon entered the darkened house where my
father lay still in death. He was busy and active as
ever until the last moment, when, through failure of
the heart's action, life became extinct. It was a
O
98 MY LIFE AMONG THE BLUEJACKETS
translation for one who, like himself, was ready,
through simple faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, to
meet his God.
My dear mother told me how, on the very
morning of his death, he was reading her a letter
that I had written to him telling him of all that was
being done, and said "how rejoiced he was to feel
that they had placed no impediment in my way to
do the work to which God had evidently called me."
How little I thought, as he stood on the doorstep to
wish me good speed when I left my home for the
last time before his death, that we should see each
other no more until we should meet in the presence
of our Lord.
After my father had been laid to rest in Lansdown
Cemetery, my mother being surrounded by a family
circle — rhy sister, my brother, his wife and baby son
— the way was open again for my work among the
sailors and their families, and I returned to Devon-
port to visit Miss Wintz ; she meanwhile had carried
on the sailor boys' work at her mother's house, and
she wrote to tell me that the only difficulty was that
the boys were too many for the kitchen, and she
asked me to return as soon as possible that some
move might be decided on.
A remembrance flashed through my mind of a
prayer that I had heard from the lips of Arthur
Phillips months before, something to this effect :
" O Lord, help me to bring the boys up, and do them
good when they come, and grant that this kitchen may be
crowded out, and that we may have to get another room,
for Jesus Christ's sake. Amen." That prayer was
about to be answered.
OUR BOYS IN BLUE 99
I travelled to Devonport and found the kitchen
full — window-sill, stove, and all, and the boys
were out on the lawn ; they looked like a swarm
of bees, and the buns had long ceased. We
went down into Devonport, and, after much search-
ing and inquiry, found a large furniture store
and auction-room which could be had for Sunday
work, and which would hold some hundreds. This
was soon secured, seats and forms hired, a nice
harmonium purchased, and a band of workers,
mostly dockyardsmen and service people, and some
of their wives, gathered round me to help in getting
the boys in from the street, in the singing, and in
other ways.
Thus provided for I set forward with renewed
energy. The boys crowded in, and where I had
tens before, I had hundreds now. The singing
was hearty and continuous, and took up the vocal
strength of all my helpers. Sailor boys are pro-
verbially restless and mercurial ; the characteristic
runs through the service. Our difficulty was to
keep them quiet to listen to any address, and when
friends had been specially invited to speak to them
the result was, to say the least, trying.
I will give a leaf out of one of my own experi-
ences. A large number of boys, some three or four
hundred, were assembled one Sunday afternoon.
We had been singing a great deal, and I was to
speak to them. Whether I looked dull, or turned
over the pages of my Bible, I do not know ; either
would have been fatal to the sailor boys. In a
moment a movement began, boy looked at boy,
and then, in a twinkling, over the benches and
100 MY LIFE AMONG THE BLUEJACKETS
under the benches, with marvellous agility, they
made for the door and were out in the street.
I was taken aback ; the two front rows of boys
were left, being, I suppose, unable to execute the
flank movement quickly enough. The least that I
could do was to try to retain the few left. This,
by an anecdote which arrested their attention, I suc-
ceeded in doing, more boys came into the hall, and
we filled up once more ; but the lesson taught me
was never forgotten — not only first to catch your
hare, but to keep him when caught.
This work among the boys has been continued
ever since. Some two millions have passed through
my hands in thirty-four or thirty-five years, and
although, as I have said, the training service has
been altered, and removed principally to Shotley,
near Harwich, still we do good work at Devonport,
the place in which we started these meetings ; and,
as I write, a draft tea-party of boys leaving the
training service for commissioned ships, about two
hundred and sixty strong, is filling our beautiful
new hall, and listening to parting words.
I have just received a letter from a man who has
risen high in the service, and that is only one out
of hundreds. He says : " I've known you for a very
long time ; I was a boy in the training-ship Lion,
at Devonport, when you opened the little Rest there
in Fore Street. I've just left a ship at Devonport,
where I was bandmaster for two years, and I en-
joyed to the full the benefits provided at the palatial
building that stands there now — thanks to the un-
tiring efforts of yourself and Miss Wintz.
" I am going to the training establishment at
OUR BOYS IN BLUE loi
Shotley, and I hope at some time to see your cheery
face among the boys, as I have done on board the
Impregnable at Devonport and the Agincourt at Port-
land in past times, and I sincerely hope that you and
Miss Wintz will be spared to us for many years yet ;
the navy will never have such another ' Mother ' as
your dear self. Hoping you will excuse the liberty,
I remain faithfully yours, E. C. B."
CHAPTER VIII
THE REQUEST OF THE BLUEJACKETS, AND
WHAT CAME OF IT
The year 1874 was remarkable in my reminiscences,
from the fact that it led to a new departure such
as I must confess that I never contemplated. A
deputation from a gunboat, H.M.S. Dryad, asked for
an interview with me, as they had something im-
portant to lay before me. I knew that we had a
good work in the Dryad during her commission —
many temperance and Christian men in the ship's
company — and I was glad to receive the deputation,
and to hear what they had to say. I was staying
with Mrs. Wintz at Stoke, Devonport, and I re-
ceived the party in her drawing-room. They were
fine-looking men, seamen of the olden type.
A chief petty officer was the spokesman. His re-
quest, earnestly backed up by the rest of the ship's
company, was that I should open a temperance
house for bluejackets close to the dockyard gates,
to which they could resort, and from which intoxi-
cating drinks would be excluded. They were certain
that it would be a help to thousands. To be sure
it would cost money, and Miss Wintz and myself
would have to be there, and to look after it ; but we
had done so much for sailors that we were, they
thought, sure to do this.
SHOWING CABIN TO MOTHER.
THE REQUEST OF THE BLUEJACKETS 103
To their great grief I hesitated, and said that we
would think of it. I prayed about it, and the more
I looked at it the worse it seemed. The money
would be difficult to get ; and even supposing that
I could get such a place and fit it up, and open it,
then the tremendous responsibilities of " looking
after it," as the bluejackets called it, would begin,
and that would involve a lifetime of work, and, in
those days, certainly of entire self-abnegation ; for
such a departure was quite out of the then received
code as to woman's work.
That was the one side; on the other was the simple
desire to spend my life in His service, who had given
His life for me. And what was my self-abnegation
compared to His, " Who made Himself of no reputa-
tion." I am thankful to say that this line of thought
prevailed over all else, and it prevails now.
Our friends on board the Dryad were greatly de-
lighted to hear that they, with others, should have a
"public-house without the drink" as soon as I could
get it, and that I would, as they wished, manage it
with Miss Wintz. I began quietly looking about, and
at last heard of a house that might be had, once a
large grocery store, and, later, a co-operative store.
It stood at the bottom of Fore Street, close to the
dockyard gates, and right among public-houses, or,
as men called them in those days, "grog-shops."
I scarcely knew what to do next. If the house was
to be secured, it must be done at once. I had had
no time yet to lay the matter before the public.
I solved the question by taking it for a year, out
of my private resources, with option of purchase at
the close. I am quite sure that if God had not given
104 MY LIFE AMONG THE BLUEJACKETS
me faith to believe that this was His work, and that
He would open the way and provide the means, I
could not have taken the steps that I did. It may-
seem chimerical and almost fanatical to some, but
it was very real to me ; and I felthat if I was unsuc-
cessful in raising the money to fit up the place, that
I would be willing to give it up at the end of the year.
I then wrote to one or two of the religious and
temperance papers, notably the Chnstian, telling them
the story as far as it went, and offering to receive
any money sent, and to spend it for this purpose.
The late R. C. Morgan, Esq., the editor of the
Christian, was much interested in my project, and
through his instrumentality a gentleman, whose name
I did not know, offered to add ^^5 to every ;^ioo
collected. This was a great spur, and my hopes
began to rise as to the purchase of the house. The
money came in steadily, not in any large sums, but
just as God pleased, and all that I had to do was to
thank Him for it, and to spend it faithfully.
I remember very well, one day in October 1874,
going to the old house with a friend of mine, now
Rev. Canon Head of Clifton, showing it to him, and
explaining what I meant to do as to coffee-bar,
reading-rooms, class-rooms, sleeping accommodation,
small hall, &c., &c. We were standing in one of the
dusty cobwebby rooms, when Canon Head said,
" Shall we just ask God about it ? " We kneeled
down, and he prayed very earnestly " that God would
give us His guidance in all, even in the smallest
things, that the money might come, that we might
open the place at the right time free of debt, and
that it might be a great blessing to the bluejackets."
THE REQUEST OF THE BLUEJACKETS 105
That prayer has been answered clause by clause.
I felt then, and I feel now, that God has guided, and
is guiding me. Wealthy corporations, titled people,
and millionaires might do great things ; but that two
weak women should have been able to do such a
work as this for so many years, must surely convince
the most sceptical of the power of God.
Miss Wintz has great gifts in planning, organisation,
and fitting up, so as the money came in we had
estimates got out, and were backwards and forwards
every day, and often twice a day, from Stoke to
Devonport, to supervise everything. By degrees the
old shop was turned into a bright comfortable
restaurant.
The kitchen was upstairs, connected by lift and
speaking tubes ; the reading-room, large and spacious,
was on the first floor, and it had to do for a recrea-
tion-room and smoking-room as well ; at the back
of the house we turned an old coal-shed into a small
hall ; and going down a few steps, and across a little
garden, were two cottages, which provided the sleep-
ing accommodation.
True to our promise, we fitted up two small
tenement rooms for our own use. Our friends were
horrified, and declared that we should be dead in a
year if we were mad enough to live there. We were
living and boarding at our own expense, and not
taking anything whatever from the work ; all our
services were free, and always have been, spite of an
idea which makes one smile — that we were lining
our pockets.
But as to the healthiness of the rooms not much can
be said. They were low and confined, and woefully
io6 MY LIFE AMONG THE BLUEJACKETS
deficient in oxygen ; but we did not wish to take
good rooms from the men, so we stayed where we
were, and did our best.
However, the laws of health cannot be broken,
and before we had lived six months there Miss
Wintz was down with blood poisoning, and I was
very much knocked up, so we gave up the rooms ;
but we did not break our promise to the bluejackets
that we would live on the premises and manage
things, for we were able to get other quarters as the
buildings enlarged, and with rooms of our own in the
country, health and strength returned.
Yes, 1875 and 1876 were busy years ; the work
was shaping out, and when the year '75 closed I
had enough money to purchase the house in Fore
Street, and other premises around it.
From the first receipt of public money I felt that
I must be very careful as to account-keeping, and
acknowledgment of all moneys received. For this
work a gentleman came to help me in 1875 ; he was
a young man then, but an expert financier. He has
kept our books ever since, and is keeping them now.
Mr. Arthur C. Uren is a true and valued friend, and
has proved it by thirty-four years' continuous service.
The Subscription Lists and Balance Sheets, duly
audited by professional accountants, were published
every year ; we have them from the earliest date. The
books are now in the hands of Messrs. Knox, Cropper
and Co., Chartered Accountants, 16 Finsbury Circus,
London, for auditing ; they are ready to answer any
reasonable questions as to our finances. I merely
mention this to show that I was fully alive to the
danger of being the recipient of public money, and
THE REQUEST OF THE BLUEJACKETS 107
anxious to do all in my power to guard against
misconception.
Alterations and improvements went on until the
old house became completely transmogrified ; the
shop made a very cosy restaurant, with the " settles,"
as they were called, characteristic of the times, and
I had bright colours, mirrors, and a little gilding,
for I was competing against public-houses.
When the date for the opening drew near, a
question arose as to whether some distinguished
person should be asked to perform the ceremony ;
but I felt that the work was alto^^ether in such an
early stage, and so tentative, that a flourish of
trumpets would be unsuitable, so I decided to have
a meeting of thanksgiving to God on Sunday night,
May 7th, and on Monday, May 8th, to throw open
the doors at five o'clock, which was then and has
been ever since the hour of opening.
On the Sunday evening three bluejackets who had
formed a part of a very large and bright gathering
in our hall asked to see me ; they said they had
been watching the building fitting up for months,
and that they had one wish, and that was that they
should be the first " birds to roost there."
As they cannily remarked, it would be of no use to
wait till the morrow, as every bed was engaged. I made
some remark to the effect "that it would scarcely
do, as the place was not opened." " Couldn't you
throw the red tape overboard for once. Miss Weston ?"
they all three exclaimed ; " we've got special leave
from our Captain on purpose to sleep here to-night."
I need not say that the red tape was thrown
overboard, and when the attendant who had shown
io8 MY LIFE AMONG THE BLUEJACKETS
them their room returned, he said, '' We've got three
birds of the right sort here to begin with ; when
I showed them their room they shut the door, and
in a minute I heard one of them reading ; I listened ;
it was from the Bible, and then they knelt down
and prayed." A few days later they brought me
their photos taken in a group, entitled "The first
birds to roost at the Sailors' Rest."
Monday, 8th May 1 876, dawned bright and beautiful,
the servants and ourselves were up with the lark.
But the coffee was just hot, and the bread and butter
and cakes scarcely cut, before there was a loud
knocking outside, the doors swung back, and in they
came with a rush, and for an hour the popular
saying was true, that " one might have walked upon
the men's heads " — sailors just going to catch their
boats, dockyardsmen going to their work in the
yard, policemen come in from their night's round,
all glad to get a cup of hot tea, coffee, or cocoa,
and a roll or cake, and during the day there was
but little cessation from the stir and bustle of the
morning. All classes, especially those employed
by the Government, came to buy, to eat, and to
drink.
I felt very strongly that there was one important
point to be attained. Jack is proverbially a "shy
bird," and is apt to give a very wide berth to any
place where he thinks that he will be preached at,
or made a teetotaller. The problem was difficult,
but it had to be solved ; he must be free to come
and go as he liked, whether he was sober or drunk,
whether he had a creed or no creed. As long as
he belonged to the navy that was sufficient ; our
THE REQUEST OF THE BLUEJACKETS 109
platform was broad, no one was to attack him in
any way ; if meetings were going on, he was free
to attend them or stay away. There was no sub-
scribing membership ; if he was a bluejacket of our
navy, or any other navy, or a merchant seaman, the
place was free to him ; all that he paid for was his
food, bed, or bath.
I resolved that the place should stand on its own
feet, that, apart from building, no subscription money
should be put to it, so that it should be in no sense
a charity, but a self-respecting Institute, paying its
own way ; and if after all expenses were paid, and
all depreciations written off, there should be a surplus,
it should be devoted to the relief and help of widows,
orphans, mothers, invalided men, temperance, build-
ing, and any other good work at the discretion of the
trustees.
The work, whether at Devonport or Portsmouth,
consists of two departments, but both linked together.
The Hall, with its evangelistic work, Bible-classes,
gatherings for sailors' wives and children, temperance,
and other social meetings ; and the Institute, with
its refreshment bar, dormitories, baths, smoking,
dining, reading rooms, billiard room, &c., the two
departments to be kept distinct, and yet united ;
conveniently near, and yet not interfering with each
other. This line of action I have carried through all
my life, and it has been eminently successful ; all the
subscriptions kindly sent go to my work at home and
abroad, or to our building fund.
We had not been open very long when I found
that I needed more sleeping accommodation, and
having paid all the money owing for the Sailors'
no MY LIFE AMONG THE BLUEJACKETS
Rest, I was able to go a step further, and to build
a tall block of dormitories on the garden behind our
Hall. It was good to see the men stream in directly
they came ashore, all bright, cheery, and happy ;
later in the evening some of them were too cheery,
but our people, having been navy men themselves,
were very patient with them. The police, too, used
to bring men in that they found about in the streets,
unable to take care of themselves.
On one very wet night I was in the coffee-bar
when a bluejacket came in, carrying on his back
a large bundle wrapped up in an oil-skin ; it might
have been a sack of wheat. He went into the
reading-room and deposited it on a couch, and, re-
joining me, said, " I've had a stiff job to-night, but
I'm glad that I brought him back." Who the " him "
was I could not understand, until he continued,
" he's safe on the couch now."
" Was the load you carried one of your ship-
mates ? " I asked. "Yes," he replied; "good fellow
as ever was when the drink is out of him, but he's
too easy. I found him in Plymouth in a bad way,
and as I hadn't the money for a cab, I carried him
wrapped in my oil-skin. When I got to Stonehouse
Hill I met the police, and they stopped me :
'What was I carrying, was it Government stores?'
I put him up against the wall, and I said, ' Why
do you stop me ? I ain't drunk and disorderly.'
' No,' they replied, ' but we must look into your
bundle, and know where you're going.' ' Well,' I
said, ' if you must know, it's my shipmate, Jem ,
if you call that Government stores ; he's not dis-
orderly either, and I'm carrying him to Miss Weston ;
THE REQUEST OF THE BLUEJACKETS iii
she'll take care of him.' The police let me pass, and
here I am at last."
I could not help thinking what an act of practical
Christianity that was on the part of that man, and
only hoped that in our way we should live up to it.
I do not think that any one can come up to blue-
jackets for self-sacrificing acts of kindness on behalf
of shipmates or friends.
CHAPTER IX
TO WALES AND THE MOUNTAINS
We worked hard early and late during 1876, but,
alas ! found that our friends were right, and that the
small low rooms in which we had ensconced our-
selves, looking into a courtyard, were too insanitary
for us. Miss Wintz, as I have said, broke down,
and the doctor pronounced it "blood poisoning,"
looked contemptuously at our rooms, and said
" that good people did foolish things ; the sooner
we got out of them the better," and recom-
mended mountain air to both of us. It was a
delightful prescription, and much as we liked the
work, and determined to stick to it, we turned our
backs on the Sailors' Rest, and our faces towards the
mountains, like schoolboys let out for a holiday.
I had been in the Snowdon district several times
in earlier life, and knew the ropes, so we made
straight for Llanberis. As our prescription was to
be out all day, we searched for some country
lodgings on the flank of Snowdon, much higher
up than Llanberis, and found them off the beaten
track up the mountain near a waterfall, called Cen-
nant Mawr.
All day long we roamed about the mountain,
getting to beautiful spots, where we could look down
TO WALES AND THE MOUNTAINS 113
on Lake Padarn, and up to the heights above us.
Health soon returned under this treatment, and
colour into Miss Wintz's cheeks ; the weeks sped
all too soon. We climbed Snowdon, and spent a
night on the summit more than once ; generally he
was enveloped in cloud and fog, but sometimes we
saw wonders through a rift in the clouds.
Our next move was up the pass of Llanberis, to
Pen-y-gwyrd Hotel, where, with Snowdon on the
right, Moel Siabod in front, and the Glydrs behind,
we were in grand mountain scenery. The Vale of
Beddgelert branched away just outside the hotel,
with Nant Gwynant and its lovely lakes. The hotel
was full of gentlemen climbing the mountains and
fishing, and very pleasant company they were, and
we ate porridge and Welsh mutton all the time we
were there, and never got tired of it.
Our holiday nearly over, we went for a few days
to Bettws-y-Coed, a perfect fairyland after the high
mountains, with the lovely Swallow Falls, and then
we made our way south, back to work again, full of
health, and glad to be amongst the warships, the boys
in blue, and the wear and tear of the Sailors' Rest.
I was then able to make an arrangement whereby I
secured some rooms in a house on Roborough
Down, so that we could both of us get on with our
work, and yet take copious draughts of moorland air.
About this date a remarkable convention was held
at Brighton, and the teaching turned on what was
then called "The Higher Christian Life." It had
been preceded by a former convention at Oxford,
and great attention was concentrated upon it, with
much adverse criticism. Very much interested in
H
114 MY LIFE AMONG THE BLUEJACKETS
such a subject, we went to Brighton and attended
the meetings held in the Pavilion ; we found that
the teaching was not new, but old. A series of
Bible-readings, given by Mrs. Pearsall Smith, on the
wanderings of the Israelites and their entrance into
the Promised Land, were a very great help to us,
and we learned that Christ came to be an indwelling
Saviour, and that union with Himself is rest, peace,
and all that is needed for a successful and happy
Christian life ; this has been our continual experience,
and we came back to our work feeling far richer than
before.
It was cheering to hear of good accomplished, and
as I look over past years I could give hundreds of
instances of men whose lives were quite changed by
coming to the Sailors' Rest. One day, visiting the
naval prisoners at Bodmin Gaol, a man said to me,
" You don't know the good that your cabins at the
Sailors' Rest do us chaps ; if I'd only gone on sleep-
ing there I should never have been in quod.
" I never came to any meetings, and I only saw you
once, as you passed through the coffee-bar, but when
I took a cabin I broke off with the low public-house
where I used to sleep, and as long as I stayed there I
kept straight ; but I met some old pals and they per-
suaded me first to a drop of drink and then to come
back to my old diggings, and I broke my leave, and
Bodmin is the end of it." So I have gone on in-
creasing cabins, and am increasing them still.
Among the little adjuncts to homeliness I counted
a parrot and a big retriever dog. The parrot used
to call out as the men came in, " Walk in, Jack ; glad
to see you; have a cup of coffee?" and a good
TO WALES AND THE MOUNTAINS 115
many other lively and pleasant sayings ; but, alas ! he
died of kindness, as the men would give him ham,
salt beef, and sausages. The last words he said to
me as he lay in my arms were, " Please kiss poor
Polly," and he died. The men actually shed tears
when they found that their old friend was no more.
I have him stuffed to this day. And then Hector the
retriever was a grand dog ; he used to stand on the
doorstep looking out for the Cambridge men as they
landed at four o'clock, wagging his tail, and putting
his paws on their shoulders. He was a splendid
swimmer, and would jump off the bridge into Stone-
house Creek, to the admiration of passers-by.
One naughty thing he did, although the men greatly
rejoiced in it, and I fear encouraged him. He
would swim off to the Cambridge, right across the
harbour, for the sole purpose of fighting the Com-
mander's dog. Many a fight I believe they had on
the quiet among the men ; one day it occurred on
the upper deck.
"What's all that disturbance?" said the Captain.
'< Please sir, it's Miss Weston's dog ; he's swum all the
way from Devonport to fight the Commander's dog."
In the interests of fair play the Captain allowed the
battle to be fought out. Hector used to act as our
bodyguard when we drove out to Roborough Down
after dark in our little pony-trap; but, alas, he also suc-
cumbed, as did poor Polly, to the kindness of the men,
who used to buy any quantity of jam-tarts, and shoot
them down his throat as he performed his begging
tricks. vVith the exception of my little Dartmoor
pony, Bob, he was the last pet that I indulged in.
Although I have been spinning my yarn principally
ii6 MY LIFE AMONG THE BLUEJACKETS
over the year 1876, still 1875 is linked to it, and
before I pass on to fresh scenes I must not forget
to chronicle an interesting episode at Portsmouth.
Admiral Sir Leopold M'Clintock was Admiral-
Superintendent at Portsmouth Dockyard. His was
a striking career indeed. He was a naval officer of
the highest type, and, best of all, a sincere Christian.
His fame as an Arctic navigator is well known. In
the steam-yacht Fox he was the discoverer of the
fate of the gallant Franklin and his ship's company.
He spent some of the best years of his life in
grappling with the icy darkness of the Arctic
regions, and returned crowned with honours.
In 1875 I was working in Portsmouth, in the
dockyard and on board the ships, and then and
there commenced a friendship with Admiral Sir
Leopold and Lady M'Clintock that has been life-
long. Such kind interest was taken in my work
that a drawing-room meeting was convened by Lady
M'Clintock at the Admiral-Superintendent's house in
the dockyard, at which I was able to give an account
of what had been done, and of what we hoped to do
in the future, in connection with the Sailors' Rest at
Devonport.
But a new interest was coming on, and that was
no less than a Government Arctic expedition under
Captain Sir George Nares. To Admiral M'Clintock
the charge of selecting the ships, fitting them up,
and sending the expedition off, was entrusted. The
ships selected were the Alert, a seventeen-gun sloop,
and for the second the Admiral bought a whaler,
which, as regarded build, steam-power, and size, was
admirably adapted for the work ; she was named
TO WALES AND THE MOUNTAINS 117
the Discovery. During part of 1874 they were being
fitted up, and on May 20, 1875, the expedition
sailed. The men were selected with great care as
suitable in every way, and when all were told off,
and the expedition nearly ready to sail, I had a
farewell tea-party for them, organised by Mr. G. D.
Dowkontt. Many of my old friends were going,
and who was certain to come back ?
Several of the men were total abstainers, notably
a very fine fellow, a petty officer named Adam
Ayles. He stuck bravely to his promise all through
the time. He said that he had promised his mother
never to touch strong drink, and he " war'nt going
to break his promise to her for all the snow and
ice in the Arctic regions." It was notable that he
enjoyed better health than any of the ship's company.
On the terrible sledging expeditions, where men
stricken with scurvy had to be dragged on the
sledges, Ayles was always to the fore, and so by his
help the pledge-book and cards of the Royal Naval
Temperance Society went farther north than any
had gone before or since.
I gave each man a little Testament, which fitted
nicely into the pocket of his duffle coat. As the
men were speaking one after another one of them
said, " What about our Monthly Letters, our Blue
Backs? we shall want them more than ever up in the
Arctic." It was a posing question, and I asked,
" Could any one suggest some plan, as certainly no
mails could reach them in Smith's Sound, locked up
in snow and ice."
Bluejackets always find a way out of a difficulty,
One of them was up in a twinkling, and he said
ii8 MY LIFE AMONG THE BLUEJACKETS
to me, " I know what you can do ; we may be away
three years, perhaps not, but best to be on the safe
side. If you will write thirty-six letters right ahead,
one for every month, and have them put up in two
boxes, one for the Alert and one for the Discovery,
I'll take charge of the box for the Alert j and there'll
soon be a volunteer for the Discovery, and we'll serve
them out the first of every month, and it'll be almost
as good as if they came straight from you."
This suggestion was carried unanimously, and I
set to work to get them ready, and before the
expedition sailed they were alongside the ships, in
company with pianos, plum-puddings, and countless
things which had to be left behind. However, Sir
Leopold said that "Whatever was left behind, the
Blue Backs were to go," and the Admiral's word was
law.
Years afterwards I was on board H.M.S. Duke oj
Wellington, then the flagship at Portsmouth, when
a seaman asked me if I remembered sending the
Blue Backs to the Alert and Discovery, " I was on
board the Discovery^" he said, " and how we used to
look forward to your letters during the long dark
winter, and I am so glad to tell you that through
them I learned to know and love the Lord Jesus
Christ, and I've had sunshine in my heart ever
since."
While I was busy at Portsmouth Miss Wintz was
not only looking after Devonport, but she was
travelling about the country to organise meetings
that I could take. Young and delicate-looking, she
had the pluck of the bravest man in the service.
She opened the way for me in London, Manchester,
TO WALES AND THE MOUNTAINS 119
Liverpool, Edinburgh, Glasgow, and half the towns
in the British Isles, and those that know the work of
organisation will probably realise something of what
she went through ; arriving at these large centres
without knowing any one, finding out the leaders in
philanthropic and Christian work, calling upon them,
interesting them, and finally securing drawing-room
meetings or halls, and preparing all for me. By her
help I have held meetings through the length and
breadth of the land from those early days until the
present date, and the interest and enthusiasm evoked
has often amazed me, and the kindness that I have
received is not to be told.
I am afraid that my memory as to exact dates
is not quite as good as it ought to be, but it was
in the late seventies or early eighties that I paid a
visit to H.M.S. Britannia at Dartmouth. Captain,
afterwards Admiral, Fairfax was the Captain of the
ship, and the two young sons of the then Prince of
Wales, our present King, Prince Edward and Prince
George, were cadets on board, under the care of
the Rev. W. Dalton, their tutor, now Canon of
Windsor,
I remember so well being introduced to them, and
how bright and sunny they were ; they showed me
their neat little cabins and their study, and also the
family portraits that were all round their rooms. It
was a drizzly sou'-westerly day, but they had to
go out into the Channel in the brig for drill with
the other cadets. Somewhat later they came round
to Devonport and went over the Sailors' Rest, were
much amused with the parrot, with his " Walk in.
Jack, and have a cup of coffee," and, acting on his
I20 MY LIFE AMONG THE BLUEJACKETS
advice, they indulged in coffee and plum-duff, and
when some years later I was at Cambridge, Prince
Edward, then a student at Trinity College, sent for
me to his rooms, to inquire about my work, and
laughingly asked, " Whether the plum-duff was as
good now as when he was a cadet on board the
Britannia ? "
One of the efforts to further spiritual life in the
navy was started about this time ; I am alluding
to the Royal Naval Christian Union. An officer
serving on board H.M.S. Royal Adelaide, then the
flagship at Devonport, used to come up to see me
very frequently, and he also gave kind help in taking
the men's Bible-classes. He was anxious to start a
Union of Christians of all denominations, the bond
being that they should trust in the Lord Jesus
Christ as their personal Saviour, and should promise
to serve Him ; and that the Union should combine
officers and men. Lieutenant Charles Prater little
thought that such a tree would grow from so small
a seed, but the R.N.C.U. now numbers over two
thousand members, including the wives, and has
members or branches on board most of the ships
in the service. The " One Bell " meeting for prayer,
held daily on board a large number of our ships, is
an outcome of the work of the Union.
The headquarters are at the Royal Sailors' Rests,
Portsmouth and Devonport, with a good division at
Chatham. The organ of the Union is the R.N.C.U.
Gazette, published monthly, and corresponding secre-
taries are scattered all over the world. The President
is Admiral R. S. Lowry.
Lieutenant Prater lived to see the work firmly
TO WALES AND THE MOUNTAINS 121
established, and then he passed away, but he will
never be forgotten. The R.N.T.S. and the R.N.C.U.
are two great societies, doing yeoman work in the
service. I could tell story upon story of men, who,
through the influence of both these societies, started
on new and better hves.
The Mission Band, R.N.C.U., was holding a simple
service in the open air, on Portsdown Hill, on a
Whit Monday ; thousands were there, and, attracted
by bluejackets in uniform, they gathered round and
listened intently. Some months afterwards I re-
ceived a letter from Gibraltar, from a soldier stationed
on the Rock. He said, '< Could you tell the fine
fellows forming the Mission Band of your R.N.C.U.
that I can never forget their words in the open air on
Whit Monday ; their bright faces and manly Chris-
tianity made me think, and led me to my Bible. I
am now as happy as they are, and I am serving the
same Saviour."
Sometimes they are able to hire a hall in some
foreign port, and to invite English-speaking people,
especially sailors and soldiers, to come, and who can
estimate the good that the men of the R.N.C.U. have
done at home and abroad ?
CHAPTER X
OUR PORTSMOUTH MUSIC-HALL
Events crowd rather thick and fast during the years
1878 and 1879. I have headed this chapter "Our
Portsmouth Music- Hall," and, strange as it may
seem, a music-hall was my first possession in this
great seaport town.
I had been backwards and forwards to Ports-
mouth many times for work among the men on
board ship and ashore, and as I came and went I
could not but notice a densely thronged thorough-
fare called Commercial Road. When the men left
their ships they all made for it. Most of the theatres
and music-halls frequented by them were in this
direction ; and outfitters' and drapers' shops suc-
ceeded each other in bewildering confusion.
It is still called "the most crowded thoroughfare
in the south of England," and it was and is a very
Regent Street for the naval world. Still, I never
thought for a moment of starting a Sailors' Rest
there; Devonport seemed quite enough.
I was travelling about, speaking in town after
town, telling all the good that I could think of
tlie British bluejacket and his belongings, and also
of the great needs of our second great naval centre,
Devonport. On this occasion I had been staying at
OUR PORTSMOUTH MUSIC-HALL 123
Bradford, Yorkshire, with a very kind friend. I had a
good meeting there, and was due at York on Monday,
April 14, for a meeting, I think, at the Deanery.
I can remember that Sunday now ; it was Hke a
March day, and in the afternoon violent squalls of
wind, accompanied by sleet, swept over the York-
shire hills. I little thought that one of these squalls
burst upon H.M.S. Eiirydicc as she was rounding the
Isle of Wight under sail, making for Spithead, She
was a training ship for young ordinary seamen, and
was commanded by one of the hiost gallant officers
in the navy, and withal a true and earnest Christian.
I had been on board the Eurydice at Portsmouth,
and had spoken to the ship's company ; I can almost
see those hundreds of bright, young faces now.
I had started a branch of the Royal Naval Temper-
ance Society among them, and the pledge-book and
cards were on board, the former bearing a roll of
names. Captain Marcus Hare, R.N., was most
anxious about the spiritual welfare of the hundreds
of young fellows under his command, and we parted
for the winter cruise, looking forward to meeting
again in the spring. But it was not to be. That
gallant ship, caught in a moment in the squall, went
over before the sails could be furled, and only two
men escaped to tell the tale.
One of them told me that the Captain was on the
bridge, and after giving the order to every man to
save himself, he clasped his hands in prayer and
went down with the ship. " I don't profess to be a
Christian man," said he, " but if there ever was one,
it was our Captain."
When I arrived at York on the Monday, I found
124 MY LIFE AMONG THE BLUEJACKETS
deep sorrow. Mrs. Marcus Hare had been staying
there and arranging the meeting, when she had un-
expectedly received a telegram that the Eurydice had
arrived, and she hastened off to meet her husband.
On the journey between York and London the awful
news of the loss of the ship and all hands was sprung
upon her.
Many weary weeks passed before the ship was
raised. She was towed into Portsmouth harbour
on September 5, five months later.
Some weeks afterwards I received the ship's pledge-
book and cards from the Admiralty ; there were the
young fellows' names. The books and cards crumbled
to dust after a little exposure to the air, but I was
able once more to read the names of my brave and
true friends, whom I should see no more until the sea
gave up her dead. Possibly this accident may have
made me think more as to the building of a Sailors'
Rest at Portsmouth, but whether that be so or not,
I know whose Power guided me and opened the way.
I cannot forget the kindness of Miss Robinson at
this time ; she welcomed me to the Soldiers' Institute,
and encouraged me in my wish to start a Sailors' Rest.
Looking about in the neighbourhood of this busy
Commercial Road for a house to rent, and so to try
the experiment, I lighted upon this Music-Hall, to
which was attached two small houses and a tiny shop
on the main street. This place looked as if it would
do very well for a trial trip, and I took it for a short
time, and set to work putting up a bright little coffee-
bar and reading-room. I could not accomplish beds;
there was only just room for the manager and his
wife and ourselves.
OUR PORTSMOUTH MUSIC-HALL 125
That Music-Hail ! it was a strange old place, with
a flaunting stage and proscenium, plenty of seats,
broken floor, and none too sanitary, judging by the
whites of sewer-gas that came up. Moreover, it was
a rendezvous of rats, who, emerging no doubt from
the sewers, played high games round the deserted
place, occasionally making excursions to other parts
of the building, as, for instance, when I came down
one morning to my sitting-room there was a grey-
whiskered rat sitting in my easy-chair, and devouring
our tinned salmon. I wished for my old bull-terrier
Crib, but the rat escaped to pay us visits later with
other friends.
We had good work in that Music- Hall ; the
men gathered around us, and were determined to
help; the little coffee-bar was packed to suffocation,
and so was the reading-room upstairs. Our own
sitting-room was used for all sorts of purposes — for
Bible-classes, meetings for prayer and singing, a quiet
corner for conversation and letter-writing ; our only
quiet corner in those days was our bedroom.
I had Saturday night entertainments in the Music-
Hall, to which any one was welcome — plenty of music
from the band and piano, songs by the men and
musical friends, recitations, feats of agility and
strength ; it was, and is, very important to provide
bright, clean entertainments for the people. Good
folks criticised, and said " that it was wrong," and I
went through a good deal of fire, but the more I
thought about it, and prayed about it, the clearer it
seemed to me that I was doing God's work in this
very thing. So I plucked up courage and went
forward, presiding at all the entertainments my-
126 MY LIFE AMONG THE BLUEJACKETS
self, and rigidly excluding anything of a doubtful
character.
Sometimes I must confess that the bluejackets
gave me away, I am sure unintentionally, by singing
some song which I had passed on the programme on
account of its innocent title, but which was rather
doubtful. I used to stop these songs, sorry as I was
to offend the singer.
One bluejacket, a wild young fellow, was to sing,
and although he knew that character songs were ex-
cluded, he scandalised us by jumping out on the
stage in Mary the housemaid's print dress, apron,
and cap : that very man became afterwards a tem-
perance man, and one of my best helpers in the
service.
Spite of all these little difficulties I worked my
way on ; the Saturday night entertainments, at first
well abused by everybody, were copied all over the
town, and our large hall at the present Sailors' Rest
is still crowded every Saturday night, and, best of all,
this entertainment recruits for our Sunday meetings,
many men saying that they enjoyed themselves so
much on the Saturday nights, that they were sure
that they would like it on Sundays. The Music-Hall
was a grand success as far as work went ; there was
only one fault, it was crowded out.
What was to be done under these circumstances ?
To buy in Commercial Road was very expensive, and
in the busy part of it houses were never in the
market ; they passed from hand to hand. Quietly
and earnestly we prayed about it. Some people do
not believe in answered prayer ; my work has been
continuous evidence of it for over thirty years, and
OUR PORTSMOUTH MUSIC-HALL 127
will be so to the end. Devonport, of course, was
swallowing up all the money that I could get for it,
and at Portsmouth no house was available, and 1
had not got the money, but perseveringly I prayed.
One day the carpenter who was doing some
work on our premises, told Miss Wintz of a good site
in a splendid position ; he said that he had heard that
the owner, a business man, would be glad to sell
privately if he had an offer. I saw him and ex-
plained our plans, which interested him greatly, and
we agreed upon a price.
I then received by post a cordial invitation from
one who has ever been a kind friend to this work,
Anthony Denny, Esq., to hold a drawing-room meeting
at his house ; the meeting was convened, and the great
drawing-room in Connaught Place was crowded.
Mr. Denny presided himself, and he asked me before
the meeting commenced what I wanted ? I told
him ;£iooo. " Very good," he said, " you'll get it
in time." I went on speaking, and people seemed
much interested ; and I saw my host, paper in hand,
stepping about among his guests.
When I ceased he said, " Miss Weston told me
before she commenced that she wanted ^1000 for
Portsmouth. I am very glad to tell her that those
present who have listened to her have subscribed
ONE THOUSAND GUINEAS, and in their name, and my
own, I hand her a cheque for ;^I050."
My heart almost stopped beating, and only when
I looked at the cheque could I believe it. Yes, our
loving Father had given this money as a foundation-
stone for Portsmouth, and had shown me clearly
that I was doing His will in this work.
128 MY LIFE AMONG THE BLUEJACKETS
Up to the present date I have received from all
sources nearly ONE MILLION sterling, and I have
looked upon every penny as from God, and so 1
began to buy and presently to build at Portsmouth.
It was good to see the building rise; but at first
I had no hall, and used a long narrow room for that
purpose, but behind the building was a large court-
yard. As time went on a great tent was put up,
and we had our tent services, and at last the tent
was struck, and we took possession of our large hall,
which we occupy now.
But I must not run on so fast. The Portsmouth
Sailors' Rest was opened on the 13th June 1881.
It was not easy to get all the money needed, and
as I have always avoided debt, I could not push on
too quickly, and meantime the Devonport work was
growing enormously. I had opened a branch house
opposite the gates of the great steam-yard at Keyham,
then a suburb of Devonport; the two houses stood,
one outside the main gates in Fore Street, the other
outside the gates of the steam-yard, as it was then
called.
I must not either forget to tell some of the diffi-
culties that I encountered in Fore Street from our
neighbours, the publicans. They were furious at the
advent of a coffee-house, and still more when two
ladies arrived to take up their residence there. They
said " that it was a disgraceful innovation, and ought
to be crushed by all right-thinking men. As to
ladies coming to live in such a place, and to look
after sailors, well, they could be no ladies, that
was very certain." " If there is any one on earth
I hate, it's that Miss Weston of yours," said one of
OUR PORTSMOUTH MUSIC-HALL 129
these worthy Bonifaces to my manager. " She brings
a bhght upon ah honest trade."
This was sad, but at the same time very encourag-
ing. Men were promised free drinks, and one of the
pubHcans went so far as to draw several pints of
beer, place them on a shelf, and place half-a-crown
at the bottom of one pint pot. The frequenters of the
Sailors' Rest were invited each to take a pot, as a
free drink, and the lucky man, of course, got the
half-crown as well as the beer.
I also knew of cases when men had been drugged
and robbed, and disappeared for a few days in these
places, and I could tell of worse things still. How-
ever, the men crowded to the Sailors' Rest ; it was
" coffee pot " V. " beer jug," and the coffee pot came
off the victor. The publicans then threatened to
break the plate-glass windows, but remembering that
it takes two to make a quarrel, I advised them to
change their trade for a better one, and insured the
windows.
As time went on, a pretty constant changing of land-
lords took place in the public-houses opposite. To
the best of my remembrance there were three and a
pawn-shop, and the rumour spread that the three
public-houses were to be pulled down, and a large
gin palace was to be built on their site by a syndi-
cate, which would soon finish the Sailors' Rest ; and
then came another report that the lord of the manor,
then Sir John St. Aubyn, afterwards Lord St. Levan,
refused to lease the land for that purpose.
Anyhow, to my great delight, the public-houses
came down, dragging the pawn-shop after them, and
two large places of business — an ironmonger and an
I
130 MY LIFE AMONG THE BLUEJACKETS
outfitter — were built on their site as an answer to the
accusation of the publican "that Miss Weston blighted
all honest trade." When, a year or two later, I had
succeeded in capturing and buying out the public-
houses on our side of the street, and the foundation-
stone for the new building was being laid, the
outfitter came over to lay a five-pound note on the
stone, as a small return for the increased trade
brought to him by the men frequenting the Sailors'
Rest.
Months rolled by, and we still held our own, and
enlarged the Sailors' Rest by building more dormi-
tories, then a hall on a larger scale ; then an additional
cottage in Dockwall Street was acquired, and still the
popularity of the place grew so much, that a late
Junior Civil Lord of the Admiralty, W. S. Caine,
M,P., calculated that the Sailors' Rests saved the
country one million sterling a year.
The sailor boys still crowded us out whenever
they came ashore, bright and cheery as ever. The
attendance at the Bible-classes was quite voluntary,
but they were always crowded on Sundays and
Thursdays.
One of our boys went to H.M.S. Alexandra. He
fell from aloft, striking his head against an iron ring
in the deck. The doctor pronounced it at once to
be a bad case of concussion of the brain, and feared
the worst. He was unconscious for days, but just
before he died a lucid interval came, and he said to
the sick-berth steward, " Give my love to Miss
Weston, and to all the ladies at the Sailors' Rest, and
say I've gone on ahead to Jesus. I gave my heart to
Him at the Sunday Bible-class, and He's with me now."
OUR PORTSMOUTH MUSIC-HALL 131
One Sunday afternoon a seaman came into the
hall when 1 was presiding over a meeting of boys ;
he listened to the singing, and the tears ran down
his cheeks. He told me that a few weeks before
he had got very drunk, and was in a fight in Fore
Street ; he was a herculean man, and it had taken
four policemen to carry him into the dockyard ; he
was punished by stoppage of leave, and this was the
first Sunday that he had been out.
He said, "As I came out of the gates I was
heading for the ' Lord Nelson ' when I heard the
boys singing ; it reminded me of my mother, and
of the old Sunday-school, and I came in ; the sight
of them and the words that they sung have capsized
me." He was induced to sign the temperance pledge,
and afterwards became an out and out Christian
man.
In those old days the paying-off of ships was
terrible, although not as bad as some years before,
when men put bank-notes between pieces of bread
and butter and ate them.
I remember an incident that occurred about the
time of which I am writing. A number of men
paid off from H.M.S. , with plenty of money,
determined to have an astonishing lark ; they hired
all the cabs in the town, to go in procession ; they
themselves, with a fiddler, and a great jar of rum,
got on the roof of the first cab, and off they started,
stopping at numberless public-houses for a drink.
By the time they got back to their starting-place
the money was nearly gone, and the only sober
members of the procession were the horses.
But things were improving. One day several young
132 MY LIFE AMONG THE BLUEJACKETS
seamen came to me and said, "We calls you Mother ;
will you act a Mother's part, and draw our half-pay,
and take care of it while we are away ? " Always
anxious to help them I said that I would do so, and
half-pay papers began to flow in. I had to draw
the money from the Government Pay Office monthly
and bank it. I soon saw that every care must be
taken, so I associated a co-trustee with myself, and
all the books — I have them now — were carefully
kept in a business-like way.
Whenever they wanted their money, they could
get it, and anything that they needed when on
foreign service we bought and sent out — concertinas,
sewing-machines, bones and Christy-Minstrel rigs-
out — everything that can be thought of, probable
and improbable.
At last I used to draw something like -^1600 from
the dockyard monthly, and about ^^84,000 of the
men's money passed through my hands. I often
went to the Admiralty to ask that Savings Banks
at the dockyards might be started, so that I might be
able to transfer this big responsibility to Government
security, and at last this was done, and was crowned
with eminent success.
I was over ;^ioo on the wrong side of the ledgers
when the books were finally audited, but it was
well worth all the trouble and loss, as it led to a
great departure in the Savings Bank system by the
Admiralty, which has enabled men not only to save
money on board ship in the Ship's Savings Bank,
but to transfer it to the Dockyard Bank on the ship
paying off ; and so the links are complete.
At the present time it is a pleasure to see the
OUR PORTSMOUTH MUSIC-HALL 133
paying-off of a ship. It is generally done early in
the day, and frequently the trains are backed into
the dockyard alongside ; in other cases railway tickets
are bought on board, and the men come in crowds
into the Sailors' Rest for a wash and a brush up,
a cup of coffee and a sandwich, before starting.
In speaking of the bluejackets and marines with
whom I have been associated so long, there is one
noble trait that runs through all my reminiscences
from first to last, and it is this. Jack never considers
anything impossible ; it was proved at Ladysmith
when the guns of the Poiverfiil were brought up and
placed in position, and it is being proved every day.
An old Captain whom I knew well was discussing
an evolution with his First Lieutenant. " It's im-
possible, sir," said the junior officer. " Impossible,"
cried the Captain, somewhat choleric ; "reach down
my dictionary, sir, and turn to the word ' im-
possible.' " He looked, and then said, " It isn't in
your dictionary ; it's ruled out with red ink." " No,
sir," said the Captain, " it's not in my dictionary,
or in the dictionary of any naval officer ; such a word
is not used in the navy ; carry out my instructions."
The instructions were carried out, and the evolution
was successfully performed.
There is another trait which is called "doing a
growl," and in some naval establishments a book is
kept, in which to record these complaints, called a
"Growl Book." As untoward incidents must happen
in every large institution, I manage in this way: any
and every man has free access to myself, and all
complaints are carefully gone into and, if, possible,
remedied. Added to this, we have " General Purposes
134 MY LIFE AMONG THE BLUEJACKETS
Meetings," at frequent intervals, which are open to
all men, and where complaints can be made, and
also suggestions as to improvement ; steam is blown
off, and perhaps an explosion averted.
I was lunching once with an Admiral, when the
conversation turned on this naval trait. " Does the
Admiral ever grumble ? " I asked the lady at the head
of the table. " I should think so," she said laugh-
ingly. " If he did not, I should think he was goine
to die ! " ^ ^
CHAPTER XI
THE CAPTURE OF THE PUBLIC-HOUSES
This event was a great one, and looms largely in my
life's story, although many years have passed since
that day of victory. I have said that we were sur-
rounded by public-houses at Devonport ; those
opposite had been pulled down, but there were
three between ourselves and the dockyard gates —
the " Napier Inn^' the " Royal Naval Rendezvous,"
and the " Dock Gates' Inn." It is difficult to get hold
of one public-house ; three seemed like an impossi-
bility, but that word has always been ruled out of
our dictionaries.
I wanted to enlarge the Sailors' Rest, and the way
of the public-houses seemed the best. " Can't you
shake out a reef or two," many said, " and get hold
of those grog-shops ? " It would be a grand move,
and a lessening of temptation to the men, and I
began negotiations for the '^Napier" and the "Royal
Naval Rendezvous!' There seemed a chance of my
being able to buy them up, licences and all, if I had
the money.
The post one morning brought me a foreign letter
with the post-mark " Fiume " upon it. I opened it,
and out dropped a cheque for a thousand pounds,
sent by Robert Whitehead, Esq., inventor of the
»35
136 MY LIFE AMONG THE BLUEJACKETS
Whitehead torpedoes. He said that he had heard
I wanted to buy and pull down two public-houses,
and he hoped that his enclosure would knock a hole
in one of them.
He was followed by a kind benefactress, Mrs.
Langworthy of Manchester, who also enclosed a
cheque for a thousand pounds. What with Mr.
Whitehead'storpedo,and Mrs. Langworthy's thousand-
pounder, a big breach was blown metaphorically in
the walls of the public-houses. These heavy missiles
were followed by one - hundred - pounders, fifty-
pounders, ten-pounders, five-pounders, and one-
pounders, and capitulation seemed imminent.
Very much encouraged, I turned longing eyes
on the " Dock Gates' Inn," with its dancing saloon
behind, and an active treaty was in progress with
the owners of this corner public-house to sell, that
the whole block might be carried by storm.
About this time I happened to be visiting the
Royal Naval Hospital, Plymouth ; a seaman was
lying on his bed in the last stage of consumption.
He had served on board one of the turret-ships, and
had been a picture of health and strength.
With his skeleton linger he beckoned me to his
bedside, and, between his gasps, he whispered in my
ear, " Have you got the 'Dock Gates Inn?'" "Not
yet," I replied, " but I believe we shall. We are
asking God to give it to us." " And so am I," he
said earnestly, laying his bony hand on my arm.
" I am praying to God night and day on my bed
to give you that place ; there I learned to drink, and
the drink has brought me here."
Poor fellow I he was going down like a sinking
CAPTURE OF THE PUBLIC-HOUSES 137
boat, but his one desire was that the pubHc-house
that had worked his ruin might be done away with.
His prayer was answered : the large sum of money
needed for the purchase of these public-houses and
their licences was obtained, and when the last barrel
of beer was rolled out, and they were. closed, and
the keys were laid upon my table, we were all
thankful that every public-house between ourselves
and the Royal Dockyard had been demolished, and
that we should be tl.c first to greet the sailor as he
stepped out of the yard into the town. When the
time came to pay the money it was ready, and, in
conjunction with my trustees, I became the proud
owner of three of the worst public-houses in Devon-
port.
Some may ask how I can account for this ? 1
cannot account in any way, except in one way, that
there is a loving Father always ready to listen to His
children; and to give them every good thing.
I am often asked how I can bear the strain of
such an enormous work, which increases every year ?
I can tell the secret. Many Christian people know
it, and others do not ; it is wrapped up in a " life of
faith on the Son of God." There is no worry or
anxiety in this life, because all burdens are borne by
the great Burden-Bearer when once the will is sur-
rendered to Christ, and the life of union has begun.
It is "TVoif / but Christ." I could not have done even
the smallest part of this work if God had not shown
me this truth, and made it a living reality to me.
Amidst dust and rubbish the old houses came
down and were carted away, and the foundations
were laid of a fine pile of buildings that stand there
138 MY LIFE AMONG THE BLUEJACKETS
to this day. Some touching incidents occurred in
connection with the money raised. " I'd Hke, if you
please, to have a shiUing shot at these grog-shops,"
said a stalwart bluejacket on board one of Her
Majesty's ships. " I only wish I could do more ;
many a ' wet ' I've had there, but when you've pulled
it down and built up the teetotal block, I'll call for
half-a-pint of coffee."
Another young seaman brought a sovereign, care-
fully wrapped up in silver paper, and after some
circumlocution said, " It was from his young lady
who was in service." Asking him the reason of
her great interest in the work, he coloured up, and
bashfully said, " It's because of the change she sees
in me."
The new pile of buildings adjoining the original
building rose steadily, and in 1888 the corner-stone
was laid by Admiral H. D. Grant, C.B., and before
long the top-stone was fixed. The restaurant is a
splendid room with every convenience, and bright
with mirrors, gilding, and colour. The boys' room
is equally fine, and is built on the site of the old
dancing saloon of the ^^ Dock Gates' Inn." The cabins
tower tier after tier down the street and round the
corner.
But I did not stop here ; after a while the original
Sailors' Rest began to show signs of collapsing ;
floors assumed strange angles, doors and windows
would not shut ; so I pulled it down and built on its
site, and that of another house above it, the '< Queen
Victoria Memorial Hall " and cabins. All in its
time, I must not forestall too much ; but as I write
the picture unrolls itself before me.
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CAPTURE OF THE PUBLIC-HOUSES 139
For some years I had Sailors' Rests also at Port-
land and Sheerness, but the leases of these places
ran out, and I did not renew. We had two, but we
could not supervise four places properly ; two were
as many as we could manage, and we decided that
" what was worth doing was worth doing well," and
so we stood by the premier ports of Portsmouth and
Devonport.
While I was planning and working for the men at
home I did not forget those abroad. My correspond-
ence was very large, and it is now larger still ; every
month Ashore and Afloat and my Monthly Letter went
hand in hand in their long journeyings to ships and
sailors all over the world. It was marvellous to note
the effect that they seemed to have on the seafaring
community everywhere.
The British and American ships lay side by side at
Yokohama, Ashore and Afloat and a Blue Back got on
board, and they were read and passed from hand to
hand. The American sailors w^ere most anxious to
have them, and consequently I wrote to the Secretary
of the Navy Board at Washington, enclosed him
copies, and said that if in his opinion they were
likely to do good in their service, I would send them
with pleasure. I received a letter from him saying
that he had read them, and was confident that they
would do a great deal of good, and if I would address
them and send them to their receiving office in
London, that they would gladly forward them to their
ships all over the world free of charge.
I have been in close touch with the American navy
since that day. I have visited many warships, and
have spoken to the men and boys, and have always
140 MY LIFE AMONG THE BLUEJACKETS
been so kindly received that I have felt quite at
home under the '' Stars and Stripes," and received
not long ago a very nice letter from the chaplain
of one of the United States training ships. He
says, " Our boys wish you to accept the little gift
accompanying this letter as a token of appreciation
of your many offices of goodwill towards them and
your interest in their welfare. The boys read Ashore
and Afloat and your Monthly Letters with great delight
and interest, and will continue to do so as long as
you send them. All the boys on our training ship
are well acquainted with you through your letters,
and should you meet any of them, they will be so
glad to know you personally. Wishing you God
speed in the work, I remain yours truly,
Chaplain."
The token that the chaplain speaks of was a
beautifully bound volume of Longfellow's Poems,
and a message written in it to the effect that " it
came with the grateful thanks of the American sailor
boys."
We also send large quantities of the Ashore and
Afloat and Monthly Letters to the mercantile service,
deep-sea fishermen, coastguardsmen, and lighthouse
keepers. The output at the present time is : Ashore
and Afloat, 750,100 copies ; and Monthly Letters,
770,680 copies a year.
The coastguard service is being gradually abolished.
I for one am sorry ; the coastguards are so interwoven
with my past life. Only men of good character could
get in, and it was a comfortable little billet with its
bit of kitchen-garden and whitewashed cottage for
Jack ashore. The coastguard pacing up and down
CAPTURE OF THE PUBLIC-HOUSES 141
under the white ensign, with his telescope under liis
arm, ready to do or to dare anything to save hfe in
stormy weather, is known to many of us. We are
sorry that these hving pictures ashore of the navy
afloat should pass away. I have been to many of
these stations, and always visit them regularly by
means of my monthly packets. Many of the men
are total abstainers and belong to the Royal Naval
Temperance Society, and others are very earnest
Christian men.
Some have been turned to God in ways that we
should call strange, but 1 think that one of the most
beautiful stories from real life that was ever told me
was what we might call " Under the White Ensign."
I remember that glorious summer afternoon ; the
Solent looked so blue, and the golden haze seemed
to shimmer over our great iron ships, destroyers, and
torpedo-boats — pictures of intellectual strength, swift-
ness, and power — and the white ensign, our grand
naval flag, floating lazily at the stern of the battle-
ships, carried one's thoughts back to the time when
Nelson, Collingwood, and a host of brave men main-
tained old England's supremacy as mistress of the
seas.
My meditations were brought to an abrupt pause
by a cheerful hail from a sunburnt bluejacket as
he paced up and down under the white ensign that
marked out the coastguard station. He was an old
friend, and had served on board the Temeraire and
many another of Her Majesty's ships.
"Beg your pardon," he said, "but I couldn't let
you pass. Fine day, isn't it ? The sight of that fleet
warms me up, and makes me feel that but for the
142 MY LIFE AMONG THE BLUEJACKETS
wife and children I should like to do a bit more sea
time. They do look grand ; and is it true, as I've
heard, that every ship gets her Blue Backs and Ashore
and Afloats ? Well, times have changed since I was
a youngster."
" Yes," I replied, as we walked up and down, " we
have circulated a large number of Blue Backs and
Ashore and Afloat this year."
" Bless me," he cried, " every ship in the navy
has her parcel, and a fellow from the Orlando told
me that the men came round like bees when the
parcel was opened, and they wanted a hundred more
every month. And then you send them to the
American navy and the merchant sailors no end.
I'm glad that Johnnie gets them as well as Jack and
Joe and Uncle Sam.
''Do you know," he continued, "it's a sight of
good them papers do. Wherever they go men will
always read them, if they read nothing else, because
they come from Mother Weston. You must want
plenty of shiners to do that. I'll give half-a-crown.
I know the good that they do at our coastguard
station. I wish I could give more. I owe all my
happiness to a Blue Back."
He suddenly stopped and seized the halyards.
The sun was just dropping in the west like a ball of
fire ; a puff of smoke, a report, and down fluttered
the white ensign. " If you can wait a minute," said
my bluejacket friend, " I will tell you about the Blue
Back and this here old flag."
I willingly waited while he made all taut and trim,
and then, his watch being over, he told me his story.
" Do you remember writing a Blue Back called
CAPTURE OF THE PUBLIC-HOUSES 143
' The White Ensign ' ? It was all about this flag of
ours, and the lessons it taught, and how we carried
the cross all over the world ? The Union Jack in
the corner, you said, taught Christian love ; the
white ground was Christian hoIinesS; and the red
cross was the Cross of Christ.
" I was on the coastguard then, near Hastings, and
as I read that Blue Back in the watch-room, tlie
words they just seemed to sink into my heart, for no
one knew better than I did myself what a sinner I
was : I kneeled down and prayed when I had read that
Blue Back. Next morning I was early astir, for mine
was the morning watch — it was as beautiful a sum-
mer morning as this is a summer evening — and I
was just waiting to hoist the ensign.
"The sun showed out of the sea, and up went the
flag ; as she fluttered out in the morning breeze over
my head there was the red cross on the white
ground. I kneeled down on the beach, and I felt
there and then that Christ was my Saviour, and His
Cross my only hope."
The westerly glow lighted up the rugged face of
the bluejacket as he uttered these words ; and,
grasping my hand, he turned away. From that day
to this I have never forgotten this story from real
life.
It was very bright and cheery on June 13, 1881,
to see the crowds of men who came to help to open
the Portsmouth Sailors' Rest. At the present time
it is much more than double the size than it was in
'81. However, our naval friends were well pleased ;
they said that we were commissioning the ship, that
she was a noble three-decker, and that, once built,
144 MY LIFE AMONG THE BLUEJACKETS
the bluejackets would see that she went on floating.
Many good speeches were made that night by
bronzed sons of the ocean, and we did not forget to
thank God, who had given us the place, and to
dedicate it to Him.
The same success continued to attend it as had
attended Devonport. We have never found that the
exclusion of intoxicants has driven away the men —
very much the reverse. Our figures up to the present
date show that more naval men have used our
Sailors' Rests than can be chronicled at any Home
where intoxicating drink is sold ; the steady men are
glad to get a place free from drink, and the drinking
men know that they will be cared for, and, if possible,
helped into a better life. The house is open all night,
and no man in hquor is turned away.
We often see and hear strange things. "Three
sheets in the wind. Mother," a man said as he
lurched in. " Sorry you should see me like this, but
it's a long lane that has no turning ; you'll see me a
better boy yet."
Another evening a man ingenuously said, " I'm
sorry. Mother ; indeed I am, but I've been keeping
my birthday, and I've had a tot too much ; you'll
forgive me, and look it over ?" I could forgive him,
but it was difficult to look it over, as he had already
kept three birthdays in the same way in a fortnight.
However, he came to the Sailors' Rest, and I hoped
that the influence of the place might yet make a man
and a Christian of him.
I began to gather workers round me, who had
been in the service themselves, and who understood
the difficulties of those that they had to deal with.
CAPTURE OF THE PUBLIC-HOUSES 145
They visited them on board their ships, and invited
them to the Sailors' Rest ashore, distributing also the
Ashore and Afloat and Blue Backs. Lady-workers
also kindly gave me their help ; many have come
and have gone, some are working abroad, or in other
hnes of Christian work, some remain with me.
Early in the eighties Miss Brown came to me and
devoted herself to the classes, meetings, work among
sailors' wives, &c. ; she is still after all these years
helping me in secretarial and other work, and is one
of our trustees. I feel that I owe her a great debt of
gratitude, and also to other true and earnest ladies
who have been with us, or who are with us now.
Portsmouth and Devonport, although not doing
such a large and solidly organised work as they are
now, were all alive and humming with men. I read
in an old note-book these confidences from the men
when I returned after a short absence : " We sat
down nearly two hundred to tea, Miss Weston,
last Sunday afternoon," said a young seaman ; " you
should have seen us, we were full from stem to stern.
You'll have to set to work again, and get bigger
quarters ; we said we'd eat you out of house and
home, and we're doing it."
Another man says : " Aye, but the crowd at tea
was nothing to the crowd at night ; we were packed
like herrings in a barrel, and numbers had to go
away. Why, on this reading-table," tapping it signifi-
cantly, "six of us slept, and I was one of the six.
Bluejackets can sleep anywhere ; and as to turning,
they never want to turn — till they turn out."
Some one overheard one man say to another :
" Mind you come back to sleep here. I shall look
146 MY LIFE AMONG THE BLUEJACKETS
out for you." " But suppose," said his chum, '' I get
a drop too much, Miss Weston won't have me here."
" Yes, she will," was the prompt reply. " I've heard
her say a dozen times that we were never to stop
away while she had a roof to cover us, even if we
were drunk. Look here, you see that red lamp over
the sleeping-quarters, you make for that ; if you see
Two red lamps, make for it, and even if you see
Three."
Some have blamed me for taking in men the
worse for drink, but I have always felt that they
needed all our care ; they were " somebody's boys."
And if we copied the Master, we should not leave the
poor fellow on the road from Jerusalem to Jericho
(even if it happened to run through Portsmouth or
Devonport) who had fallen among thieves, and had
lost his reason, and his cash, stripped, wounded, and
half dead, and so I encouraged the police and others
to bring them in. And sad sights we saw then, and
often see now.
I remember on one occasion meeting with an
adventure, which showed me that personal influence
was not to be despised. I was returning from
Plymouth to Devonport in the tram-car, when it
stopped to take up a herculean seaman who was
several " sheets in the wind." He got in noisily,
and dropped into a seat by a market woman, on
whose shoulder he laid his head, and fell fast asleep.
The tram conductor came round for the fares, and
looked dubiously at the man, and concluded to pass
him by.
When he came to me I said, " I am sure that man
will pay." " I daresay he will," he replied, " but I
CAPTURE OF THE PUBLIC-HOUSES 147
don't like to stir him up ; he'd be one too much for
me, he's Fighting Charlie." I had not numbered
Fighting Charlie then among my friends, though I
was sorry to see a bluejacket in that condition, so I
said, " I'll pay for him with pleasure."
On went the car, and as it neared Devonport
passengers got out, casting furtive glances at Charlie,
who was now lying stretched at full length in the
car. In those days the cars went half-way down
Fore Street.
"What will you do with him?" I said to the
conductor ; " when you get to your journey's end,
you'll have to turn him out or carry him back to
Plymouth." "Oh, I guess me and the driver will
contrive to get him out, and if he's sleepy he'll lie
down in the gutter,"
As the car proceeded down Fore Street I thought
I would try to speak to him, and so perhaps prevent
a struggle ; standing over him I said, " Charlie, it's
time to turn out, do you hear ? " He made no
reply, but struck out with his fists. I kept in a safe
place and said again, "Come along, Charlie, look
alive."
He opened his eyes and looked at me then, and
jerked out, " Why, it's my Mother Weston 1 " " Yes,"
I replied, " it is your Mother Weston, and very sorry
she is to see you like this ; now what are you going
to do?" " I'll go with you wherever you take me,"
he replied. " You will leave the car quietly and you
won't fight ?" " No," he said, " I'll do whatever you
say."
Rather incautiously I said, "Then you had
better come with me." He was got out, but his
148 MY LIFE AMONG THE BLUEJACKETS
walking powers were very limited. I took him by
the arm, and beckoned to a bluejacket whom I knew
to go to the other side, which he did. Poor fellow,
he certainly had no control over his legs ; they flew
into the air or else his feet dragged on the ground,
and I feared a catastrophe, which soon came, and in
a moment I found myself in the street with Charlie
on the top of me, and my sailor friend doing his
level best to pull us both up.
After a time we were on our way again, and close
to the Sailors' Rest ; we managed to negotiate the
swing doors, and he was soon on a couch sleeping it
off. His horror and consternation the next day,
when his mates told him of the episode in Fore
Street, cannot be told. He came up to say how
sorry he was, what a good father and mother he
had, and that he would give up the drink. " As to
you," he said, " you've been more than a mother to
me ; and if I hear any one saying a word against you,
if he is as big as a church tower, I'll knock him
down."
1 have been looking over some entries in my old
diaries about this date, and it is curious to read that
we were so delighted with what we should call now
our small receipts, and our sleepers, when we first
opened at Portsmouth. It runs thus : " We are
doing well, taking quite £6 a day over our counters,
and housing 20, sometimes 30 men, every night."
At the present time our receipts are £^^0, sometimes
;^6o or ^80 a day, and our sleepers 400 and 500 a
night, sometimes 1000 when every bed is let, and
men are lying on the floor. We are now building
200 more cabins at Portsmouth.
CAPTURE OF THE PUBLIC-HOUSES 149
Well do I recollect an incident about this time
which was amusing and might have been serious. It
was Whit Monday, and a lovely day ; a monster
temperance meeting was to be held in Netley Abbey,
a most picturesque and romantic spot. The Blue
Ribbon movement was at its height, and this was a
Blue Ribbon meeting. Mr. William Noble, Arch-
deacon, then Canon, Wilberforce, and others, includ-
ing myself, were asked to speak. I went over with
Miss Wintz, and we took a gallant band of blue-
jackets, members of the Royal Naval Temperance Society.
The old Abbey looked its best, with its traceried
windows, the ivy framing them in, the blue sky
above, and carpeted with green grass ; but, best of
all, it was crowded with thousands of people. A
large platform was erected under the east window,
the meeting went on as usual, the speech of the
eloquent Canon was of course the centre of the
whole. At the close numbers crowded up to sign
the temperance pledge, and to put on the bit o'
blue.
I was standing at the edge of the platform pinning
on the ribbons, the bluejackets with their flag behind
me. Suddenly the platform quivered, rolled like a
wave of the sea, and went forward. I was flung far
out among the audience, Canon Wilberforce was
shot on the top of me, ruining his hat, and otherwise
bruising himself, others were thrown in various
directions, and some were considerably hurt.
The first thing that I remember was scrambling
up considerably the worse for wear, to see the
Canon allaying the panic, by getting up on a chair
and giving out the Doxology, in which we all more
I50 MY LIFE AMONG THE BLUEJACKETS
or less joined. The bluejackets had kept their feet,
and so had Miss Wintz, and they had gone down
with their colours flying, all standing !
As I look through these old diaries I wonder how
we got through our work, but we did. Now at
Devonport, the next day visiting ships and speaking
at Sheerness and Chatham ; travelling all night to
hold a meeting the next day at Edinburgh ; then at
Portland, going on board the Boscawen and other
ships, and back to Devonport.
I see that I mention several meetings in Glasgow.
By the kindness of our friends we returned over the
border richer by one thousand pounds. Before one
of these meetings I was laid up with a bad throat,
and was in bed all day, but I got up and went to the
meeting, and managed to speak. The collection at
that meeting was ;^I50, and so the work went on
by leaps and bounds, year by year, as the prophet
Nehemiah says, ^^ By the good hand of our God
upon us."
CHAPTER XII
THE EGYPTIAN WAR
From the time of the Indian Mutiny, when the Naval
Brigade, under Captain Peel, K.N., did such good
service, to the present day, our seamen and marines,
landed, have done splendid work. With all due
respect to Tommy Atkins, Jack can put his hand to
anything, and in the earlier times the newspaper
correspondents used to say that, while the soldiers
were waiting sorrowfully for their commissariat, and
their cooks, Jack would have made his fire, cooked
his soup and bacon, and had even been successful at
duff, had eaten the good things, and was dancing to
the strains of an old fiddle !
In these modern days arrangements of course are
much better, but as Jack adds to his accomplish-
ments of laundry work and needle work that of a
cook, he must always be " forrarder " than his
brother in arms.
The Egyptian War, including the bombardment of
Alexandria, the taking of Tel-el-Kebir, the Gordon
Expedition, and the fall of Khartoum, all took place
in the eighties, and as the brave fellows in the ships
and those landed in the Naval Brigade were our
friends, and we were constantly hearing from them,
writing to them, and sending them literature and
»5»
152 MY LIFE AMONG THE BLUEJACKETS
comforts of every kind, we were deeply interested in
all that took place.
Commander Lord Charles Beresford, who so
pluckily achieved fame in the Condor, was well known
to me, for when I first went to Devonport he was
Flag-Lieutenant to the late Admiral Sir Harry
Keppel, G.C.B. Lord Charles is credited with many
wild and plucky adventures; he is brave and chivalrous,
and is an embodiment of what the British naval officer
should be. His magnetic influence is wonderful ; he
had only got to hold up his finger, and men in and
out of the service would flock around him. " I'd go
all over the world with him, if it were not for my
two wooden legs," cried an old tar triumphantly.
We hoist the signal, " Well done. Condor," once
again at the close of his career, and wish him many
more years of useful service to the navy, afloat or
ashore. Personally he has always been a most kind
friend to me, and has helped and advised me in
many of my schemes for the good of the men.
The stir and bustle preceding this expedition was
great, and I could but encourage the men not to
forget their little meetings for prayer and Bible
readings when ashore, and to stand by their colours
as teetotallers, members of the R.N.T.S. ; they
promised that they would. Many a letter came
from them, written on a drum-head, or a gun, or
anything flat ; and most interesting those letters
were.
"We don't forget the Sailors' Rest at Ports-
mouth " (or Devonport, as the case may be) ; " we
often think of the meetings. When we bivouac we
get a little away after the rifles are piled, and all are
THE EGYPTIAN WAR 153
standing easy, and we sing our hymns out of the
books that you gave us, and read the Christian
Union portion, and talk about better things ; and
often other men come round and Hke to sing too,
and we give them the Blue Backs and Ashore and
Afloat and they are so pleased to get them, and the
soldiers often ask for them."
Another man writes : " I must tell you about our
teapot ; we call him Mr. Arabi, and when we come
home we hope to show him to you. He has been
with us all through the expedition, and we call him
a lucky teapot, for we teetotallers who stick to him
have had no sickness. Many a man who has gone
in for his rum and water has been down ; they say
that if the waiter is bad the rum takes all the poison
out, but we tell them that we don't believe a word
of it, for they have been in the hospital tent, but
with our Mr. Arabi wc haven't been near it."
Scientific teetotalism since those days has proved
that Jack's personal conclusions were correct, that
no amount of alcohol added to impure water will
destroy the germs or bacilli, but that boiled water is
immune, and so when I paid a visit to the Inconstant,
on her return with members of the Naval Brigade,
I looked with respect on Mr. Arabi, rather the worse
for wear, displayed on a mess table ; the men
gathered round all eager to tell me what a good
friend he had been. He would not have done for
afternoon tea in a lady's drawing-room. He was a
" three-decker," and would make three brewings of
tea at once, but he was awkward, rough, and showed
signs of hard usage, but, looking at him from a
utilitarian point of view, he was a true temperance
154 MY LIFE AMONG THE BLUEJACKETS
worker, a friend of Jack, and " a man's a man for a'
that."
Another incident I remember, that is very char-
acteristic of Jack, occurred at this time. Water,
when fresh, was precious, and there was a canal
called the " Sweet Water Canal " ; fighting was taking
place around, and it was a warm corner. Some
shells had fallen near, and had destroyed part of the
lining wall, so that the water was rapidly oozing into
the sand ; the loss must be stopped at all risks.
The Engineers were not on the spot to render aid,
and the other military men could not wield a
trowel, but Jack was sure that he could do it, and if
it was a dangerous spot so much the better. Three
times the number needed volunteered, and they
marched off, carrying such implements as they could
improvise ; arrived on the spot they set to work,
and under the light of a full moon they worked all
night.
A stray shell pitched and exploded several times,
but without doing any harm, and in the same way a
rifle bullet pinged by ; when the sun began to show
his rim above the desert the work was done and the
fresh water saved.
The officer in command was just going to order
them to fall in and to march back to the encamp-
ment, when " Please, sir, may we stand easy for ten
minutes ?" saluted his ears. " Certainly," he replied,
strolling away. On his return an object greeted his
eyes that he had never seen before.
They had spent the time in fixing an upright pole
in the sand, and across it they had nailed a board
that they had brought with them, which bore this
THE EGYPTIAN WAR 155
inscription : " This is the wall that Jack built." And
with hearty cheers they formed up, wheeled, and
marched back to their tents.
My diary tells me that I went on board the Ruby
at Chatham. They had been guarding Suez, and
seemed to think it rather a dull job, but they said,
"Your little Blue Backs and your letters used to
liven us up." From the Ruby I went to the Naval
Hospital and saw the sick and wounded from Egypt,
talked to them, and tried to cheer them. They
chatted away, and told me many an anecdote that I
have forgotten now ; one was about Lord Charles
Beresford, which I have no doubt he would
recognise.
Looting of every kind was strictly prohibited,
everything was to be honourably paid for. One day
Lord Charles met a bluejacket who looked abnor-
mally stout, and had some difficulty in saluting.
"What have you got inside your jumper?" he de-
manded. " Nothing, sir," was the reply. <' Stuff,"
rejoined Lord Charles, " you've been looting; now
out with it." There was a convulsive movement
under the jumper and a stifled cry.
Seeing that concealment was useless. Jack pulled
out Chanticleer. " Please, sir, he was sitting on a
fence, and I says to him, ' Now then, you crow for
the honour of old England, or it will be the worse for
you.' I asked him three times ; he wouldn't do it,
so, sir, I took him prisoner to do duty at the mess."
I believe that Lord Charles kept his weather eye
shut and said no more, and Chanticleer promptly
found his way into the cooking-pot of the Naval
Brigade.
156 MY LIFE AMONG THE BLUEJACKETS
In the year 1885 the Church Congress assembled
at Portsmouth, and at the wish of the present Bishop
of St. Alban's, then Canon Jacob, Vicar of Portsea,
who was one of the secretaries, I was asked to read
a paper on my work in connection with the navy.
I am not quite sure, but I beHeve I was one of the
first ladies thus honoured, although it is delight-
ful to read the gifted speeches of ladies at these
assemblies nowadays. I cannot say whether I was a
curiosity or not, but I secured an audience quite dis-
proportionate to my merits. The hall was crowded
with clergy and others, and they seemed much
interested in the account that I was able to give.
An outcome of this meeting was a great gathering
of naval men in our large hall at the Sailors' Rest in
the interests of Social Purity. The then Bishop of
Newcastle, Dr. Ernest Wilberforce, afterwards Bishop
of Chichester, was in the chair, and several of the
Congress speakers spoke as they alone could. The
Royal Naval Purity Society was the fruit of this
notable gathering of service men.
The proverb, " All work and no play makes Jack
a dull boy," is true, when one is giving out one's
best in brain and muscle in any cause ; a little respite
is needed sometimes to keep the machine in good
trim. And the years of unremitting work had left
its mark upon myself and Miss Wintz ; true, we had
our quarters on the edge of Dartmoor for short
rests, but that was about all, and the time seemed to
have come for a real rest.
Our thoughts naturally turned to the " playground
of Europe," Switzerland, dear to Miss Wintz as her
birthplace. We were able at last to make all neces-
THE EGYPTIAN WAR 157
sary arrangements, and, on a morning never to be
forgotten, we started for Dover. The crossing safely
accomplished, the all-night journey to Bale com-
menced. I had never been in Switzerland, and a
snow mountain was a sight I had never seen.
In those old days railway carriages were not what
they are now, and certainly the seats of the Calais-
Bale Express were something like the pebble beach
at Portland, and left painful reminiscences. But I
shall never forget tne early dawn as we entered
Switzerland.
At last Bale was reached, and after breakfast we
started for Schaffhausen and the Falls of the Rhine.
It was nearly as interesting to myself as to Miss
Wintz to walk once more in the grounds that had
belonged to her family, and to stand on the terrace
of the old Chateau where she first saw the light,
looking over a view unique in all respects. The
Chateau of Laufen looked dark and grim on the
opposite side, and the beautiful country was framed
in by the snowy range of the Bernese Oberland.
We stayed two or three days, looking up the
old town house and family records in Schaff-
hausen, and finally left for Lucerne, not allowed
to pay anything, for the landlord said " it was
an honour to entertain a member of the old family."
Arrived at Lucerne, we took steamer up the lake
to a sweet little spot on the Axenstrasse, called Tell's
Platte. The Uri Rothstock, and other grand moun-
tains, among which thunder often rolled during our
short stay, rose before us, and the lake in all its
beauty lay below us. At the head of the lake was the
town of Fluelen, fenced in by the St. Gothard Pass.
158 MY LIFE AMONG THE BLUEJACKETS
A trip up the Rigi was one of our pleasures, the
Httle cogged railway carriages taking us to the top,
and the sunrise next morning is stored away among
life's memories. The magnificent panorama of snow
mountains and the glorious tints must be seen to
be believed, and also the grotesque appearance of
the visitors, wrapped in blankets, &c., gathered to
see it.
We were anxious to go over the Furka Pass to
the Rhone Valley, for we were bound for the
Eggishorn, and, as a returning waggonette was
also anxious for a fare, we started via Andermatt,
the Devil's Bridge, and Goschenen. We toiled on,
until at last on that hot day in August we got to
perpetual snow at the top of the Pass, and oh, the
air ! sal-volatile was nothing to it.
The next day was as entirely on the down grade,
as the day before had been on the up grade, past
the Rhone Glacier, and on to Visp, where we paid
off our waggonette, and began the long climb to the
Eggishorn Hotel, to which we were bound.
Here we stayed a week, making an ascent of the
Sparrenhorn, from which we had a nagnificent view.
We also made an excursion to the Aletsch Glacier
and Marjolen See. This was our first glacier experi-
ence, and the roping together, the narrow pathways
we trod, with crevasses on each side, blue and deep,
and then the little lonely sea-green lake, all took its
place in our book of mental photographs.
Meanwhile we were drinking in health day by day
from the mountain air. The valley of the Rhone,
dark and blue, lay beneath us, and magnificent
mountains — the Weisshorn, the Matterhorn, the Dent
THE EGYPTIAN WAR 159
du Midi, and others — towered up in front. I shall
never forget a Bible-reading on the mountains, con-
ducted by the Rev. E. W. Moore, one Sunday
afternoon. The whole setting was so beautiful, our
thoughts certainly were carried up to Nature's God.
I am certain that not one of the large audience will
ever cease to remember it.
Our next halt was Zermatt. There was no railway
then, and we determined to walk to Stalden, with
knapsacks, and on to Zermatt, which we did.
Zermatt was different to all that we had seen ; the
weird, uncanny Matterhorn towering over it like
a malevolent fiend, when seen in juxtaposition with
the lovely Weisshorn clothed with snow. One
expedition 1 can never forget — to the Riffel and
Gornergrat. We started very early, and, as we were
getting through the pine- woods, the sun rose. In
a moment the great black peak of the Matterhorn
glowed as with incandescent fire over and through
the pine-trees, the tops of the Monte Rosa range put
on the beautiful pink glow, while the valleys below
were wrapped in purples and greys. We stayed for
a night at the hotel, and, climbing to a high peak
with some friends to see the sun set, we could not
resist singing the Doxology with one accord.
The next morning was spent in rambling by the
Corner Glacier, and it very nearly came to pass that
we never saw the sailors again. We got on the
moraine, and in our ignorance embarked on the
glacier. Presently we heard a loud report, and a
crevasse opened almost under our feet. We made
for the moraine, but, like a pistol shot, another
cleavage occurred between ourselves and the shore.
i6o MY LIFE AMONG THE BLUEJACKETS
There was nothing to do but to sit down, which
we did, and waited until some gentlemen, with
guides, came and delivered us ; and then we heard
that the Gorner Glacier was moving on at a certain
rate of progression, and was never the same two days
together, and, indeed, was very dangerous to traverse
even with guides. From Zermatt back to the valley
of the Rhone, and thence by Villeneuve and the
Lake of Geneva to Lausanne, and home again.
Two years later another short trip to Berne, Lake
Thun, Interlaken, and Grindelwald completed our
Swiss rambles. Our work has not allowed us to
go out of England since, but our memories are
stored with photographs of the lovely land of snows
and glaciers, which will last all through life's
journey.
The year 1887 was the Jubilee year, and all the
empire rejoiced with the beloved Queen-Empress,
honoured, respected, and, I may say, loved by the
whole world. This date was signalised to us by a
message from the then Crown Princess of Germany,
our Princess Royal, that she would much like to
come over from Osborne to see ourselves and the
Sailors' Rest.
It was the first Royal visit that we had received,
and, unused to Court etiquette, we were somewhat
nervous, but the kind friendliness of the Crown
Princess, and the deep interest that she showed in
all the details of our work, soon put nervousness
to flight.
She was delighted with the place, which she
inspected minutely, enjoying a cup of coffee handed
to her by Miss Wintz. As I guided her through the
Photo
-Jo
■ B.r
I \>tst, /ifinturff.
f-
THE EGYPTIAN WAR i6i
reading-rooms, she noted the presence of a Bible on
each table, among all the magazines and periodicals.
Turning to me she said, " I'm so glad to see the
Bible, the best book of all, among the papers, and
I can also see that it has been well read." I told
Her Royal Highness what I felt about the Bible.
" Yes," she replied, " it is the crown of your work."
The cabins immensely delighted her, and she told
me about her sailor son, Prince Henry of Prussia,
and remarked that she must give a cabin for his
sake. The cheque for thirty guineas duly followed,
and the cabin stands there to this day. I can see
her now as she was on that occasion, wonderfully
young-looking in her yachting costume, bright and
sunny. How little one thought of the dark clouds
that were even then hovering on her horizon.
Expressing her pleasure and interest in all that
she had seen, and promising to give Her Majesty,
who was also much interested in the work, a full
account, she said, as she bade me good-bye, in her
bright impulsive way, " Ah, Miss Weston, if circum-
stances were different, how much I should like to
work with you."
CHAPTER XIII
THE SHIP THAT NEVER RETURNED
The opening of the last decade of the past century
was signalised by the appointment of Admiral H.R.H.
the Duke of Edinburgh as Commander-in-Chief at
Devonport. The Duke, as a naval officer, had been
interested in our work for many years, and had
always encouraged me in it ; but a terrible national
catastrophe, which I call " the ship that never re-
turned," drew us together in mutual work for our
countrymen and women, and opened out new interests
to myself and those with me.
On the 8th of November 1890, H.M.S. Serpent
steamed out of Plymouth Sound for her distant
station. She was a new ship, with all the latest
improvements of the time ; my helpers had been
on board as she lay alongside in the dockyard, and
had started good work among the ship's company,
and we knew them well as they went in and out
of the Sailors' Rest. We bade them good-bye as
they left, full of bright prospects for the commission.
As I passed through the dockyard gates a bluejacket
was saying good-bye to his wife. " Cheer up, Nell,"
he said, as he kissed her ; " take care of yourself and
the kids, and I'll soon be home again."
The officers and ship's company of the Serpent
163
THE SHIP THAT NEVER RETURNED 163
little knew that they were steering into the jaws
of death. Sunday, November the 9th, passed as the
ship sped on her course. Monday the loth wore
away, and the night settled down " black as a wolf's
mouth," the ship plunging through the waves. The
watch below were asleep in their hammocks, when
all at once with a grating sound and a slight shock
the ship struck, and then again with a violent shiver
she crashed on the reef.
** On that awful night I was in the watch below,"
said one of the survivors ; " when she struck there
was a little confusion as the men rushed on deck,
but in a moment they fell into order ; not one
flinched, every man obeyed the word of command
and stood by the ship. The officers grouped to-
gether on the bridge, the men in the rigging or
on deck.
" The next order was ' Lower the boats ' ; they were
lowered, but instantly capsized. As a final resource
the lifeboat was lowered, but she was seized like a
toy by the mighty billows and was dashed to pieces.
The Captain then spoke his last words : ' Save your-
selves, men, the officers will stand by the ship.' "
The last sight seen by those who have returned
was a sinking ship, the men washed out of the
rigging wholesale, the officers standing on the bridge
and going down as she settled under water. Young
lives were given up, and death came suddenly and
swiftly ; they were only a few hours from old
England, and their loved ones were sleeping peace-
fully while they struggled with death.
I shall never forget the shock at Devonport and
throughout the country when the notice was posted
i64 MY LIFE AMONG THE BLUEJACKETS
outside the dockyard and the Commander-in-Chief's
ofBce : "Total loss of H.M.S. Serpent with all on
board." Crowds of widows and mothers rushed to
the Admiral's office, and that Admiral was H.R.H.
the Duke of Edinburgh ; the day was dark and
drizzly, typical November, and the wailing and
weeping was terrible to see. The Duke came out
bareheaded in the rain, and he told the poor sorrow-
ful ones how much he sympathised with them, that
he feared that the news was true, but all that could
would be done. " He has a kind heart," said one
poor soul ; " I saw the tears fill his eyes as he was
speaking to us."
The next day, true to his word, he summoned a
meeting of those likely to take interest in such work
and appointed his own committee. Miss Wintz and
my workers meanwhile took immediate steps to
search out the bereaved ones, and to help them
immediately. When our seamen are drowned, as
G. R. Sims truly says : —
•' 'Tis not only the husband that's missing,
'Tis the children's daily bread."
The man's pay stops at once, the poor wife or
mother is crushed or stunned, and it is during these
early days of sorrow and destitution that help is
most needed. For some months we worked on this
committee, and I went through all the cases per-
sonally with the Duke, and can testify to his deep
sympathy and practical business capacity, as we
sifted all these matters.
Subscriptions flowed in, a Serpent Fund was raised,
and was placed in the hands of the Soldiers' and
THE SHIP THAT NEVER RETURNED 165
Sailors' Families Association. Not one penny of
this fund was invested ; it has all been spent upon
the people for whom it was collected, and is now
almost, if not quite exhausted. A board of trustees
was formed, and, by the Duke's wish, I was appointed
a member.
Only three men out of 176 were saved that
night — Gould, Luxon, and Burton ; young men all
of them. They shall tell their own stories, as they
told them to me in the Royal Naval Hospital, where
they lay wounded and maimed.
Luxon grasped me by the hand as I stood by his
bedside : " I'm one of your temperance boys," he
said ; " I've never tasted strong drink. I was trained
in H.M.S. Ganges in Falmouth, and joined the Royal
Naval Temperance Society there, and then I came
to Devonport, and the Sailors' Rest was a home to
me. Aye, Miss Weston, I'm proud of the Boys'
Medal that you gave me for sticking to temperance.
Yes, I jumped overboard when Captain Ross gave the
order, and I swam for life ; I'm a strong swimmer."
Seeing the young fellow's arm crooked and fixed,
I asked the reason. " Well," he modestly said, " I
was trying to save a shipmate, and I got my arm
round him ; I struggled for nearly an hour, and lost
all power in that arm because of his weight ; and
then a big roller washed him out, and he sank, and
this arm was useless."
As I looked at the stiffened arm, and the young
boyish face, I thought that here was the stuff out
of which heroes were made, and that useless arm
seemed as great an honour as a Victoria Cross.
I moved on and stood by the side of another
i66 MY LIFE AMONG THE BLUEJACKETS
survivor — Gould. He looked at me with the tears
in his eyes.
" I never thought to see you again," he said, " but
God has been very good to me ; it's a miracle that
I'm here, and it is God alone who has saved me.
You ask me how I was saved ; I will tell you. I was
on watch and I had my cork jacket on ; when I
jumped into the sea I was whirled round like a top in
the water, and I sank for the last time as I thought.
My senses seemed to go, and yet I could think
clearer than ever in my life. All my past stood
before me, and all the good and all the evil that
I had done, and plenty of the latter.
"And then, clear as a picture, I saw my mother,
and she was praying for me ; I began then to pray
for myself. I prayed for the pardon of my sins
through the blood of Jesus Christ, and I prayed that
He would save my life. In a minute or two I was
carried against a rock : how I clung to it, and lifted
myself out of the water, and how I thanked God
for answering my prayer. As I held firm to the
rock the waves struck my legs with such force that
I thought that they must be broken, and then, O
horror ! I felt the water rising ; it was the tide.
" It rose to my waist, to my chest, to my neck.
God ! was I doomed to be drowned after all ? Still
1 prayed, for life is sweet to a man, and as I prayed
the tide turned. I was saved.
" I took off my cork jacket, put it on the rock,
and lying upon it in the midst of the storm, with the
dead bodies of my shipmates washing past me, I
slept from sheer exhaustion for hours. When I
awoke I had no power in my limbs at all, but, by
THE SHIP THAT NEVER RETURNED 167
moving them, I got a little life into them, and at last
I waded and crawled ashore."
Burton was asleep, but I had heard enough from
the other two men.
Nearly twenty years passed before I saw Gould
again ; he was out of the service and in the employ
of the Corporation of Plymouth. He told me that
although he had been enticed away by bad com-
panions after he had left the hospital, that the Good
Shepherd had gone after him and had brought him
back to God ; and as he told the story that I had
heard so many years before, in the hall of the
Sailors' Rest, to a great gathering of sailors and
their friends, it was indeed a time of rejoicing to me.
I have been turning over the pages of my old
diaries again, and I find that day after day, and
year after year, Miss Wintz, Miss Brown, myself,
and my devoted band of workers, went on steadily
visiting ships, going from mess to mess, holding
meetings on board, on the upper deck, in the flats,
in the barbettes, anywhere.
I went on board a ship at Portsmouth, and asked
permission to have a meeting at the " top-gallant
forecastle." The boatswain's mate went round
blowing his whistle, and calling, " Miss Weston's
come on board, and is holding a meeting on the
t'gallant fo'csle ; those that like can come, and those
that don't like can stay away."
As I stood there I was surrounded in about two
minutes by some seven hundred men. Two young
fellows were running towards me to get within
hearing, and I heard one say to the other, " Look
alive, Bill, yer naval mother's come aboard, and she's
i68 MY LIFE AMONG THE BLUEJACKETS
going to spin yer a yarn." I was listened to very
attentively, and thanked at the close for the visit.
Then at the Sailors' Rest we had endless meetings
for the men, and also for their wives and children.
As to travelling, Miss Wintz and myself were con-
stantly on the rail. She would not only supervise
the great Sailors' Rests at Portsmouth and Devon-
port, but she would travel all over the country,
organising meetings, returning to take up her work
again, and to set me free to take these meetings
which I accomplished, travelling by night very fre-
quently, and speaking by day ; and yet, spite of all,
we are well and hearty, and able to carry on our
much loved work at the present time.
In the year 1892 the Naval Exhibition was held
in London in the grounds of Chelsea Hospital, the
forerunner of many another exhibition. We were
asked to exhibit, and were allotted a very good place.
We erected a cabin, full-size, fitted with its bed, &c.,
a lifelike figure of a bluejacket stood under a flag-
staff with his telescope : the whole scene was realistic
in the extreme.
We were also able to do something for the detach-
ment of bluejackets told off for gun drill, feats of
arms, &c. They wanted a sort of Sailors' Rest in the
Exhibition grounds. I put up, with Miss Wintz's
help and co-operation, a bungalow, close to the life-
size model of the " old Victory." It was very pretty
and picturesque, and the small garden in front was
gay with scarlet geraniums and calceolarias. The
flagstaff towered aloft, and the whole was roped in
in naval fashion.
The building consisted of a very brightly fitted
THE SHIP THAT NEVER RETURNED 169
restaurant, where tea, coffee, temperance drinks,
confectionery, and food could be served at any time.
A large reading and writing room, bright with
pictures and lounges, filled the other side. Behind
was a mess-room, where all the men on duty could
sit down and dine. A small room I arranged for
myself, and it was also used for Bible-reading and
prayer. A cook's galley, with scullery and the usual
ofTices, completed the minature Sailors' Rest. Out-
side there was a verandah, on which, when off duty,
the men used to sit and smoke, and play their man-
dolines and banjos to the admiration of passers-by.
The place was a success all round, although we
gained nothing by it, but rather lost. It was a great
help and comfort to the men. I was in London
with Miss Wintz nearly all the summer to see that
all went well, and to help them in every way.
Many of the members of the Royal Family,
brought by the Duke of Edinburgh, visited it, and
were greatly delighted. Our present King, then the
Prince of Wales, took an opportunity of presenting
me to the Princess of Wales, now our gracious
Queen, and the charm and kindliness of her welcome
will never be forgotten.
This additional work was heavy, but when we
heard from the men what a real home the little
place had been, we were all thankful that we had
been able to run it. Returning to Portsmouth and
Devonport, we continued our ordinary work, with
the addition of the claims of many widows and
orphans.
One morning I received a note from the Duke,
asking me to come to see him at Admiralty House.
lyo MY LIFE AMONG THE BLUEJACKETS
He had a communication from Her Majesty the
Queen to the effect that he had interested her so
much in our work that she would hke to do some-
thing to distinguish the Sailors' Rests, and also on
the expiration of his command, not very far off, to
give a cabin to the building.
I accepted both the kind offers with gratitude.
In the first instance the Queen bestowed the title
of " Royal " upon the Sailors' Rests, confirming it by
Royal Warrant, and graciously saying " that it was
a fitting title for a Royal work." This warrant
was confirmed by King Edward VII. on his accession
to the throne, so that we bear our title legally, and
use the Royal Arms ; and we trust to be able to live
up to it.
The cabin given by Her Majesty has been, and is,
an unceasing source of delight to the men. The
Queen took great personal interest in its fittings, and
wished to present her likeness, asking which one of
the many taken would please them most ? I held a
solemn convention over this matter. Some voted
for the celebrated picture of her late Majesty, in
widow's cap, writing a letter. Another man carried
all before him when he said, " That was not the like-
ness of the Queen at all ; there were plenty of
widows in England, and they all wrote letters, but
only one Queen ; " and turning to me, amidst loud
applause, he said, "Would you tell Her Majesty
this, Miss Weston, with our humble respects, and ask
for one like a Queen — with a crown on her head
and a sceptre in her hand ?"
I felt constrained to tell Sir Henry Ponsonby
all about it, and he wrote back to say that the
THE SHIP THAT NEVER RETURNED 171
letter had been read to the Queen, who was greatly
amused, and ordered one of her Jubilee portraits,
duly autographed, to be sent. The brass plate on
the door bears the simple inscription chosen by
herself: "Given by Queen Victoria, 1895." The
bluejackets all want to sleep in the Queen's Cabin ;
sometimes a dozen will try to enter their names
for one night. " It is good of her," said one
bronzed fellow ; " it shows how she thinks of us
and cares for us."
A very important movement at this time, in which
we played a considerable part, was a grand change
and reform in the method of paying the Admiralty
allotments, or " half-pay " as it was called, to the
sailors' wives. Up to this time all the money was
paid on a certain date at the pay office in the dock-
yard, and the women had to come to receive it
personally. There were no cars, electric or horse,
in those days, and no motor 'buses, and the poor
women had many of them to walk for miles through
rain or snow, carrying a child, to get to the yard in
time to answer their names.
Wet through often, they had been known to faint
in the waiting-room, or to get home only to go down
with cold, rheumatism, and sometimes with pneu-
monia. Fortunately our restaurant was open to
them, and they crowded in for hot tea or soup. If
any woman had arrived too late at the dockyard
she had to make the wearisome journey again on
what was called " Recall Day." The system was
a relic of the old navy, and utterly unsuited to
modern times. Mr., now Sir Hudson, Kearley, M.P.,
brought the matter before the Admiralty, and finally
172 MY LIFE AMONG THE BLUEJACKETS
before Parliament, and a Royal Commission, of
which Lord Farrer was president, was appointed
to inquire into the matter at Devonport.
It was busy work getting the witnesses, sifting
their evidence, and making all ready for the Com-
missioners ; but we succeeded, and both Miss Wintz
and myself attended to give evidence, and to hearten
up the witnesses, who were very much tempted to
turn and fly when they found themselves in official
quarters.
The result was all that we could desire. The
system was entirely altered and the abuses done
away ; and now every wife and mother drawing
half-pay receives a Post-Office Order each month
from the Admiralty that she can cash when she
will at the nearest office, and the boon has been
unspeakable.
CHAPTER XIV
SIGNALS OF DISTRESS
The year 1893 will never be forgotten in naval
annals, for on June 22nd H.IM.S. Victoria foundered
in the Mediterranean, rammed by H.M.S. Camper-
down during a series of evolutions off the Syrian
coast.
The fleet was a magnificent one, and was on this
bright day steaming over a summer sea. Death
seemed very far away. The Commander-in-Chief
was an Admiral whose name was a household word
for bravery and skill. An order was given, and in
the attempt to carry it out the collision occurred
that sent the Victoria to her doom. Struck by the
Camperdown, she was cut nearly in two by her
powerful ram. Orders were given and carried out
with perfect discipline ; there was no confusion,
no panic ; the doctors went to save the sick ; the
ship's police brought up the prisoners, and the call
sounded for the men to "fall in on the port side
of the deck."
They stood in serried lines, looking pale and
anxious, the ship meanwhile filling and heeling
over. But not a man tried to save himself until
the order was given, and then many were more
intent on saving others than in looking after them-
•73
174 MY LIFE AMONG THE BLUEJACKETS
selves. The Admiral, Sir George Tryon, refused
the life-belt that his coxswain brought him, and
told him that while there was a chance he must
save himself — the coxswain was drowned. A brave
young midshipman, Mr. Lanyon, aide-de-camp to
the Admiral, said '* that his place was to die with
his chief " — he was among the lost. A diver, en-
cumbered by his dress, was set free by his chum —
the chum was drowned, but the diver was saved.
" I never saw such a sight before," a petty officer
wrote from the In exible. "The signalmen were
carrying out their orders as if all was well, and
as the ship went down they stood by the signals."
I have a piece of the signal halliards that passed
through the hands of these brave men as they
calmly obeyed the last order and went down with
the ship, standing at the post of duty. The chap-
lain of the Vtdoria, the Rev. S. D. Morris, R.N.,
was a brave, true man and an earnest Christian.
A survivor of the disaster wrote to me, " We do
miss our chaplain ; he always had such a kind
smile and word ; every one loved him." Mr.
Morris died as he had lived. He was last seen
trying to rescue the sick.
On the tablet put up to his memory these words
stand : " In the hour of danger and of death, when
all were acting bravely, he was conspicuous for
his self-denying and successful efforts to save the
sick and to maintain discipline. Nobly forgetful
of his own safety, he worked with others to the
end, and went down with the vessel." An officer
said, " When I last saw Mr. Morris he was standing
by the men ; then seeing escape impossible, as she
SIGNALS OF DISTRESS 175
made the fatal plunge and I leaped from her, he
folded his arms upon his breast, and looking up
to heaven, his lips moving in prayer, he died.
The pluck and Christian character of these brave
men is shown in various ranks. Another of our
friends was a bright-eyed west-countryman named
George Edgcombe. He came of a sturdy stock,
and was trained for the navy at Devonport. We
often used to see him at the Sailors' Rest as he
came in with the tide of sailor boys that used to
flow in and out of the building when they were
ashore.
I was so glad when George signed the temperance
pledge, and determined to keep his life free from the
snare of drink, and it was pleasanter still to see him
in our dining-room, with a number of boys, turning
over the pages of the Sacred Volume and learning
the way to heaven. At last the news came that he
was drafted to H.M.S. Vtdon'a, and away he went to
Malta.
Some years ago now, after speaking to a large
audience in Torquay, I noticed a working man and
woman waiting to see me ; the tears coursed down
the mother's cheeks as she said : " Our George,
before he went away, told us that we were to see
you on the first opportunity. He said that you
were a second mother to him, and the Sailors' Rest
a second home. He did love you. VVe little
thought when he went to join the Victoria that we
should never see him again.
"When he went away he said, ' Cheer up, mother,
I'm going by God's help to carry out what I learned
at the Sailors' Rest, so that you and father shall
176 MY LIFE AMONG THE BLUEJACKETS
never be ashamed of me.' " As the mother poured
out her heart sorrow, the father stood by clenching
his hands, and forcing back his tears. "We love
you," he said simply, " because our son loved you,
and you taught him to trust and serve his Saviour.
He was eighteen years old the day the ship went
down, a fine fellow, though I say it, and our only
son. I give him," he continued with a great effort,
"to his God, his Queen, and his country. I am
content. I shall see him by-and-by."
I could tell many more incidents, and also of the
good work that was going on in the ship, where we
had flourishing branches of the Royal Naval Tem-
perance Society and of the Royal Naval Christian
Union, but this must suffice. Death was sudden and
unexpected, and after the ramming by the Camper-
down the sea rushed in with fearful rapidity, and
in a space of time, estimated at from ten to fifteen
minutes, she settled forward, heeled over to the
damaged side, turned bottom upwards, and carried
down between three hundred and four hundred
officers and men —
" There is in the wide lone sea
A spot unmarked, but holy ;
For there the gallant and the free,
In his ocean bed hes lowly."
The great need at home was IMMEDIATE HELP.
The husband or son gone, poverty, sometimes starva-
tion, comes into the house at once, because naturally
all pay ceases on the date of a man's death.
In the case of the Victoria the pay was monthly,
and would have been due a few days after the
SIGNALS OF DISTRESS 177
catastrophe ; but this money went down with the ship.
When half-pay is made out through the Admiralty
by the man to his wife or mother, and he dies on
active service, there is a Greenwich pension for the
wife and children, and a gratuity for the mother ;
but when money is sent by remittance, the man
sending the sum that he can spare by postal orders,
the wife, not being on the Admiralty books, is not
recognised, and unless she can absolutely prove by
letter that she receives the money regularly she gets
no Greenwich pension.
The widows and mothers crowded around us at
Portsmouth. I had never witnessed such agony
before, except in the case of the Serpent. The
blow seemed too awful. Some utterly refused to
believe it, others nearly lost their reason, one
was partially paralysed. As they fiocked to the
Sailors' Rest we were turned for a time into a
Government office, sending and receiving messages
to and from the Admiralty, hourly, as to the life
or death of son or husband. One poor mother,
who had been apprised of her son's death, received
the joyful news through ourselves that, owing to
a similarity of names, her dear one was alive, and
her joy almost killed her.
On Friday, June 23rd, the day after the ship was
lost, we investigated the first case, and gave relief.
In the case of the mother of one of the drowned
men, whose rent was in arrears, the bailiffs were in
the house a few days after the loss of the ship. We
were able to save her home and, so to speak, to keep
the roof over her head. Miss Wintz and myself
organised a willing band of workers, and my friends
M
178 MY LIFE AMONG THE BLUEJACKETS
sent me in liberal help, amounting in the aggregate
to ;^2778, IS. 5d.
I shall never forget the scenes of sorrow in the
stricken homes. As I went into the darkened rooms
and saw widows or mothers sitting there in their
sorrow, often reading the last letter from husband or
son, and the little children crying around, I felt in
the presence of such awful and crushing grief that
all that I could do was to weep with them ; and the
edge of the trial was the keener from the knowledge
of the terrible fact that money had stopped, and
credit had gone, with the bread-winner.
In a very few days I was pensioning one hundred
families, which number soon increased. My desire
was "to keep the wolf from the door" by a small
weekly pension, until the Admiralty and national
help should come. We opened a mourning depot
to help them in this way. Our correspondence with
the clergy and others all over England was very
large ; every case was sifted out, that our relief might
be as wisely given as possible. Sad to say, several
little ones were ushered into the world in these days
of sorrow, and our funds were needed for doctors,
clothing, and nourishment. I could tell many an
anecdote from real life of grand endurance, noble
heroism, and patient suffering, that would touch
every heart.
The plan that I have adopted, and have followed
out in the case of every naval catastrophe, is this —
to send my workers instantly to visit all residing
in Portsmouth, Devonport, or Chatham, and to
communicate personally at once with all scattered
over the country, with sympathy, and offer of help,
SIGNALS OF DISTRESS 179
if needed, getting information from the clergy,
ministers, and others able to give it. A sum of
money is drafted from our own funds for use, until
the special funds come in. In the case of the
Victoria the Admiralty pensions commenced in
August 1893, but those of the Royal Patriotic Com-
mission not till November 1893, and in the case of
mothers and dependent relations many were deferred
until July 1894, one year after the loss of the ship.
My own relief goes on steadily until other help
is available, and then ceases, to avoid overlapping;
but, as I firmly believe in spending the principal
of these funds on the people for whose benefit they
are given, I clear out my special funds to the last
halfpenny.
All services in my own case, and in that of my
workers, have been gratuitous, and I have defrayed
office expenses and postages. Of course, if this
cannot be done, the liabilities of widows and mothers
can be calculated to a fraction, office expenses of a
reasonable character can be allowed for, and the
fund spent upon the people for whom it was
collected. This is, I believe, legal, and I am sure
that it is reasonable.
When, after this date, a Royal Commission investi-
gated the working of the Patriotic Fund, I w^as called
as a witness, and gladly gave evidence before a Select
Committee of the House of Commons, taking up
many widows of Crimean veterans who were in
extreme distress, some in receipt of parish pay, while
a large amount, many thousands of pounds, of
Crimean and other funds was invested, and only
the interest used. These old widows, most of
i8o MY LIFE AMONG THE BLUEJACKETS
them over seventy years of age, gave their evidence
in such strange surroundings with great self-posses-
sion, only asking that I would sit by them.
One old lady had been a nurse during the Crimean
War, and had been in the trenches, and knew Miss
Nightingale. She was ruled out because she had
married the sergeant of her choice a month or so
too late. " Seems hard," she said ; " I would have
married him sooner if I had known it, but it does
seem bad to live on half-a-crown a week." Another
said that " her husband had died for his country,
and she was starving for her country," and so on.
It was pathetic to see them, but the Patriotic
Commission took them on their lists, and they
rejoiced in a little more help.
Many ships have been lost since that date, or have
never returned. H.M.S. Condor, whose name, painted
in the stern-sheets of a boat, was about the only
record ; the Doterel in the distant Straits of Magellan ;
the Cobra, who broke her back on a rock in the
North Sea; the Lily, sinking in a typhoon in the
China Sea; the Tiger and the Gladiator off our own
coast. These and many more tell us the sad truth
that " there s sorrow on the sea."
CHAPTER XV
MY MOTHER
Some of the strongest and sweetest reminiscences of
my life circle round my dear mother. I can truly
say that I remember nothing but good of her, but I
fear that no one could say this of me. Hers was
a suffering life, a spinal affection keeping her on the
sofa for many years, but she was always so cheerful
and sunny that her sofa and sick-room were the
brightest spots in the house. Her love for her
husband and children may have often been equalled,
but I am sure that it has never been surpassed.
She was intensely musical, and in her early life
had lessons from the celebrated Dr. Crotch. She
was a beautiful pianist, and had a sweet voice.
Indeed, when she was over eighty years of age,
and nearly blind, she would sit down to the piano
and strike the keys in a masterly manner, and, from
memory, would sing airs from Handel's Messiah,
Mendelssohn's Lieder, &c. Her interest and delight
in my work never ceased, and I know that she
followed me incessantly with her prayers.
After my father's death she continued to live at
Ensleigh, the house that he had built, and the two
little grandsons that came, Harry and Jack, were
a great solace to her. From time to time I used
i8i
i82 MY LIFE AMONG THE BLUEJACKETS
to go home for a few days, and very happy times
they were — of rest to me, and of pleasure to her.
I told her of all my successes and my difficulties, as
one can only tell to a mother. She was the tie
that bound me principally to our home, which was
broken up, and so ceased to be home, when she
passed away.
She was of firm and decided character. When
over seventy years of age she heard Archdeacon
Basil Wilberforce plead the temperance cause elo-
quently in the Guildhall at Bath. He spoke very
strongly upon the example that Christians should set
in abstaining from alcohol on behalf of their weaker
brothers and sisters; and although she had taken
a small quantity of stimulant all her life, by doctor's
orders, she then and there determined, for Christ's
sake, to set as clear an example to others as possible.
So at the close of the lecture she went forward
and signed the pledge, giving up alcohol, and taking
to milk. She lived to the age of eighty-five, and no
ill effects, but rather the reverse, followed. The loss
of her sight by cataract was a great trial to her, as
were other infirmities of old age, but her spirit was
bright and cheerful, and her faith in her Saviour,
and love to Him, carried her over all the roughness
of the path.
Very painlessly, after a slight attack of bronchitis,
she passed away on January 31, 1895. Her illness
was thought so little of that, as I was down with
influenza at the time, I was not summoned to her.
My sister, who lived with her, nursed her with
devoted care, and despatched the message to me
telling me that she had been called home. Many
MY MOTHER 183
reading this know the blank when the mother
passes away, and I need not say that the trial was
very severe to me ; but I rejoice now in the thought
that I have both my parents in the land of light, and
that in God's time I shall go to them.
I shall not easily forget the journey from Plymouth
to Bath for her funeral, during the tremendous frost
of 1895. In the railway carriage the windows were
not only hard frozen, but one's breath came down
like snow. Miss Wintz, who followed me next day,
could scarcely get through. The snow was deep,
and the frost tremendous ; and in this Arctic weather
we laid my dear mother to rest in Lansdown
Cemetery, by the side of my father, and when we
returned it was to an empty home.
A few days later we left for Portsmouth, my sister
accompanying us, to share a small country house about
seven miles from Portsmouth, at Waterloo. My two
nephews, one of whom was then in the army, were
with me, and the youngest, Jack, who was at Malvern
College, adopted it as his home during the holidays.
About this time I became greatly interested in the
work of the British Women's Temperance Associa-
tion, headed by Lady Henry Somerset. Our sailors'
wives had long wanted to join some society, and at
that date they were not eligible for the Royal
Naval Temperance Society. I inquired into the
working of the B.W.T.A., and the result was that we
became a naval branch.
A band of most able and noble-minded women
were at the head of the Association — Lady Henry
Somerset, Miss Willard, Mrs. Pearsall Smith, Miss
Gorham, Miss Agnes Slack, the Hon. Mrs. Bertrand
1 84 MY LIFE AMONG THE BLUEJACKETS
Russell, and others. I had the pleasure of giving
them some personal help by speaking for them in
Plymouth, London, Chester, Edinburgh, Oxford, &c.
I can only say that I gained more than I gave. I
was specially interested in Duxhurst, the farm
colony started by Lady Henry Somerset for the
reclamation of inebriate women ; the plan seemed
so sensible and well-thought-out, that it made a
fresh departure, which is followed now in various
places.
When the village was built, it occurred to myself
and to the temperance bluejackets around me, that it
would be very nice if the navy could raise the sum of
money necessary to build a cottage. Ship after ship
took up the matter, and the money flowed in, and
shortly enough was raised not only to build the
cottage, but also to furnish it.
It was a proud moment for our naval temperance
men when, on H.R.H. the Duchess of Teck laying the
foundation-stone, two representatives, a bluejacket and
a Royal Marine, were able to place the cheque and
a purse of money upon that stone. The cottage has
done good service, and I hope will continue to do so
for many years to come.
While at Edinburgh, in the autumn of 1896,
helping the " British Women," I paid a visit to
H.M.S. Caledonia, lying in the Firth of Forth, close
to the great bridge. The boys crowded in their
hundreds. The captain and officers stood by me on
the quarter-deck, and I hope that many young lives
were influenced on that day for good. The Caledonia
is now non-existent, and the boys, as seamen, are
serving all over the navy.
MY MOTHER 185
After this work I returned to Portsmouth, and
plunged into my ordinary routine, and I little
thought of an event which was soon to happen, and
which stopped all my activities for some time. I
was fond of my bicycle, and was a very fair
rider.
One day in November 1896 I was riding about
on Southsea Common, and, turning down the Western
Parade, the front wheel became accidentally fixed in
the tram-line as I tried to avoid a cab ; in a moment
the bicycle was over, and I was in the road, having
heard the bone of my left leg snap like a carrot, and,
worse still, seeing that bone force its way out — it was
just above the ankle. Two gentlemen most kindly
ran to my rescue, and lifted me with the utmost
care, placing me in the open cab that I had tried to
avoid. I could only say, "To the hospital as fast as
you can." I shall never forget the mortal agony
of that drive, as the man whipped up his horse,
and at last landed me at the door of the accident
department of the Royal Portsmouth Hospital.
I was lifted out and carried in on a stretcher, and
doctors and nurses, including the matron, were soon
around me.
I remember the cutting off of shoe and stocking,
and I felt so thankful that I was in the hands of
Mr. Rundle, one of the best surgeons in Portsmouth.
Those that have passed through the ordeal of the
setting of a compound fracture know what it is.
When the leg had been set, in kindness to help me
to bear the reaction and to keep me from fainting,
I heard the whispered order, "Give her some
brandy."
1 86 MY LIFE AMONG THE BLUEJACKETS
I do not look upon the taking of alcohol as a sin
when given as a medicine, but I thought of many
men, and women too, to whom it was a great
temptation ; they had, I knew, been helped by my
example, and would be discouraged and thrown
back if I took the brandy, perhaps not knowing the
circumstances under which it was administered. So
I said, " Please give me hot milk." And that milk,
acting as a stimulant, gave me all the spur that I
needed.
I remained in the hospital, in a private ward, for
two months. It was a novel experience to me to be
fixed flat,* with a plank under the mattress, and the
leg in steel splints, the cradle over all. I thought at
first that I could not bear it, and that to lie like that
for a month would drive me out of my mind ; and
then the sweet sense of the presence of God filled
my heart with a blessed calm, and in the surrender
of the will to Him came rest and blessing. I would
not have exchanged that hospital bed for a king's
palace.
For some days blood-poisoning was feared, but
that passed by, and gradually the bones united. My
bluejacket friends came to see me, and their sorrow
was very touching. The Flag-Lieutenant brought
me beautiful flowers from the Admiral, and kind in-
quiries came from Royalty.
It was a terrible shock to Miss Wintz, but she
bore up bravely ; and Miss Brown and my fellow-
workers did all that they could to carry on the work.
Christmas passed in hospital. I was aroused on
Christmas morning by a sweet concert outside my
door, the nurses singing Christmas Carols, and my
MY MOTHER 187
room was full of presents from the Christmas tree
and from friends from far and wide.
It was a critical moment when the doctors first
examined me to see if the bones had united, and
also as to whether I should ever walk again, except
as a cripple. But all was right, and on a glorious
morning in January 1897 I was carried down again,
placed in a chair, and wheeled to Southsea, where I
was ordered to remain awhile for sea air.
Slowly, very slowly, recovery and walking power
returned, and April saw me in our little home at
Waterloo on crutches, but listening to the nightingales
and rejoicing in the spring flowers.
And so all things worked together for good. For
the verdict of the doctors ran thus : " From this
compulsory rest you will gain ten years more of
working life than you would otherwise have had."
And their prophecy has come true. And I met with
the most enthusiastic and loving reception from the
bluejackets and their wives, both at Portsmouth and
Devonport, when I was in full working trim again.
CHAPTER XVI
MY SILVER WEDDING
After twenty-five years married people celebrate
a silver wedding, and it rightly marks an epoch in
a life of real and loyal love, service, and companion-
ship, a radiant fulfilment of a promise made in the
morning of life.
The year 1898 marked such an epoch in my own
experience. Twenty-five years before, in 1873, I had
heard a call, I believe from God, urging me to go
forth from my home, and to give my life for the
good of the navy. I was called to the great naval
arsenal of Plymouth, in the beautiful county of
Devon, as I have already described in this story
of my life among the bluejackets, and I went to the
port with which the names of Drake, Raleigh, and
a hundred naval heroes are bound up, and from
which the Pilgrim Fathers set sail to help in founding
the great Republic across the water ; to this port
my steps were led by an unseen Power.
How much had happened in those twenty-five
years ; a great work stood around me, which ex-
tended throughout the navy, and by which thousands
of lives had been influenced. Two splendid piles of
buildings housed over a thousand bluejackets each
night. The money had been sent to enable the
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buildings to be carried out. The lirst Sailors' Rest
at Devonport was the outcome of a bluejacket's wish,
and a bluejacket's prayer. All seemed so amazing,
and I was so utterly incompetent, that my only
feeling was, " to God be the glory."
Twenty-five years before I met one who has been
the help, solace, and inspiration of my life. Bright,
sunny, and in the heyday of youth and health, she
too counted the cost of the work and gave herself
to it ; and together we have met the storms, and
rejoiced in the success.
For thirty-six years now we have been sailing in
the same ship, of one heart and one soul, our only
desire being to do God's work and will among our
gallant bluejackets as long as health and strength
are given to us ; but the year of our silver wedding
happiness was marred in our family circle by the
death of a sister of Miss Wintz, Mrs. T. T. Wing.
She always, both before her marriage and after it,
took the deepest interest in our work, and her
husband gave it the kindest help ; I felt that I had
lost a sister when she passed away.
As I look back I feel that my silver wedding
chronicles twenty-five years' work among our sailor
lads ; this work has always been one of our sheet
anchors.
Why do men call me " mother," that sweetest of
all names? Why do they write, as a man wrote
to me in 1908, from a ship-of-war on a foreign
station ?
'<! have known you since 1881, shortly after I
joined the navy ; you addressed us boys on board
H.M.S. Lion, and when I saw you 1 said to another
190 MY LIFE AMONG THE BLUEJACKETS
boy, ' Is that the lady they call mother ? ' * Yes,'
was the reply. ' Well, she's got a mother's face,' and
I say it now though I'm a man.
" You have been more than a mother to many
of us ; God bless you with health and strength to
carry on your work. I do feel certain that each
Sunday, as you see the boys flocking round you,
when they come ashore from their training ships,
that you are happy as you feel ' I will be their
mother ; I will try to instil good thoughts into their
minds ; this shall be their home when they are
ashore, and I will make things bright and cheerful
for them.' You did all this for me ; can you wonder
that you are called mother ? "
An incident occurred during the silver wedding
year that was worth untold gold to me. A comely-
looking woman asked to speak to me ; she said, " I
have come some distance to see you and to thank
you for your kindness to my boys ; I have seven
sons, every one of them in Her Majesty's service.
The Sailors' Rests have been homes to them, and
have led them into all that's good. You have got
my youngest boy now ; he would follow his brothers,
and he is in the Impregnable. I say from the bottom
of a mother's heart, God bless you and the Sailors'
Rests."
These pages, torn from my diary of this year,
make very pleasant reading, and are as music in my
heart, and have continued to cheer me, although as
I write these reminiscences I have left the silver
wedding far behind, and am going on towards the
golden one.
During the silver wedding year we had a visit
MY SILVER WEDDING 191
from Admiral H.R.H. Prince Henry of Prussia ; he
was as much interested in our work and in the
Sailors' Rests as his royal mother had been, and he
too gave us a cabin at Portsmouth, remarking that
"the Royal Sailors' Rests were truly Imperial
institutions."
The German Government, the United States Navy
Board, and the Japanese Government, each and all,
sent representatives to get every information as to
our organisation and management, which we were
only too glad to give them ; we threw ourselves into
this pleasant work, hoping that the inquiries might
result in the founding of such houses all over the
world, which has been the case.
The Japanese authorities hoped that I would visit
Japan to inspect the houses that their Government
had started in all their large ports, and I found that
a booklet that I had written on the working of
Sailors' Rests, called " Under the Searchlight^" had been
translated into Japanese, and published by order of
the Government and largely circulated in their navy ;
all these pleasant things brightened my silver wedding
year.
But storm-clouds were gathering in the political
horizon, and war in South Africa seemed almost
certain. The thunder was growling ominously in
the distance, and the cry was " Bluejackets to the
front." I paid a farewell visit to H.M.S. Terrible
before she left ; one thousand men were to be
landed from her and one thousand from H.M.S.
Powerful, besides contingents from other ships.
How nobly the men of the navy and army behaved
belongs to a later date.
192 MY LIFE AMONG THE BLUEJACKETS
That year H.M.S. Ocean was launched from the
Royal Dockyard at Devonport, and the First Lord
of the Admiralty kindly gave me a ticket for the
Royal Enclosure on the launching platform. It
was a picturesque and beautiful ceremony ; the
launching of a ship is always something unique.
The thousands of spectators, the enormous vessel,
her bows garlanded with flowers, the bright shining
water beyond.
On this occasion the ship was to be launched by
H.R.H. the Princess Louise, Duchess of Argyll.
The Royal and official party made a brilliant group.
The silken cord, the chisel and mallet were all
there ; but first and foremost every head was bared
when the choir sang the sailors' hymn, and the
prayers were offered up. Then there was a silence,
only interrupted by the dull thud of the knocking
away of the dog shores, broken by the electric
bell ordering all the men out from under the
ship.
The Princess, having accepted the mallet and
chisel in a beautifully carved oak box, placed the
chisel on the cord and cut it by one blow, at the
same time striking the garlanded bottle of wine
against the bows, with the words, " Her Majesty's
Ship Ocean, may God bless her, and all who may
sail in her."
There followed a few moments of tense suspense,
then the mighty mass quivered and began imper-
ceptibly to move, cheers broke from thousands of
throats, the band struck up " Rule Britannia," and
in less time than it takes to write it, the great
ship slid down the ways, plunged into her own
MY SILVER WEDDING 193
element, and brought up for the first time at her
own moormgs.
The Princess very kindly asked me about my
work, expressing her deep interest, and listening
to the details that I was able to give her. I have
known H.M.S Ocean well since, and a great deal
of good work has been done, and is still doing, on
board her, and heartily do I re-echo the wish ex-
pressed, " God bless the Ocean and all who sail in her."
Another honour was accorded us which I must
chronicle in the silver wedding year, which was
a visit from H.R.H. the Duchess of York, now
H.R.H, the Princess of Wales. The Duchess had
been interested in my work by the mother who
was so dear to her, H.R.H. the Duchess of Teck,
known and beloved all through her life, which was
spent in doing good.
I shall never forget one afternoon that I spent
at the White Lodge, Richmond Park ; I was able
to open my mind freely to my royal hostess, and
to tell many things that I should probably have
told no one else ; she entered into everything with
such whole-hearted sympathy. Her admiration of
the navy was very great, and she was amused and
touched at the stories that I was able to tell her
from real life.
She showed me photographs of her two grand-
sons, and promised to present a beautiful robe,
worked by our sailors' wives, to her daughter
on the advent of the next baby. I remember her
taking me into her study and telling me, with tears
in her eyes, how much she miiised her daughter,
"the Princess May," who used to share the study
N
194 MY LIFE AMONG THE BLUEJACKETS
with her, and not only the study, but all her pursuits
and interests. The whole country mourned when
that noble-hearted royal lady went home.
The daughter, whose presence was so missed at
the White Lodge, expressed a wish to visit the Royal
Sailors' Rest at Portsmouth. We had the building
gaily dressed with flags, and as soon as she arrived
hoisted the Royal Standard (the custom then when
Royalty was present), and a guard of honour of
bluejackets awaited her.
It was an honour and a joy to me indeed to
receive her, and her kind cordiality banished all ner-
vousness at once. 1 remember a kindly little remark
as she asked me to sit by her in our drawing-room.
Her eyes lighting on a bouquet of white roses, she
said : " You have thought of everything, not except-
ing the York roses."
She was so pleased to hear from us the account
of all that was going on. The next move was to
inspect the building, and a long inspection it was,
the Duchess asking many questions about all the
various departments of the work. One of our last
visits was to the sailors' wives' workroom. Several
of them were there, and I shall not forget the kindli-
ness with which she greeted each one, telling them
that "she herself was a sailor's wife," and speaking
of the embroidered robe that they had sent. The
visit seemed all too short, and cheers followed her
as she drove away.
I feel that it is a great honour to be able to place
the name of our kind visitor at the head of our
Royal Sailors Rest Needlework Guild. This Guild is
for the help of the wives of stokers and young
MY SILVER WEDDING 195
seamen, whose pay is necessarily small. Each
member sends a contribution of two garments a
year, and as many more as she likes. These are
sold to the women at a very small price at our
large weekly meetings of sailors' wives, and are a
boon indeed. Children's clothing, babies' clothing,
&c,, &c., all are welcome. Our membership is large,
no fee is needed for entrance, only the name and
address.
Our Royal President always sends us a nice box
every Christmas containing her contribution to our
needs, and also toys for the children ; while the
Prince of Wales kindly adds a gift from himself.
CHAPTER XVII
"SAY 'AU REVOIR' BUT NOT GOOD-BYE"
These words were sung by bluejackets of the Naval
Brigade leaving Southampton by the R.M.S. Briton
on a dark November evening. They were going out
to South Africa, and at the time the outlook there
was dark and heavy. I was anxious to wish them
" Good-bye," so Miss Wintz and myself took train to
Southampton, and arrived in the docks before the
tender had got half-way up Southampton Water.
The captain of the great steamer was most sym-
pathetic, and from the upper deck we watched the
little vessel, with her freight of brave men, steaming
along. As they drew alongside and made fast, the
men looked up, and seeing me, they said, " There
she is ; she's coming with us after all." I could
almost have wished that I had been bound for South
Africa, but I was better at home, and could do more
for them.
It was very pleasant visiting them on their mess
deck, which was roughly but comfortably fitted up,
talking to them personally, receiving last messages
and letters to post after they had left. I felt that,
permission granted, I should like to speak a few
parting words to them. They were lined up on deck,
and we stood face to face, some of us for the last time.
196
SAY 'AU KEVOIK' BUT NOT GOOD-BYE 197
I spoke to them as to their duty — they were keen
for that — and then about wives, children, and
mothers, and I promised, God helping me, that I
would stand in their places as far as I could to their
dear ones, if they should give their lives for their
country. A deep-murmured " God bless you " ran
up and down the lines.
I also told them that we should be communicating
with them by letter, and that we should send them
Ashore and Afloat and the Bhe Backs regularly, and
any other comforts that they might want. And then
we talked of higher and holier things still — of Him
who lived and died for them, and the desire that we
might all be good soldiers of Jesus Christ and faith-
ful unto death.
All too soon the call began to sound for visitors
to leave the ship. A large number of military men
were going out, and the parting between husbands
and wives, mothers and sons, and the clinging clasp
of the little children round father's neck were heart-
rending to see. The last call went, and we moved
down the gangway, shaking hands with as many as
possible, and in answer to the request, " Don't leave
till we go," we promised to stay.
We shall not easily forget the long wait on the
pier, on that dark, drizzly November evening: the
last mail bags were being shipped, anfl the delay
seemed interminable. The bright spot was the big
ship, glowing with electric lights. The crowd
waited, each one with eyes intent on husband, son,
or friend ; presently there was a hush, the ship had
cast off, and she seemed to back from the wharf.
As the tug unseen by us moved her huge bulk,
198 MY LIFE AMONG THE BLUEJACKETS
the band struck up " God save the Queen," and the
last adieux were shouted; the bhiejackets had mounted
the rigging and they called to Miss Wintz and myself,
^'Good-bye and God bless you," then "Three cheers
for the dear old Sailors' Rest," and as the distance
widened between the ship and the shore, they broke
out into the song, of which the refrain is ^' Say Au
Revotr, but not Good-bye. . . ." And the big liner
steamed away down Southampton Water, and we
returned home.
Brave fellows, both sailors and soldiers ! at the call
of Queen and Country, they had left all dear to them
to go to a foreign shore to endure untold hardships,
and to die, many of them, of wounds and sickness.
How many deeds of heroism have been chronicled
about our Naval Brigade in the terrible South African
war, how they marched shoulder to shoulder with
our soldiers, how the Royal Marines earned the title
at Graspan of the " bravest of the brave," and Jack
that of the " Saviour of the Empire " at Ladysmith.
The 4.7 gun came up at the nick of time, and the
men behind the gun so served her, that she spoke
terror to her enemies.
The muster roll of brave deeds would take a
long time to call over, and the muster roll of the
gallant and sainted dead is longer still. A bright
young fellow in the Royal Marine Light Infantry,
named Barnes, w^ho used to frequent our Sailors'
Rest at Portsmouth, and was a member of the
Seamen's and Marines' Bible-class, was in the
ship's company of H.M.S. Powerful. She had been
ordered home from China, having done her three
years' commission, when suddenly, like one of its
SAY 'AU REVOIR' BUT NOT GOOD-BYE 199
own thunderstorms, although the distant growling
had been going on for some time, the South African
war broke out.
A cable message stopped the Potvcrful on her
homeward voyage, and her brave sons were ready to
do their duty without a murmur. The detachment
of the Naval Brigade that fought at the battle of
Graspan, or Enslin, as it was afterwards called, was
principally composed of Royal Marines. Private
Barnes' letters to his mother are- very touching. I
give some extracts from them : —
" It will no doubt surprise you to hear we are
coming home round the Cape instead of via Suez.
But I just think it is the hand of God leading us
through. There is a bit of a war going on in South
Africa, and it will probably detain us a little at the
Cape. The fighting is going on right away inland.
I should very much like to be up at the front, but
the Admiralty will not sanction a Naval Brigade
landing. I do hope you will not worry over me at
all, as I am very anxious to go to the seat of war
and fight manfully for my Queen and country, and
you must remember that if I did get shot I should
leave this world of trouble and go to be with Jesus
in heaven, which is far better."
And then in another letter he writes : —
" Dear Mother and F'ather, — No doubt this news
will upset you, but I am really happy and pleased.
We (the Marines) are going up to the front to-
morrow ; we shall be in the fighting lines, but if I
am shot I hope to meet you all in heaven, where
my Lord Jesus will take me to the mansions He has
prepared for me,"
200 MY LIFE AMONG THE BLUEJACKETS
In another letter he writes from Stormberg
Camp : —
" Well I can say I am perfectly happy, as Jesus is
on my side, and I am very pleased I am up at the
front. We (eight of us) have a nice prayer-meeting
every night."
In his last letter he writes : —
" Well, I can still say I am perfectly happy, as I am
still on Jesus' side, and He makes me to be peaceful
and happy. There is no need for anxiety over me,
so do not worry ; I am in God's hands. God bless
you all. Praise God I am still happy, and I am
hoping to have a large Gospel meeting in camp
to-morrow. Good-bye, and God bless you."
Then, by way of a final farewell, on a piece of
stamp edging on the back of the envelope he
wrote : —
" The Lord is my shepherd, I will not fear."
The men of the Powerful, on landing, were dis-
persed. Some went to Ladysmith, the remainder
were brigaded with men of other ships, and with the
army under General Lord Methuen and General
Sir Redvers Duller.
The day of the battle of Graspan dawned ; our
young private kneeled in prayer, commending his
soul to God, After fighting bravely he fell, but in
a moment he was on his feet again, charging forward.
Another bullet, this time a more serious wound, laid
him low. His mates told his mother that, as he lay
there, he was continually praying, and so passed
away on the field of battle.
Of episodes from that war, of bravery, self-sacrifice,
trust in a living Saviour and true Christianity, volumes
SAY 'AU REVOIR' BUT NOT GOOD-BYE 201
might be written. The late G. W. Steevcns, tlie
brilliant and lamented newspaper correspondent, in
his book *' From Cape Town to Ladysmith," gives
a graphic account of the gallant band of bluejackets
who, with their 4.7 gun, were the means of saving
the place. He describes their enthusiasm, bright-
ness, and unflagging energy as a stimulant that
helped every one, and he concludes, " Verily the
bluejackets are the salt of the sea, and the salt of
the earth as well."
A correspondent from Frere Camp writes : —
" The Naval Brigade men are simply invaluable.
Officers and men have won the warm regard of every
one in the camp. What particularly excites enthu-
siasm is the cheerfulness of the bluejackets and their
tireless endurance of hardship and danger."
All the time that the war was going on we were
hard at work at the Royal Sailors' Rests ; in response
to my appeal comforts of all kinds were given to us
for the men, and we sent out tons and tons of
things. By special favour the cases that we sent
were forwarded to the front at once, and the men's
delight at being remembered was very great. I sent
out large numbers of books and papers to the
soldiers, there was such a demand for them ; and it
was delightful to hear from those who were able
to follow them to minister to their bodily and
spiritual needs how much good work was done
during that time of carnage.
As Christmas drew near it occurred to one of us
that a Christmas pudding for each man of the Naval
Brigade would be a nice little present. Messrs.
Peak, Frean & Co. carried out the order, and the
202 MY LIFE AMONG THE BLUEJACKETS
puddings went off, each in its tin, " With Miss
Weston's good wishes," in time to reach the front.
They were passed on and were not hung up any-
where. A bronzed bluejacket on his return said
to me : —
" Directly Ladysmith was relieved you were out-
side the gates, and those puddings they were just
splendid after living so long on mealies and mule
flesh. We said, ' Mother is here, and knows just
what we want' They made the same remark as
tobacco and other gifts were served out."
I must try to remember a visit I paid to the
Powerful. It is fresh and clear in my memory now.
As the great ship steamed in she received a splendid
ovation from the thousands that lined the beach,
and when once berthed alongside what a rush there
was of wives, mothers, and children to receive the
doughty warriors back.
As soon as possible I was on the quarter-deck,
asking permission of the Commanding Officer to
allow me once again to say a word to the Naval
Brigade ; permission was cordially given, and the
notice was piped around the ship " that I had come
on board and wanted to speak a few words of wel-
come to the brave fellows." I shall not forget that
muster — the bronzed, war-stained faces that I looked
into, also the pale drawn faces, fresh from enteric
fever and the sick bay, and the bandaged arms and
legs ; the picture was too touching for anything. I
said a few words to them and they broke into hearty
cheers, with " God bless you, you never forgot us."
Afterwards we talked together, and I heard many
more episodes. " That Graspan affair was a warm
SAY «AU KEVOIR' BUT NOT GOOD-BYE 203
'un, and no mistake," said one man ; " we swarmed
up at dead of night, unsuspecting, and my word,
how they peppered us, opening fire at a thousand
yards. We wheeled right and left ; I was in the left
company ; here we lost our commander, shot through
the heart. Yes, and Midshipman Huddart ; there's
stuff for you ! just a boy, shot three times, and up
agnin with the best of them, till he dropped. I
don't think we've changed much since Nelson's
days.
"At 200 yards we fixed bayonets, and we just saw
their heels ; they didn't wait when they heard the
rattle. Queen's Chocolate ? Yes, it came on
Christmas Day, and so did your plum-puddings.
Got my Queen's box ? Aye, and the stuff inside,
too, though it was hard to keep the lid shut once or
twice when rations were very short, but we minded
who it came from." Thus did the brave son of
Neptune rattle on ; others were so weak that they
could not talk much.
One man, a leading stoker, who had been wounded
in the head by a splinter from a shell, said, " When
the ship first came in I wanted to send a wire to
mother. I wrote the message, and, would you be-
lieve it, I couldn't remember the address, do what
I would, my head was so queer ; and I actually said
to the telegraph clerk, * You write the address, won't
you ; my memory's gone since that knock on the
head. I can't remember where my mother lives ;
but I'm nearly all right now. I am going home,
and I shall see her to-night.' " Letters came sliowcr-
mg in to me all through the Boer War from
mothers, wives, sisters, sweethearts, and friends, all
204 MY LIFE AMONG THE BLUEJACKETS
wanting details as to the welfare of their dear ones,
or broken-hearted at the news of death or wounds.
Our Temperance and Christian Union men fought
both in South Africa and China. Mr. Wright, R.N.
Gunner, was specially mentioned in despatches by
General Sir Redvers Duller for conspicuous gal-
lantry ; I know him well. Another brave fellow,
secretary of the " Tartar" branch of the Royal Naval
Temperance Society, was taken prisoner when the
armoured train was knocked to pieces, and was shut
up for months in Pretoria.
Sergeant Gill, of the Royal Marine Artillery, a
friend of many years' standing, a good worker, and
an earnest Christian, was wounded five times in one
of the engagements ; he got up after each wound and
pushed on ; the last bullet smashed his arm, and he
could do no more. When in hospital the sisters
wrote to me, telling me of the wounded artilleryman
who went round the wards cheering the men and
pointing them to the Saviour. They said, " We lost
a chaplain when he went away." He was spoken of
as a brave man, a good sergeant, and an earnest
Christian, and he is all this, and he has proved it
since by the help that he has given to my work
among the men of the Royal Marine Artillery at
Eastney.
During the South African War I brought out
special editions of my Blue Back and Ashore and
Afloat. They were called " War Editions," and
were sent freely for distribution to the "Tom-
mies" as well as the "Jacks." The soldiers were
immensely taken with them, and to this day we send
regularly to many regiments. They are distributed
SAY 'AU REVOIR' BUT NOT GOOD-BYE 205
by the chaplains and others, and they carried a
message from God to many a heart, and briglitened
many a weary hour in the hospital tent. Miss Wintz
has, with unwearied patience, carried out the heavy
work of editing Ashore and Afloat ever since it was
started ; and she continues her labour of love now,
asking no fee or reward but the interest of the men,
which she generally has, for they look eagerly for the
paper every month.
"The ship's company want to know what they
have done that you should stop our Ashore and
Afloat," wrote an indignant petty officer the other day,
from a distant station. The fault was soon remedied,
as it lay in the mail and not in ourselves ; but such
indignation was pleasant reading to the hard-worked
editor. So, whether in South Africa or anywhere
else, the paper is eagerly looked for.
To South Africa we continued to forward goods
sent, but we classified them, and did not send
mittens to men in the tropics, as Sir Frederick
Treves humorously remarks ; but socks, handker-
chiefs, stationery, pipes, cigarettes, soap, shirts, meat
lozenges, chocolate, bovril, &c., &c., were all in-
cluded in our cargo, together with Bibles, Gospels,
and hymn-books. We worked very hard, and box
after box was sent forward.
We distributed between three or four thousand
pounds' worth of goods, and all were gratefully
received. Letters came from commanding-officers,
nurses, soldiers, sailors, all so delighted to be re-
membered in Old England, and so thankfid to get
the useful articles.
About this time, after considerable improvements,
2o6 MY LIFE AMONG THE BLUEJACKETS
we re-opened the Royal Sailors' Rest at Keyham,
Devonport. Since then we have greatly enlarged it,
adding a great many cabins. It is very bright and
cheery, and the men are so fond of it.
It was re-opened by Admiral Sir Henry Fairfax,
then the Commander-in-Chief at the port. I had
known him for many years, and also Lady Fairfax,
who has ever been a kind and true friend. The Royal
Sailors' Rest at Keyham is opposite the gates of His
Majesty's Steam Yard, with its great dock accommo-
dation, now completed, after an expenditure of many
millions of money. And it is only a few minutes'
walk from the Royal Naval Barracks.
We have a grand strategic position there, the
purchase including the freehold, and the building
has cost about ^6000. I have pulled down the
old building, and now we have a Sailors' Rest that
is a model of completeness, not a foot of ground
wasted ; restaurant, dining and reading rooms, smok-
ing room, kitchen, baths, lockers, and cabins — pic-
tures of comfort ; a cosy bed, a strip of carpet,
pictures and text on the walls, fresh air and light.
The Commander-in-Chief spoke most warmly and
kindly on behalf of the officers of the navy, saying
that they were deeply grateful for the magnificent
homes, replete with every comfort, that we had pro-
vided for the British bluejackets, and what a joy
it was to him to open this place that had been domg
good work for years on a small scale, and now had
commenced a new lease of its existence. This is
true, and the sequel has shown more clearly than
ever how much it was wanted.
The China War which broke out made a heavy
SAY 'AU REVOIR' BUT NOT GOOD-BYE 207
drain upon our navy, and 1 bade farewell to
nearly a thousand seamen and marines, who were
leaving England for China on board the trans-
port Jelunga. The Commander of the detach-
ment was very kind, and told me that anything
possible, he would gladly do for me. I had a large
quantity of " comforts " of various kinds packed, the
Commander promising to give them out to the
landing parties, and otherwise to make good use
of them.
The scene alongside a few hours before they left
was indescribable — boxes, bales, cots, stores of every
kind coming on board. Very busy looking after
his department I met the surgeon in charge, and,
sitting on a baulk of timber, we had a little talk.
I had brought him books, games, sparklets, &c., for
which he was very grateful. The Jelunga was to
be a hospital ship, and probably return with the
wounded.
It was no easy matter to get on board, the gang-
ways were so crowded ; but at last it was accom-
plished. Six of my workers were among the
seamen, and their kindliness and pleasure in seeing
us was very great ; we were besieged for books, our
parcels were opened, and the contents soon gone.
I was very pleased to find that there was a great
demand among the men for Testaments. " Please
give me a Testament, Miss Weston," a young fellow
said shyly. " Will you read it ?" I replied. "Yes,"
he said, " I will keep it in my ditty-box, and I will
always read it; " so said many others. I said to them,
<' I have some Testaments, and I have some other
books ; I only want to give Testaments to those
2o8 MY LIFE AMONG THE BLUEJACKETS
who will value them." Hands were outstretched all
round. "Give me one, and me one, please;" and
when I had finally bidden them adieu, just before
she sailed, I had the pleasure of knowing that a
large number of New Testaments had gone to China
with the defenders of their country.
"S.S./(?/««o-a, Port Said, wth July 1900.
" Dear Miss Weston, — Thank you most heartily
for your kind letter, and for your still greater
kindness and forethought in providing such suitable
articles for the Naval Brigade. I feel sure that one
and all of us will fully appreciate them, and trust
that their donor may long continue to be so good
and thoughtful a mother to the sailors and marines
in the Royal Navy. — I have the honour to be, yours
very sincerely,
"JOHN B. -^.Xi^ThZ'K, Commander R.N :'
During the China War a telegram came to me
from the Admiral, Sir Edward Seymour, to the effect
that ;^400 had been collected in the China Squadron
for the wounded and the widows and orphans of the
men who had taken part in the dash on Pekin, that
they unanimously wished it sent to me, because they
knew that I should spend it at once on those that
needed it. I felt that the confidence of the men was
worth untold gold, and every penny of that large
sum was spent as they would have wished.
Whan I went on board H.M.S. Centurion on her
return from China, and met my friends, they told
me of one and another that had fallen in the dash
on Pekin, and notably of one man, whose knee and
SAY 'AU REVOIR' BUT NOT GOOD-BYE 209
one shoulder was shot away, besides another and
more fatal wound. " He fell on his knee," they
said, " and lifted one hand and his eyes to Heaven,
and was praying, when he passed away."
And so the years sped on, the work increased and
deepened, fresh needs had to be met, and fresh
duties undertaken ; there was no cessation of work
either for ourselves, for the ladies with us, or for our
staff of men workers.
An incident comes to my mind as I write con-
nected with H.R.H.the Prince of Wales. It occurred
some years before the Boer or China Wars, I think
in 1889, but before I get too far on in my story
I must chronicle it.
His Royal Highness was then Prince George of
Wales, and he commanded the torpedo-boat No. 79.
I wrote to him, sending him a copy of a book that
I had written, called " Shaking out a Reef," and
telling him a little about the work. I received the
following reply, written by his instructions : —
*• His Royal Highness Prince George of Wales has
asked me to reply to the letter that you were good enough to
send him yesterday. His Royal Highness begs me to say
that the letter having arrived just before he had to proceed
to Spilhead in his torpedo-boat, he was tenable cither to pay
a visit to the Sailors' Rest, or to write himself and tell you
so. He bids me say that he is not forgetful of the good
work that you have done, and are doing, for the well-being
of our seamen and marines, and that he appreciates it very
highly; and he also bids me say that you may regard him
as a warm sympathiser with the self-denying efforts that
you are making to promote the moral and material interests
of the service."
O
210 MY LIFE AMONG THE BLUEJACKETS
His Royal Highness is a thorough sailor, and is
devoted to the navy ; he is, as I write, giving his
two eldest sons a naval training. His kind interest
in the work that I represent has never relaxed ; he
remembers the sailors' wives, as well as the men,
and gives them orders every year for needlework,
which is a great help to their small means. The
older men often speak of him with love and
admiration. " Prince George, he's an old shipmate
of mine," a man said a while ago ; " we've sailed
together ; he's every inch a sailor, and blue water
to the backbone. God bless him."
Photo
HER LATE MAJESTY QUEEN VICTORIA.
CHAPTER XVIII
"OUR BELOVED QUEEN"
" I'm getting very lonely, almost all the friends of
my younger days have passed away ; but, thank God,
I have one great comfort and stay on earth — the love
of my people,"
These words were spoken by our late and good
Queen Victoria a few months before her death.
She may well bear the proud title of the " Mother
of her People," for she inspired a love and reverence
that was unparalleled, and the older she grew, the
deeper it became. Every one throughout the country
felt the awful blank as the solemn muffled knells
rang in the dark early days of 1901 — every one could
say with perfect truth, not only "The Queen," but
" My Queen."
None of us except those far on in life had known
this country without Queen Victoria. The Victorian
era was a marvellous era of sixty-four years, and
it is not likely to be repeated. I know for a
certainty that her navy was dear to her, that navy
that in 1837 consisted of wooden ships propelled
by sails, now revolutionised by steel-built vessels
propelled by steam ; and when the new element,
the air, is annexed, who is to say what the next navy
will be ?
■II
212 MY LIFE AMONG THE BLUEJACKETS
At present we have " Dreadnoughts," battleships,
cruisers of all kinds, torpedo craft, submarines, &c.
Guns are of every description, and electricity, as
well as steam, is pressed into the defence of the
country. " My sailors," were the words that Queen
Victoria used to myself. " Please tell me," said Her
Majesty, ''all that you think will interest me in your
good work among My sailors." That personal pro-
noun went to my heart, and I wished that the whole
navy had been standing by to hear it.
On one occasion, when visiting a hospital con-
taining wounded sailors and soldiers. Her Majesty
paused before one bed containing a poor fellow who
was fast passing away. She sympathetically asked
" Whether she could do anything for him ? " " No,
your Majesty," was the reply, " I am past everything ;
but would you thank my nurse, who has been so
kind to me ? "
Turning to the nurse, in a clear and distinct voice
the Queen said, " I thank you very much for your
kindness to my SON." Such words deserve to be
written in letters of gold, for they are words of
Christian sympathy.
As to my own work, the personal interest shown
by Admiral H.R.H. the Duke of Edinburgh, the
Prince of Wales (our present King), the Empress
Frederick of Germany, and other members of the
Royal Family, no doubt did much to call forth the
Queen's sympathy.
In earlier days Her Majesty had presented a cabin
to Devonport, and had shown her personal interest
by giving the title of " Royal " to the buildings. My
little booklets published every year were always sent
"OUR BELOVED QUEEN" 213
to her, and were read to her, and by her command
kind letters of thanks were sent to me. The Dowager
Countess of Erroll, still alive and well, one of the
Queen's friends, used to say to me : " I shall be with
the Queen shortly ; do tell me some more of your
anecdotes, for Her Majesty is sure to ask me about
you and your sailors."
The Dean of Windsor, an old and valued friend,
kindly bore me in mind ; but the Empress Frederick,
who took deep interest in my work and honoured me
by her friendship, was the mainspring, I am very
sure, of our great Queen's kindness.
At the close of 1898 I received a wire from
Windsor, from the Dean, stating that " the Queen
wished to see me, and to hear about my work from
my own lips on the following afternoon." I felt that
it was an unmerited and wholly undeserved honour ;
the message took me by surprise, and it was
with somewhat nervous feelings that I journeyed to
Windsor ; but I knew that I had not sought the
honour, and I trusted that I might do the right thing.
I was staying at the Deanery, and my kind friend,
the Hon. Mrs. Eliot, tried to initiate me into what I
must do and say, or not say. The ordeal of kissing
the Queen's hand seemed very terrible, and I had
half-an-hour's practice, much to the amusement of
the Dean and Mrs. Eliot, who criticised and advised ;
but I was much cheered by the assurance that this
was most unlikely to take place, but that I should
know it if the Queen held out her hand.
Arrived at the Castle we proceeded from room to
room to a magnificent chamber, the windows of
which looked out into the park ; white, gold, and
214 MY LIFE AMONG THE BLUEJACKETS
crimson were the prevailing colours ; banks of
azaleas and other beautiful flowers were between the
windows, and pictures and statuary were every-
where.
Presently a message arrived to say that the Queen
was coming. The scene is photographed on my
memory. The silver-haired lady with her Indian
attendant, the Empress Frederick walking by her
side, the ladies-in-waiting behind, her suite standing
about and greeting her as she passed. I had been
placed opposite the gilded chair upon which she sat.
I shall never forget the searching glance of those
blue eyes, and then the sweet smile that overspread
the Queen's face ; she welcomed me most kindly and
warmly, and then held out her hand for me to kiss.
I did my best in the little ceremony, and then the
Queen asked me to tell her any details of the
work that I liked, and to speak without reserve ;
and the Empress Frederick smiled encouragingly.
Cheered and heartened, I found no difficulty. The
Queen in her silvery voice welcomed me to Windsor.
She " would have arranged that I should come to
Osborne as more convenient, but hoped that my
reception at Windsor would be better for my work."
Her Majesty asked most kindly for Miss Wintz,
and remarked that it was a pleasure to see two
friends heart and soul in the work for so many
years. I told her of the Duke of Edinburgh's
remark — that for two women to be in a boat for so
many years and not to capsize her, was a wonder
indeed. At this the Queen laughed very heartily.
The details as to the Sailors' Rest seemed to be of
great interest — how the men came to the homes, the
"OUR BELOVED QUEEN" 215
difficulties we had with some of them, and the good
that many seemed to get. Then I reminded her of
her cabin, and asked whether I might tell her a story
about it that I thought would interest her.
On receiving a smiling assent, I told her how I
was passing down the dormitory in which the Queen's
cabin stood, when I came across two bluejackets —
one a fine fellow of the true blue type, the other a
small thin man, with a sharp face, of the type called
in the navy " a sea lawyer."
The big man accosted me as I drew near. " We're
having a bit of controversy. Miss Weston. Is this
the Queen's cabin ; did Her Majesty really give it?"
" Yes," I replied, " the Queen thought of this cabin,
and gave it, and was interested in fitting it up.
Don't you see the brass on the door, ' Given by
Queen Victoria, 1895 ' ?" " Yes," he said, " I see it,
but I can scarcely believe it."
Here the other man interposed, and I paused to
ask the Queen whether I should tell her what he
said. She smiled and bowed.
Said he, rather sarcastically and sourly, " Did the
Queen give this herself, or did it come from the
national funds?" Rather nettled, I said, "The
Queen gave this cabin herself out of her own privy
purse." "Shut up," said the big bluejacket, "you
say a word against the Queen, and I'll knock you
down ! Don't take any notice of him. Miss Weston ;
let me have my say. I've sailed all over the world,
and I never came across such a thing before ; the
Queen's my Queen, and I'd die for her any day ; but
now," pointing to the cabin, " she's my Friend."
The Queen looked at me, and the tears chased
2i6 MY LIFE AMONG THE BLUEJACKETS
each other down her cheeks as she said, " Thank you
so much for telling me this. I shall never forget it."
The interview lasted for forty minutes. The great
Queen-Empress has passed to another world, but
her parting words ring in my ears, " God bless you
and Miss Wintz, and ever prosper you in your great
and good work. 1 do not forget to pray for you."
Before the close of the audience I was permitted
to kiss her hand again. I left Windsor behind me,
feeHng that my greatest wish had been accomplished
— to look into the face and to hear the voice of
Victoria the Good.
We will all treasure one of her sayings, which
should be written in letters of gold, " Let me never
hear the word trouble ; only tell me how the thing is
to be done rightly, and I will do it if I can."
Shortly afterwards a special messenger arrived at
Portsmouth, bringing a Royal portrait and auto-
graph, with the message from the Queen that it was
in remembrance of my visit to Windsor.
Less than three short years passed, and the
" Mother of her People " was called to her reward.
Great as a Queen and Empress, she was an earnest
and devoted Christian, she loved her Lord, and death
to her was the bright entrance to a full and glorious
life. None of us can ever forget the passing of that
great soul. " She went out with the tide," said the
bluejackets mysteriously.
During the interview at Windsor, Her Majesty
had said that she " would like to welcome me at
Osborne." By the kindness of Queen Alexandra I
went to Osborne, there to stand by a small coffin,
upon which glittered the Jubilee crown, while
"OUR BELOVED QUEEN" 217
around were grouped palms, banners, and flowers.
That voice seemed to sound in my ears again ; my
visit to Osborne was paid ; but, better still, the words
seemed to float in the air, ^^ Be thou faithful unto death,
and I will give thee a crown of life''
The funeral in all its stages is still fresh in our
memories. The stately ships guarding the way
across the Solent; the minute-guns booming out; the
little Alberta, carrying the coffin, steaming at the head
of the procession of yachts ; the pathway of gold,
as the bright sunshine, down which they came,
stretched across the water from Osborne to Ports-
mouth. All was so pathetic, and most of all,
perhaps, the tense silence and the tears of the
thousands of onlookers.
One event at Windsor is remembered in the navy
to this day, and that was the jibbing of the horses
attached to the carriage on which the coffin was
placed. It was Jack's opportunity, and, permission
given by the King, the men whipped out the restive
horses, attached the drag-ropes, and drew her them-
selves to St. George's. " It's what she would have
wished," said one of them, '' and I says, God bless
them horses for giving us the chance."
"Borne to her bier by her sailors,
It was only fitting and meet
That the dead Great Queen of the ocean,
Should be borne by the men of her fleet."
After my visit to Windsor, in 1898, the time drew
on for the opening of the Diamond Jubilee block of
cabins at Portsmouth. It had cost many thousands
of pounds, and we felt that it was only due to its
2i8 MY LIFE AMONG THE BLUEJACKETS
name, and to the fact that all the money had been
given in memory of the Diamond Jubilee, that one of
the Royal Family should, if possible, open it. The
enthusiasm of the bluejackets at both Jubilees had
been great, in some instances not quite wise, as at
Devonport, where a number of men, each seizing a
fire-bucket, rushed upstairs to the parapet of the
house to "bonnet" the police, by throwing these
buckets on their heads ; but they were fortunately
stopped in time.
Another man excused himself for being some-
what the worse for drink, *' because he had been
drinking Her Majesty's health," he remarked ; " that
he remembered the first jubilee, and now this was
Diamond Jubilee ; he only hoped he might drink her
health in many more jubilees, he didn't care what
precious stones they might be named after."
We had celebrated Her Majesty's Jubilee by
erecting this splendid addition of cabins and other
accommodation for the Royal Sailors' Rest, Ports-
mouth. And very soon after my visit to Windsor
the building was ready for opening, and I felt sure
that, if possible, the Empress Frederick would kindly
open it.
The request was no sooner made than it was
granted. And on a bitterly cold December day,
1898, nothing daunted, the Empress and her suite
came over from Osborne in one of the Royal yachts.
We had invited a number of friends and well-
wishers of the work to meet Her Majesty, and a
guard of honour awaited her and gave her the salute.
The Empress was always most popular in Ports-
mouth, and won all hearts by her kindness.
it
OUR BELOVED QUEEN" 219
Thousands of people crowded around to see and
to cheer her.
She was received at the door of our hall by
myself and Miss Wiiitz, and conducted to the plat-
form, the band playing the English and German
National Anthems. Yielding to my request, the
Empress took the chair, and smilingly looked over
the hall. It was a pretty sight ; the winter sun
shone brightly ; the well-dressed audience, with a
representation, by no means small, of bluejackets
and marines, sailors' wives and children, all come by
special invitation.
The Rev. Gordon Lang, then vicar at Portsea,
now Archbishop of York, offered prayer ; and then
the Empress, rising, in the same sweet, clear voice
that characterised the Queen, spoke of her interest
in the work, her personal knowledge of it for many
years past, and the pleasure that it gave her to open
such a noble addition as the "Diamond Jubilee
Block," and closed her kind words by asking me
to tell them all details that she herself would delight
to hear.
I was able to do this, with various incidents from
real life which had occurred to us, as we lived and
worked among the bluejackets and their belongings.
At the close I presented the Empress with a silver
key with which to open the doors of the new
building.
This was the next little ceremony, and, after it was
duly done, the Empress expressed a wish to go over
the whole pile of buildings. It was a long inspection,
and I remember there was a little controversy as to
w^hether she could spend so much time with us, on
220 MY LIFE AMONG THE BLUEJACKETS
account of the tide at Cowes, which would prevent
the yacht going alongside, and would necessitate
landing in a launch ; the Empress cut the controversy
short, in her kindly but determined way : *' I am
going to stay here," she said, " go over the building
and take tea with Miss Weston, and I am quite
willing to land in the launch."
This settled the matter, and we proceeded. As we
drew near the dormitory in which the cabin, given
by herself when Crown Princess, was placed, she
said to me, " I should like them all to wait below,
and you will come with me to my cabin." I did so.
When the door was opened, and she saw the like-
ness of the Emperor Frederick and her own portrait,
both given by herself, she broke down, and speaking
unreservedly, she told me about the sorrows through
which she had passed, and much that is too sacred
to pass on ; but she said, as she restrained her tears,
" I can thank God now, for I know that all was sent
in love."
To cheer her, I directed her attention to the next
cabin, given by Prince Henry of Prussia, and told
her that he had said, " Please place my cabin next to
my mother's." It was a ray of sunshine on a dark
day of sorrow.
How little we thought that in a very few years —
190 1, the year in which our beloved Queen died
— that her eldest daughter would be called home,
and yet it was so. Victoria Adelaide Mary Louisa,
Princess Royal of Great Britain and Ireland, inherited
her father's intellect and artistic tastes, along with
her mother's virtues and kindness of disposition.
Of the joys and sorrows of her life I will not speak,
"OUR BELOVED QUEEN" 221
they are matters of history. The cup of power was
placed to her lips to be dashed away ; and although
the latter part of her life was brightened by the love
of her family, it was overshadowed by terrible suffer-
ing, and she followed her mother quickly into that
world where God's dealings will be understood, and
will be found to be all love.
As I write I seem to be standing by her open
grave, and I can bear my humble tribute to one
who, though a Princess and an Empress, gave to
myself and Miss Wintz the inestimable gift of her
friendship ; and in the passing of that great and
good Empress we feel that we have lost a true
friend, but only until ** the day dawn and the shadows
Jlee away."
The previous year, 1900, the standard was half-
mast high, and the last sorrow that our beloved
Queen had to bear came to her in the death of her
second son, Prince Alfred, the Sailor Prince, Duke of
Edinburgh and reigning Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha,
He was also a true friend to my work, which
he had known well during his long naval service ;
and when he was appointed to the chief command
and hoisted his flag at Devonport, I felt that I
had an admiral to whom I could go in any diffi-
culty, who would open the way for me, and with
whom I could talk over our sailors' troubles as
to a true sympathiser. I have told how, in 1891,
when H.M.S. Serpent was lost, he cared for the
widow and the fatherless, and I remember well how
he went into every case, and inquired into every
detail as to the wives and families, and more than
once he said to me, " You will look after them. Miss
222 MY LIFE AMONG THE BLUEJACKETS
Weston, don't let any of them suffer ; if they want
unmediate help come to me."
His visits to the Sailors' Rests were not few or
far between, he would go over the whole building
from top to bottom, and would make suggestions
as to alterations and improvements ; and he would
stand quietly at the bottom of the hall listening to
the singing of the sailor boys.
On one of those occasions His Royal Highness
said to me, " I am going to Windsor. The Queen
is interested in your work. Is there anything I can
ask Her Majesty to do for you ? " <* There is one
thing, sir," I replied, " I should like the Queen to
confer the title of ' Royal ' on these Sailors' Rests ;
it would be a guinea stamp for them." " You are
right," said the Duke, " I will try to get the royal
consent for you." He did so, and, as I have already
mentioned, the title was most generously conferred,
and the framed patent, from the Secretary of State,
hangs in the Royal Sailors' Rest, Devonport. On
the accession of our King he most kindly confirmed
it himself.
Her Royal and Imperial Highness, the Duchess
of Edinburgh, was most sympathetic and kind. I
received an intimation one morning that she would
like to come to the Royal Sailors' Rest that day,
as the sailor boys were on shore. She came, and,
after a little kindly talk, expressed her wish to go
among the boys without being known. She moved
about among them, and talked to them about their
homes and their mothers, and many a boy told the
kind lady his life history. The Duchess then went
out into the restaurant.
"OUR BELOVED QUEEN" 223
" May I help ? " she asked, and then her eye lighted
on the glittering urns on the counter. " I can pour
out coffee, at any rate." By this time boys from the
outside had brought the news that, as the Royal
Standard was flying over the building, Royalty must
be inside ; and they crowded in to get a cup of
coffee from the hands of a Royal Duchess. Truth
compels me to say that the bigger boys trod ruth-
lessly on the toes of the smaller ones and drove
them back, but the pleasure given was very great.
On another occasion, when the Duke took the
chair at the Annual Meeting in our Hall, the Duchess
accompanied him, taking the greatest interest in all
the details of the year's work.
Among many other kind actions he induced our
present King, then Prince of Wales, to pay a visit
to the Royal Sailors' Rest, Devonport. He came,
and in my absence was received by Miss Wintz, who
showed him everything. He expressed his great
interest and appreciation, and, both as Prince of
Wales and King, has been a true friend of this work.
We were all sorry when H.R.H. the Duke of
Edinburgh left, but he did not forget ourselves or
our work.
About a year before his death he sent me the
Silver Wedding Decoration, a beautiful medal, with
his own likeness and that of the Duchess upon it,
suspended by a ribbon of Saxe-Coburg colours. I
am proud to wear it, and since his death it has had
a deeper significance.
The Duke passed away suddenly ; although he
had suffered for some time, genuine sorrow was felt
in the navy, for he was much liked and respected.
224 MY LIFE AMONG THE BLUEJACKETS
In response to a letter to Her Majesty, I received
a reply in which were the following words, '< The
Queen greatly appreciates the sympathy that you feel for
her in her deep sorrow. Her Majesty's health, I am glad
to say, continues good."
The inscription over the Royal Mausoleum at
Windsor may fitly close this chapter, as referring
not only to the husband of her youth, the great and
good Prince Consort, but also to the children who
preceded and followed her : " Farewell, beloved.
Here at last I will rest with thee, and with
THEE IN CHRIST I WILL RISE AGAIN."
CHAPTER XIX
AMONG THE PINES
On the borders of Surrey, about 40 miles from
Hyde Park corner, is a lovely tract of country called
Hindhead, rising to some 800 feet above the sea.
It looks like a bit of the Highlands let down pro-
miscuously near London. The pines, the birch and
the mountain ash, the heather and the fern, the wild
bits of moorland and also, in quiet corners, the lovely
sylvan scenery make the place unique.
The old coaching road from London to Portsmouth
runs over Hindhead, and Nelson must have been
famihar with its landmarks. If history speaks truly
it was not only a wild, but rather a dangerous part
of the country ; in the olden times an extra horse
and an extra guard used to be shipped at Godalming
to convoy the coach safely up and down the wild
hills, where attacks by footpads were very probable.
But all this has passed away, the place has become
residential, and motors hum daily along the road.
The air is magnificent, a rest and restoration indeed
to tired Londoners and to fagged workers of every
description.
All these attractions drew us to the spot ; it was
about an hour by rail from Portsmouth, and we
felt that we might be able to accomplish a home and
22s p
226 MY LIFE AMONG THE BLUEJACKETS
do our work as well. A little chalet among the
pines and heather, with some picturesque woodland
attached, seemed just the spot, sheltered from the
winds, and near church and post office.
In 1 90 1 we made our move from Waterloo to
Grayshott ; we were a very bright party — Miss Wintz,
myself, Miss Brown — for many years our fellow-
worker and co-trustee — and my nephew, who was
then reading for Cambridge. The summer was a
beautiful one ; while alterations and additions were
being made to the house we camped out and about,
and enjoyed the freedom of the moors, and con-
tinued our work at Portsmouth cojt amove.
This summer will always carry its red-letter day
in my memory by the honour that the University of
Glasgow was pleased to bestow upon me, by con-
ferring the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws ; I
had heard some little time before that many members
of the University desired this, but the Senate had
ultimately to decide the question.
One day the post brought the Latin proclamation
of the degree that the University desired to give me,
and the summons to Glasgow for the graduation
ceremony. Never before had that old University,
450 years old, admitted women to its honours. Mrs.
Campbell of Tullichewan Castle, Loch Lomond,
whose life has been devoted to the higher education
of women ; Miss Davies, who had founded and carried
on Girton College, Cambridge ; Mrs. John Elder,
whose munificent donations to the University are
well known, and myself, were the four selected.
With Miss Wintz I left Euston and travelled to
Glasgow by the night express, driving straight to the
AMONG THE PINES 227
University to the house of our kind friends, Professor
and Mrs. Cleland, and in the early morning a hearty
welcome and a cheerful breakfast party awaited us.
My gown, doctor's hood, and square cap were all
forthcoming. At about ten o'clock we assembled
in a fine hall, crossing the quadrangle and passing
through the cloisters. A very large body of celebrities,
on v.'hom the honorary degree was about to be con-
ferred, had assembled. The Bishops of Ripon, Bath
and Wells, and several Scotch divines, the Marquis
of Dufferin, Lord Balfour of Burleigh, Sir William
M'Cormac, Sir James Reid, Sir Archibald Hunter,
Sir Ian Hamilton, and savants from the Universities
of Paris, Berlin, Vienna, Berne, Cracow, Prague,
India, Canada, the United States, &c. It was a sight
worth travelling far to see.
Two ladies out of the three, Mrs. Campbell and
Miss Emily Davies, were present ; Mrs. John Elder
was too ill, and her degree was conferred in absentia.
At a given time the procession, headed by the Uni-
versity authorities, was formed, and we filed into the
beautiful Bute Hall to the strains of the organ.
Every available corner in the hall was crowded, and
the undergraduates were stowed into the galleries.
When all were seated. Lord Kelvin opened with an
oration, followed by the Dean of Law, and then the
ceremony commenced.
First came the Doctors of Divinity, who each took
the oath, enrolled their names, and were invested
with the hood of their order. Then there was a
pause ; the Dean of Law, in his scarlet robes, advanc-
ing, addressed the great audience, telling them of the
determination of the University to admit women to
228 MY LIFE AMONG THE BLUEJACKETS
their highest honours, and he ended by calHng us
forward first.
The enthusiasm was tremendous ; the whole
audience uprose, the organ pealed, the under-
graduates cheered wildly, and we were led forward
by two graduates with white wands. It was simple
and striking ; in academical gowns, and with college
caps in our hands, we mounted the dais, handing
our doctor's hoods to a University functionary. We
each knelt in turn before the Vice-Chancellor, who
performed the ceremony of admitting us to our rank
with great picturesqueness and dignity. Each of us
took the oath to be faithful to the University ; then
the cheering began anew, a wag among the under-
graduates striking up, accompanied by the organ,
" For she's a jolly good fellow ! "
After a time all was over, and the procession,
wearing hoods and caps, re-formed. The under-
graduates massed themselves at the great doors, and
truth compels me to state that they let all the
Doctors of Divinity pass, but as we appeared a voice
called out, " Three cheers for the lady doctors." The
caps were thrown into the air, and the cheering shook
the place.
After this we attended several delightful functions,
and returned to our home among the pines, tired,
but with a very warm feeling towards our Alma
Mater; and I cannot but hope that such a step
forward, on the part of an ancient University, may
be an encouragement to workers who have done
quite as good work, or better, than I have done.
Just about this time my nephew passed for King's
College, Cambridge, and in the autumn went into
AMONG THE PINES 229
residence, making a break in our family circle, al-
though he always looked upon the little place as his
home.
An interesting episode occurred in the return of
H.M.S. Terrible, which stirred the patriotic feeling of
the country, and a warm welcome was extended to
the captain, officers, and men. It was a great
pleasure to me to go on board the great cruiser, and
to welcome so many friends home again. It was
Captain Percy Scott and his clever mechanics who
devised the carriage for the 4.7 gun, with its long
range, and speedily got it up to Ladysmith, where
it saved the town. After doing good service in
South Africa the Terrible was ordered to China,
where the ship's company took part in all that
occurred there, returning to England after the double
war.
About this time I received a short note from a
young officer, which I treasure much, enclosing a
cheque for my work. He had just received a
decoration for valour ; and he wrote : " Dear Miss
Weston, — Knowing the excellent work that you do
for our men, I thought that I would celebrate my
honour by sending you a small donation, as I con-
sider that I obtained it by the splendid way in which
my company backed me up. — Yours truly, E. C.
H.M.S. ."
Two very sad events in connection with our navy
stand clear in my remembrance, and were not in
order of time far from each other — the loss of
H.M.S. Condor and H.M.S. Cobra. The Condor has
been a ship that never returned ; she left Esquimalt,
if I remember right, in December 1900, for Hono-
230 MY LIFE AMONG THE BLUEJACKETS
lulu and the Pacific Islands ; since then she has
vanished into obscurity, and all the searching that
has been actively carried out has only resulted in
the finding of some small pieces of wreckage with
the name Condor upon them, and the rim of a sailor's
cap. The 120 souls have disappeared from mortal
ken, and will not be seen again in this world.
Meanwhile there were the stricken ones to care
for ; I have helped them with the money entrusted
to me to this date, and it has now nearly run out.
Poor dear people, they hoped against hope for years,
and many believed that the ship had been cast away
on some coral islands, and that husbands and sons
would return once more. As we visit, help, and
write to these sorrowful ones we are always able to
try to lift their hearts to Him who sorrows with
them, and who will bless and guide them if they
trust in Him.
The loss of H.M.S. Cobra was quite different.
She foundered in the North Sea, leaving seven out
of sixty-seven to tell the tale. The news was wired
to Portsmouth, and was stunning ; the men had
only left the town by rail a few hours previously to
proceed to the Tyne to take over from the con-
tractor's hands the new torpedo destroyer Cobra, but
they never returned again.
One Monday in October 1901,3 stormy night and
very dark, the ship left the Tyne ; she battled with
the waves all night, and early on the Tuesday
morning she was seen suddenly to collapse and to
break in two ; the stem and stern shot up into the
air, and in a few minutes the ship foundered. The
men behaved like British bluejackets ; each was at
AMONG THE PINES 231
his post, without flurry or alarm the boats were cut
free, but, alas, none could live in such a sea except
the dinghy, and she was crowded.
The Captain, a young Lieutenant-Commander, like
the brave officer and gentleman that he was, stuck
to his post, and went down with her. Men were
swept about in the wild waves, and the death-cry
went up as one after the other was sucked down.
As the dinghy, nearly swamped, drifted along,
a seaman, after an exhausting swim, reached her,
and twice placed his hand upon the gunwale. His
nautical eye took in the heavy boat-load ; he saw
that if he added his weight all would be lost, so
he said, '* It's one for many, good-bye all," and he
loosed his grip, sinking to rise no more.
Our duty at Portsmouth was plain, and it was as
ever, to render first aid. We were able to hand
to each widow and mother the full pay that the
husband or son would have drawn two days after
the loss of the ship. Our Cobra fund was used for
their benefit as long as it lasted, and the bereaved
relatives were saved from sinking into debt and
penury, perhaps losing the little homes that the poor
drowned husbands had toiled so hard to get together
for them.
Meanwhile a splendid block of buildings was
rising at Devonport to the memory of our late
Queen, now called " The Victoria Me^iorial Block".
It stood on the site of the old Sailors' Rest and
another house joining the main building, and making
a very handsome pile. We were intending to re-
move Queen Victoria's cabin to this block ; hearing
of this a kind letter was written to me by command
232 MY LIFE AMONG THE BLUEJACKETS
of the King, stating that His Majesty would wish to
give a cabin to the Victoria Memorial Block, and
almost simultaneously with the King's letter came
one from Queen Alexandra, saying that her wish
was to follow the King's example, and to do the
same. Visitors to the Sailors' Rest at Devonport
are always interested in seeing the three Royal
cabins — our late dear Queen's in the centre — in the
new dormitory.
Naturally, in the raising of many thousand pounds,
I had to travel long distances, and to speak at many
meetings, at no little personal toil, as all those who
have to do that kind of work well know, but I was
richly rewarded by the crowded audiences, deep
interest, and willing help that was given. I came
back to my work rather fagged, and feeling as if
I wanted a little rest, but a few days in my little
home among the pines soon renewed my powers.
Criticism, I suppose, must follow us everywhere,
and as long as it is legitimate we are glad of, and
can profit by it ; unkind, and I may say unjust,
criticism is hard to bear ; still it is a part of every
one's life-work, and really does no harm.
As the late Mr. Spurgeon said, " In every good
work you must have a kind heart and a tough hide
to stand the abuse, unkind words, and false insinua-
tions that are often levelled against you." He is
right ; we have had plenty of it in our time ; there
are bitter, as well as sweet memories, and fellow-
workers who read this book may think that we have
had all the sunshine and they have had all the
storms, but this is not so. " Trust in God and do
the right" is a good motto, and, with the love of
AMONG THE PINES 233
Christ in our hearts, these trials will not affect or
harm us any more than boiled peas would affect
the Rock of Gibraltar if fired against it.
In the year 1901 I was asked to speak at the
Church Congress at Brighton. The late Bishop of
Chichester was in the chair. I was able to give an
account of the work, which appeared greatly to
interest the audience, and I asked the clergy present
to send me the names and addresses of boys in their
parishes when they joined the King's training service,
that we might send on board to greet them, and to in-
vite them to the Sailors' Rest when they come ashore.
Several clergymen have since done so, and we have
had the pleasure of greeting the boys personally.
Among many pleasant things which have followed
my degree, this letter from some of my fellow-
subjects in the great Indian Empire will, I am sure,
interest my readers. I give it just as received : —
" KULASAGARA ALVAR SABAH, PUDUPET, MADRAS,
" iZth July 1 90 1.
" Madam, — In forwarding herewith a true copy of
the resolution which was unanimously carried at
our committee meeting amidst acclamations, I beg
of you to accept the hearty congratulations on the
rare distinction attained. By your ardent love and
sincere sympathy for the sailors of your motherland
you have been a pioneer for their social emancipa-
tion. Consequently, the civilised world views this
mark of honour as a just appreciation of your labours
for the noble cause.
"This is the wish of all the members of my
' Sabah,' that you may be spared to live for many
234 MY LIFE AMONG THE BLUEJACKETS
more years to conduct the crusade which you
undertook at your own free will and pleasure.
" In this connection I am extremely glad to say
that the pamphlets which you were kind enough to
present to our Free Library are read with intense
interest by the members, and I am also getting
Ashore and Afloat regularly.
" Wishing you success in all your undertakings,
I am, madam, yours very obediently,
"E. ETHIRAJA ^KICKER, Secretary"
^^ {Resolution No. 4, of 20th July 1901.)
" Proposed by Mr. K. Balasundrum, M.A., and
seconded by Mr. T. Krishnasawny, B.A.
" ' That a congratulatory letter be sent to Miss
Agnes Weston (one of our patrons for the Free
Library) for the merited recognition of the Glasgow
University in having conferred upon her the honorary
degree of LL.D.' «e^ ETHIRAJA NAICKER.
^^2t)thjuly 1 90 1."
Needless to say, I look upon this letter as a
striking token of appreciation and honour, and it
bulks large among my happy reminiscences of the
early days of the twentieth century.
During the latter part of 1901 I remember
paying visits to two American warships, and I
thank the officers now, as I did then, for the kind-
ness with which they received me. The two ships
were U.S.S. Alliance and Hartford. The Alliance
was lying in Plymouth Sound, and the Captain
AMONG THE PINES 235
kindly sent the launch to bring me off. Arriving on
board, I had a nice talk with the Captain and
officers, and then went " forward," as we call it,
among the men. They received me most warmly,
crowded around, and listened very attentively when
I spoke to them. I hope that some good was done ;
at any rate we looked into each other's faces, and
became friends. When I left they gave me three
ringing cheers.
To go on board the U.S.S. Hartford I had to travel to
London, and thence to Gravesend. It was blowing
very fresh, and the launch rolled about well in the
river. The American ship Hartford is historic, inas-
much as she was Admiral Farragut's flagship, and has
gone through service. On board this ship I had such
a welcome as Americans can only give ; the band
struck up, and the Captain and officers seemed to
vie with each other in cordiality. I went all over
the ship, and here, as in every American warship,
our Ashore and Afloat and my Monthly Letters were
eagerly looked for, and read from end to end.
I asked to be allowed to speak to the men, and
the meeting was called on the main deck ; at the
close the band struck up our National Anthem.
After a cup of tea, and some chat with the officers
in the ward-room, I started in the launch homeward
bound, followed by the cheers of the men.
I must not forget now to chronicle a very charming
visit paid to us at the Royal Sailors' Rest, Ports-
mouth, in June 1902, by H.R.H. the Princess
Henry of Battenberg, our own Princess Beatrice.
She will ever be loved by the nation for her devotion
to the great Queen who has passed away from us ;
236 MY LIFE AMONG THE BLUEJACKETS
And I felt it to be a very great honour and pleasure
to receive her at the Royal Sailors' Rest.
The Princess crossed over from Osborne in the
Fire Queen, and, attended by Miss Minnie Cochrane
and the Hon. Colonel Colborne, arrived punctually
to the moment at the Sailors' Rest. The build-
ing was dressed with flags, and the White Ensign
flew from the main. A group of sailors awaited
Her Royal Highness — men whom she had known
in years past on board the royal yacht. When she
had shaken hands with me, and had come into my
sitting-room, she asked me about them. I told her
that they had known her when very young, and
that they were now my workers, but were anxious
to welcome her in the old uniform. She ex-
pressed her great pleasure, and spoke kindly to each.
The tour that Princess Henry made round the
building was a long one. She inspected the dormi-
tories, and was particularly touched by the cabin
given by the late Empress Frederick. We then
descended to the baths, the bicycle store, the store-
rooms, mineral water manufactory, sausage making,
the kitchens, with the cooks at work, and the
bakery alive with bakers — tarts, buns, bread going
in and out of the great ovens.
Emerging into the restaurant, there were blue-
jackets pegging away ; in the reading-rooms they
were busy with the papers or enjoying a quiet
snooze. Before leaving the building the Princess
spoke to several sailors' wives, and made some pur-
chase: of needlework done by them. Her Royal
Highness expressed to me her very great pleasure
at all that she had seen ; that " she had expected
AMONG THE PINES 237
very much, but that the Sailors' Rest had far ex-
ceeded all her expectations," and with other kindly
words she drove away.
It was in the sunny month of June 1902 that
H.R.H. Princess Henry of Battenberg visited me,
bringing brightness and happiness ; but in Novem-
ber of the same year an event occurred which was
a real sorrow ; this was the loss of H.M. Revenue
Cutter Active. The November gales of that year
took a fearful toll of human life all around our
coasts. The cutter Active was lost on Granton break-
water, dragging her anchors. The ship's company
were mostly young men, and oh ! the agonising letters
that I received from their mothers.
The Captain of the Active was Lieutenant Charles
Culley, R.N., and he went down with his ship. I
think of Lieutenant Culley, and I remember him
many years ago as a sailor boy on board the
Impregnable at Devonport. He used to make the
Sailors' Rest his home, and there he signed the
temperance pledge that he kept all his life ; and
there he learned to love and trust that Saviour who
was near to him in the hour of death, and who
received him to glory.
" He was a good husband, a good father, and a
real Christian," wrote his broken-hearted widow,
" and we have to thank you for it." We thank God
to whom alone the glory is due, but we rejoice
to have had a hand in the fashioning of such a
character as that of Charles Culley. He rose as
high as it was possible for a bluejacket in the navy
to rise, wearing the stripes of a Lieutenant and
commanding his own ship. His influence over his
238 MY LIFE AMONG THE BLUEJACKETS
men was always for good, and their testimony is
that a wrong word never came from his Hps, He
truly lived for Christ ; he was called away suddenly,
but he died at the post of duty.
I was very glad to be able to revisit the University
of Cambridge about this time. My nephew, John
Cecil Weston, or, as we love to call him, Jack, was
the lodestone that drew me there ; and it was a
pleasure indeed to be with him in his college rooms,
and to visit once again the chapels and colleges that
I had known years before. As my nephew was at
King's, he was, like all King's men, proud of his
chapel. The lovely stained-glass windows, and
the exquisite singing of the choir are never to be
forgotten.
I had some very interesting meetings on behalf of
my work during my stay in the old University town
— one at Peterhouse, presided over by Dr. Butler,
Master of Trinity ; another at Emmanuel College,
in the rooms of Mr. Alfred Crowfoot, a cousin of
mine. It was crowded with undergraduates, the
Dean presiding. These meetings, with the young
life that filled the rooms, have been always most
inspiriting to me, and I hope may be a help in their
future lives to the listeners.
My last visit to Cambridge was to see my nephew
take his degree, which he did with honours. The
old Senate House was crowded, and the celebrated
" wooden spoon," of gigantic proportions, gaily de-
corated with ribbon, hung in the centre of the
house ; the undergraduates were full of life and fun
as ever. The last evening spent in the grounds of
King's College will not be forgotten, the summer
AMONG THE PINES 239
moon shining down and the limes scenting the air.
Those that had taken their degree seemed sorry
indeed that the time had come to sever their con-
nection with the dear old place, and to leave a part
of their lives behind that would never return, but
would always be a bright memory.
CHAPTER XX
"THE SAILOR'S WIFE, THE SAILOR'S STAR
SHOULD BE"
The sailor's wife has been, next to himself, and, I
may say, with himself, very dear to me during my
long years of naval work. I have many reminiscences
of them — bright, cheering, and amusing. Jack can
have no better helper than a true and faithful
wife.
" I can never get so far from her but that I can
feel her pulling at me," a man said to me, who had
been far enough off indeed, serving on the Australian
station. I am afraid that the bluejacket is sometimes a
little precipitate in entering into matrimony before he
has risen to a rank high enough to enable him to keep
his wife on his pay. The navy and the army differ
in toto on the marriage question ; Jack is at liberty to
marry when and how he likes, and his fascinations
are so strong that he seems well-nigh irresistible.
A young bluejacket brought his wife up to intro-
duce her to me before he went on foreign service.
" I would like you to know her. Miss Weston, and
to look after her while I am away ; she is only
seventeen — quite a girl." The speaker looked quite
a boy, and when I ventured to ask his age, he said
proudly, " I'm nineteen, and I'm getting on in the
24»
VISIT TO A SAILOR'S WIFE.
"THE SAILOR'S WIFE" 241
service." I was very glad to know the young bride,
to make her welcome to the Sailors' Rest, and to try
to provide her with good friends.
The navy has altered immensely, and the men
stand on a higher platform than that of the blue-
jacket of the olden time. Therefore it is not sur-
prising to find that the marriages that took place
in old days are practically non-existent now. The
public must purge its mind of Marryat's novels before
it can grasp the navy of the present day.
We have over a thousand sailors' and marines'
wives connected with our Sailors' Rests, and I would
proudly place them in competition with the wives of
any class of men in various trades, feeling sure that
they would come out at the top. In this respect
the old days have passed for ever, and the song is
fulfilled, *' The sailors wife, the sailors star should be."
" I'm lying at safe moorings," a man in our hall said
to me, pointing to a comely woman at the side ;
'' this is my wife ; long years since I've seen her,
but I'm safe in the old moorings again."
From the commencement of my work I always
felt that nothing we could do for Jack was complete
unless we included the " Missus," and, if possible, the
children. On one occasion, some years ago, when I
was working a savings bank for the men, a blue-
jacket came to see me about his savings.
" I want to draw it out, Miss W^eston, and take it
to the Missus ; she'll be so pleased." I thought of
possible dangers in transit, and I evaded the question
by asking him " whether he had ever taken home a
sum of money successfully?" He looked rather
uncomfortable and said, " Well, no, I never did ; I
Q
242 MY LIFE AMONG THE BLUEJACKETS
used to draw the money, twenty or thirty pounds,
out of the ship's savings bank, but I never got it
home. I wish that my wife was here ; she's the
' Captain of my ship,' and she always takes the money
bags."
I arranged satisfactorily with this man that the
money should be forwarded to him after he had
arrived at home, and the " Captain of the ship " was
in supreme command ! When he returned I asked
him how all had gone, and he told me what a help
the cash had been, how the wife said " that she had
never had such a pay-day before." And after they had
paid some money that she owed and had apprenticed
a son, he said, " I had my way for a bit. I wanted
to buy my wife a nice dress and ' top hamper ' like
the Admiral's wife, and I did, and she looked nice, I
can tell you. After this there was more money, and
I put it into the savings bank."
" In your own name ? " I asked, perhaps unwisely.
" Oh, no," he said, " in the name of the Captain of
the ship — a nice little sum for her to veer and haul
on while I am away." Here was such a wife as
we would wish all our friends to have — a com-
panion and adviser, a good wife, and a good
mother.
The number of sailors' wives that have passed
through our meetings during the time that we have
had them, would number millions if totalled up. We
value the friendship of our sailors' wives very exceed-
ingly, and the sight on any Monday at Devonport
or Portsmouth of our large hall filled with the wives,
once seen, is not to be forgotten. They represent men
serving all over the world, as can be seen when the
"THE SAILOR'S WIFE" 243
names of foreign stations are announced, and those
connected with them put up their hands.
We have our clubs of various kinds, our library,
our stalls for materials, ready-made clothing, &c.,
and, above all, our creche for the little ones. Babies
in arms can be brought into the hall, and sometimes
one hundred babies are present, blowing their little
steam whistles pretty loudly ; but those at all older
go to the nursery ; they are in charge of trustworthy
women, and have plenty of toys, mattresses to tumble
about on, cradles to lie in, milk and water, &c. —
100 or 150 children sometimes crowd the nursery.
We make our Monday afternoons as bright and
cheerful as possible — plenty of singing, always a short
Bible-reading, and then something fresh every week.
They do enjoy these meetings. A wife said to me,
" We bring plenty of troubles here, but we don't
carry them away." Of course such large gatherings
have to be so controlled that talking should be at a
minimum. They give in their names on a slip of
paper as they enter, and this obviates the monotonous
roll call. They may talk as much as they like
before the meeting opens, but when once the gong
is sounded there must be silence.
A great boon to the sailors' wives consists in our
system of nursing help. We have a sick committee
of sailors' wives, and they organise bazaars from
time to time, and various other means of getting up
money. A portion of this money, both at Ports-
mouth and Devonport, is voted to the " Victoria
Jubilee Nurses." These admirable nurses are available
at all times for maternity and district nursing. They
are very skilful and kind, and by this affiliation we
244 MY LIFE AMONG THE BLUEJACKETS
have any number of trained nurses on the telephone
to be summoned at a moment's notice. For
maternity cases we encourage our members to join
the Maternity Club, and to save up at least ^i ;
we give a percentage on the money, and some
groceries, and little comforts, and the skilled nurse is
secured. This work is run by the sailors' wives
themselves under our supervision.
They also vote money to send members away to a
sanatorium, and in other ways to recruit them. At
Devonport they have a " Holiday Home " at Saltash,
to which members can go free, with their families,
for a fortnight's change and country air. They go
out pale and wan and come home strong and ruddy.
The husband, if in the port, will cycle out, if he can
get leave. We lend the furnished house to them,
with coal and light, which is entirely paid for out of
funds raised by our sailors' wives.
I find in my diary an account of one of these
bazaars, and I think if I tear out the leaf and insert
it, it may interest many whose work lies in the same
direction. It is truly a " Help One Another Society,"
so I will give an account here of the bazaar got up
by our sailors' wives at Devonport to place their Sick
Fund and Holiday Home on a substantial basis.
It was a brilliant success ; the pretty stalls, dressed
with flags and named after various ships in the
Royal Navy, were set off by our beautiful new
hall. In the centre was a model ship named the
^^ Agnes JVeston," manned by a ship's company of
children, who dispensed penny gifts from its hold.
The bluejackets had a stall themselves, which they
proudly named H.M.S. Conqueror, and I am bound to
"THE SAILOR'S WIFE" 245
say that they took a considerable sum. The refresh-
ment stall, sweet stall, fancy stall, plain work, china,
and flower stall all contributed their quota.
The bazaar was opened on the first day by
the Right. Hon. the Countess of St. Germans,
who spoke most kindly and warmly of our work
and of the interest she felt in it. As she ceased
speaking the pennant of the little ship was hoisted,
the band played " God Save the King," and the
bazaar was declared open. Our side shows an-
swered very well ; we had twopenny concerts,
exhibitions of the cinematograph, hat-trimming and
washing competitions by bluejackets and others, which
created great merriment.
The evening of the second day was signalised by
a jumble sale, provided by Miss Wintz, and when
the hour of closing drew on the stalls were found
to be empty, all the goods sold, no raffling allowed,
and the substantial sum of £,20^ taken. As the
expenses were small, the funds benefited con-
siderably, so much so, that a larger house was im-
mediately taken for our Holiday Home.
We also have a splendid Temperance Society for
the wives, a branch of the Royal Naval Temperance
Society, so that husbands and wives can be in one
Society. The wives' branches at Portsmouth, Devon-
port, and Chatham number about 1200 members.
When the wife joins she almost always writes to her
husband to get him to join too, and vice versa. A
bright fellow said : " The best thing that you've done
for a long time has been having a wives' branch of
the R.N.T.S. ; we're all sailing in the same ship now."
These branches have each their own committee.
246 MY LIFE AMONG THE BLUEJACKETS
presided over by Miss Wintz, or one of our ladies,
and many a home has been made safe and happy
by clearing out intoxicating drink.
Then we aim higher still ; we try to take in body,
soul, and spirit. Many of our sailors' wives are
earnest Christians, and many have become so. To
meet this most important need a wives' branch of
the Royal Naval Christian Union has been formed.
This Union has long worked among the men of the
navy, as I mentioned earlier in this book ; but now
the wives can join too.
The bond of union is to love the Lord Jesus
Christ, and to have taken Him as a personal Saviour.
Husbands and wives can read the same Bible-lesson,
although thousands of miles apart ; and as each
member is expected to be a missionary, a great deal
of Christian work is done. Miss Wintz and myself
are the Hon. Superintendents of both these great
Societies, and Vice-Admiral G. F. King Hall, C.V.O.,
and Rear-Admiral Robert S. Lowry are the Presidents.
We have a selected committee of earnest-minded
women, many of them the wives of petty-officers,
who help us splendidly in visiting the sick, absentees,
&c. We have also a capital meeting at Eastney
every week for the wives of the men of the Royal
Marine Artillery, and they are equally earnest and
devoted. I feel that the fact that we are sur-
rounded by such a body of Christian workers,
all service people, is the greatest boon that God
could give us.
We were, I believe, the first to start meetings for
sailors' and marines' wives, about 1874. Mrs. Good-
enough, the widow of Commodore Goodenough,
"THE SAILOR'S WIFE" 247
many years ago talked over with me, at Hampton
Court Palace, her scheme of banding together
officers' wives to visit the seamen's wives, thus
forming a mutual bond of union. This system
seemed to me very good, if worked well, and I
believe that at present it has succeeded beyond
expectation. The Soldiers' and Sailors' Families Asso-
cialion also does good and great service in visiting
and relieving the men's wives, and also in providing
nurses.
Our work always seems needed. When any
naval calamity occurs societies are often handi-
capped by committees, whose dilatoriness brings to
our minds one of Mr. Moody's terse sayings, " That
if Noah had had a committee he never would have
built the ark." Miss Wintz and myself are, by pro-
vision of our trust-deed, managing trustees. This
committee is soon called, a cheque drawn, and funds
are available at once, so that the wives' pay can
be continued for a time to the dependent relatives
to enable them to recover themselves before starting
out to earn their own bread.
There are piteous tales of invalided men, dis-
charged from the service as medically unfit, and
their railway journey paid home ; then all ceases,
unless under special circumstances. The nourish-
ing food is a sheer impossibility to the hard-work-
ing wife or poor old mother. Jack would work
if he could, and he looks pitifully on his wasted
arms, and longs for health. I am able, through my
Naval Disaster Fund, either to send him to a sana-
torium for fresh air and " kitchen physic" for a month,
or to allow him los. a week for a month to recruit.
248 ^ MY LIFE AMONG THE BLUEJACKETS
People have a shadowy idea that whenever a blue-
jacket leaves the navy that he is pensioned, and that
as far as he is concerned all is right ; but the grateful
country only pensions him when he has served for
twenty-one years. Numbers of men are invalided
out of the service every year, sometimes with an
allowance of sixpence a day for a short time ; some-
times, and more frequently, with nothing. But even
sixpence will not put much flesh on the bones of a
wasted invalid.
At Portsmouth, a while ago, a man was invalided
out of the service ; we found him in two dark rooms
that he called "home," with only dry bread to eat,
and weak tea to drink ; and he stinted himself even
of these, because the children cried for food. " I
don't see," he said apologetically, " how I can get up
my strength on this. I want to work, but I can
scarcely totter across the room. How I do miss the
hospital food."
I did feel thankful to know that I had a Fund to
meet these cases, to which a friend had just given me
;^200. In concert with the clergyman of the parish,
I was able, by the expenditure of a ^5 note, to give
him the food which, he says, " has put new life into
him," and he was soon ready and willing for work,
and got it.
Every week there is a survey at the great Naval
Hospital, and numbers of men are discharged as
"medically unfit," The verdict is perfectly true, but
there is a world of pathos in the life-histories of each
when returned to their homes.
A young signalman was found in a garret at
Portsmouth alone, and dying ; he had no friends or
"THE SAILOR'S WIFE" 249
relations, and the landlady attended him as well as
she could. Some of the members of the Royal
Naval Christian Union found him out, and visited
him constantly, taking him food and niceties, and in
turns sat up with him at night.
In this way, by their help, we were able to minister
to him. He sank gradually, and at last he became
so weak that he could scarcely speak, but just before
his death he thanked them all and bade them good-
bye, and with a bright happy smile on his face he
said, "The signal's hoisted, I'm nearly safe in port."
Another young fellow just out of the service,
"medically unfit," was found in a Birmingham slum
very destitute. A lady visiting in the court, knowing
that he had belonged to the Royal Navy, said, " Do
you know Miss Weston and Miss Wintz?" His
eyes glowed and he said, " Yes, indeed ; and I love
them. I should not be a bluejacket if I didn't." We
were able to get the poor lad transported into a
bright Warwickshire village, where he said, " that
the blue sky and the birds singing were sure to cure
him." He, however, gradually passed away, but our
fund was able to help him to the end.
Why do these recollections about invalided men
fill my heart as I write this chapter about the sailors'
wives ? Because in all cases of married men, the
wives and the children suffer. It may be said that
every man should be insured, and that, in that case,
sick pay would be drawn.
I for one have been very keen as to insurance, and
I wish that every man in the service was insured for
his own sake, and for the sake of those dear to him ;
but in that case, the country would have to raise his
250 MY LIFE AMONG THE BLUEJACKETS
pay. Unless he holds a good rating, Jack has not a
living wage for himself, his wife and children. I
have a paper before me asking for a little temporary
help for the wife of an able seaman who has just
been transferred to a sea-going ship, and his pay has
become monthly instead of weekly, consequently the
wife will have no money for a month.
The filled-up form reveals the following facts :
"Wife aged 27 ; one child two years old, expecting
another in September ; of good character ; weekly
rent three shillings ; has contracted no debts except
the rent, since the husband went away. Weekly
pay twelve shillings." On the back of the form these
words are written : " Mrs. 's husband is sent
away in the Commonwealth ; she will get no pay for
a month. It is the old story of weekly pay shifted
to monthly. And now the woman has nothing, and
is expecting a baby in September. Could Miss
Weston give her a weekly allowance till the pay
comes ? " Of course I do this, and have done it in
hundreds of cases.
Technically, Jack in time gets all his pay, all that
is due to him ; practically, his wife and children are
starving. To save on small pay with a young family
is impossible, and it is equally impossible to insure.
And of course the chief sufferers are the wives and
little ones.
It may be grimly remarked that the bluejacket,
until he attains a higher rating, has no business
to marry. But whatever we do, let us be human ;
our men have not many comforts ; the lower deck
of a ship-of-war contains few of the amenities of
home. If the pay of men of higher ratings is suffi-
"THE SAILOR'S WIFE" 251
cient, I hold that the pay of men of lower ratings
should be such that the wife and little ones can be
supported, with a margin for a rainy day.
With the wives in our work we, of course, include
the children. It was at first a little difficult to know
what we could do for them, but the question as to
the boys was solved many years ago by some of the
men serving on foreign stations writing to ask me
" whether I could do a little for them, by teaching
them obedience ; they were so disobedient and un-
ruly that their mothers did not know what to do
w'ith them."
I talked it over with some of my workers, and as
our minds run on naval lines, we thought of a Naval
Brigade ; to gather them together, to put them into
uniform, to have them taught drill, and, with it,
obedience and respect, uniting temperance work,
Bible-classes, cricket, football, swimming, &c., &c.
Volunteers soon joined, and company after com-
pany was formed, and the boys were very enthusi-
astic about it. I believe that this is the first Naval
Brigade started in this country. The Admiralty lent
me a 7-pounder gun for gun drill ; they are smart
little fellows, and we train them in various ways.
The fathers of many of them are on active ser-
vice in China, Australia, and various other parts of
the world, and the boys are getting a little head-
strong for mother, so they come to the Sailors'
Rests at Portsmouth and Devonport on several
evenings of the week. They have drill and gun-
drill, compass work, signalling. They are all total
abstainers, and twice a week a splendid Bible-class
of ninety strong is held. They have also cricket
252 MY LIFE AMONG THE BLUEJACKETS
and football teams, and have won several matches,
and also a swimming club.
They have been inspected by the Commodore at
the Royal Naval Barracks, Portsmouth, and that
officer, although a very strict disciplinarian, ex-
pressed his great pleasure and approval at their
general appearance. I append the Memorandum
that I received from him : —
" Memorandum
" Royal Naval Barracks, Portsmouth.
" It gave me very great pleasure to see how well turned
out and smart the companies, field guns crew, and band of
the Royal Sailors' Rest Boys' Brigade were, when inspected
on the 13/A inst.; and in my judgment this reflects the very
greatest credit on the commanding officers, the officers,
instructors, and all concerned.
"A. Galloway, Commodore.
"To Miss Weston, LL.D.,
Royal Sailor^ Rest, Portsmouth^
This inspection has cheered up all the officers and
boys. They will, I hope, still further distinguish
themselves, and still better, I hope that they will
grow up earnest good temperance men. Very many
go into the navy, their fathers' profession. We give
them a certificate when they enter, and their drill with
us saves them some months' training. These Naval
Brigades are being largely taken up in the country,
and are turning out a brilliant success, and our com-
manding officers at Portsmouth and Devonport have
good reason to be proud of their respective corps.
"THE SAILOR'S WIFE" 253
A facetious bluejacket once said when assisting
a lady to alight from a railway carriage : " Ladies
first, as they have no vote." Quite true, our sailors'
and marines' daughters rank second to none, as far
as we are concerned, and the ladies working with
us take the greatest interest in them.
We have a girls' branch of the Royal Naval Tem-
perance Society, with their bright gatherings, socials,
games, excursions into the country, &c. Bible-classes
and ambulance classes are always going on, especially
the first-named, and many of our girls and boys
also have joined the Royal Naval Christian Union as
Associates, and will, we hope, go on to full member-
ship.
This work has been carried on in Devonport and
Portsmouth for some years, and it is starting at
Chatham ; we are now welcoming many of the
members to the sailors' meetings, as they are married
into the service and are making good wives and
mothers, and many of them are earnest and devoted
Christians.
Our sailors' and marines' wives, both at Devonport
and at Portsmouth, are very close to our hearts ; we
give them our love, and we know that we have theirs,
and we can truly say that the bluejackets' wives and
families are near and dear to us.
The Royal Hospital School at Greenwich educates
and trains the sons of seamen and marines for the
navy, and for civil life as well. I have paid many
visits to the grand old historic pile of Greenwich
Hospital, and when I get among the boys, as the
friend of their fathers and mothers, I feel quite at
home.
254 MY LIFE AMONG THE BLUEJACKETS
I must chronicle a happy visit to the dear old
place from my diary. This meeting was only one
of many extending back into the seventies, but this
is a recent one. I went to the Royal Hospital
School, Greenwich. The meeting was held in the
gymnasium, which was lighted by Hnes of electric
lights, and nearly looo boys were assembled there.
They gave me a most hearty reception, and listened
to all that I had to say to them with great attention.
When I had finished one of the officers spoke
to them, and told them that in 1875 he had been
present at a meeting that I held in those early days
on board H.M.S. Impregnable at Devonport ; and I am
glad to say that he had never forgotten the words
spoken then, and told the boys that they had been
the inspiration of his life.
As I left to return to London the boys gave me
a real naval cheer, their caps flying into the air
like a hailstorm. We established a strong bond of
union that night, for I told them that as I had been
their fathers' friend, so I hoped to prove myself their
friend as well. There was a prize-giving, and the
boys came up in single file to receive the prizes from
my hands. I did feel thankful to be able to visit the
old historic place once again.
In the early part of 1903 a great sorrow came to
Miss Wintz in the loss of her mother, and I may
truly say that Mrs. Wintz was a second mother to
me. When I first went to Devonport she opened
her house to me, and gave me a mother's welcome,
and, as I have recorded, our first Sailor Boys' Bible-
class was held in her kitchen. " Mrs. Wintz's
kitchen " was well known in the navy, and bearded
"THE SAILOR'S WIFE" 255
men, when they returned from foreign service to our
Sailors' Rest, would say, " That dear old kitchen ;
I've never forgotten those meetings when I was a
boy."
I always felt what a share Mrs. Wintz had in this
work ; she gave me her daughter, whose splendid
co-operation and help I have always had. She loved
her children fondly, and, like my own mother, would
have rejoiced to have had them round her ; but God's
work and God's will came first, the sacrifice was
made willingly and lovingly, and to the end of a long
life she was always deeply interested in our progress
and success.
She had many sorrows in her early days ; the
death of her eldest son, when a promising student
at Heidelberg University, was a blow that she never
really got over. Years afterwards her husband, for
whose sake as a girl she left her relatives and
friends for distant Switzerland, passed away some-
what suddenly. Mr. Wintz was every inch a gentle-
man and a Christian, and his widow mourned his loss
for thirty-seven years before she went to join him.
One of her later sorrows was the death, by drown-
ing, of her grandson. Midshipman Percy Henderson
Brown, of H.M.S. Waispite ; he was a most promising
young officer, and, alas, was lost with other mess-
mates by the capsizing of a boat. This sorrow was
in later years followed by the loss of two daughters ;
still, happy and serene, she lived until the age of
eighty-seven, and then went to be with Christ.
CHAPTER XXI
UNDER THE SEARCHLIGHT
How brilliantly the searchlight starts and blazes
from the battleship, how it pulsates and quivers over
the dark sky, fades, then streams out again ; every
wave, every boat, and even every buoy stands out
in sharp outline, and woe to the torpedo-boat that
shall steal into that pathway of brightness.
The business of the searchlight is to show all
surroundings brilliantly, and to prevent an enemy
from approaching ; as I work out these remembrances
of my hfe, the " searchlight " brings important points
into prominence. I have tried to do this throughout
this book, and now I turn the handle of the search-
light again, and it shines upon a handsome pile of
buildings and lights up a spacious and, for its size, a
beautiful hall.
It is the "Victoria Memorial Hall" of the Royal
Sailors' Rest at Devonport, and Admiral Lord Charles
Beresford stands upon the platform ; the hall is
being opened, and Lord Charles is speaking of the
work that we have been enabled to do for thirty
years, and he speaks in no measured terms. He
speaks as a sailor, well knowing the trials and troubles
of his shipmates of the lower deck, and it is easy
to see from whence the deep affection flows that
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UNDER THE SEARCHLIGHT 257
is borne to him by the men of his own profession,
and by the navy at large ; he is a man we should
declare at once to be a captain of men, and we
may well let the searchlight play upon him for a
moment.
He has all that strange, undefinable quality of
command, with the born fighting ability so charac-
teristic of men of Celtic blood, which always goes
to make up the successful sailor or soldier. The
firm-knit figure, the square-set shoulders, the brisk
manner, the compact self-confidence, self-reliant
bearing, all speak of a leader in battle, a personality
in council, and a figure in the world. " The man
behind the gun," of whom Lord Charles thinks so
much, knows his worth well ; hundreds of men would
follow him anywhere, and the nation may depend
upon Jack's judgment.
There was a great gathering in the Victoria Memo-
rial Building of the official world on Tuesday, January
17, 1905, when the new hall, with the cabins above
it, was opened by Admiral Lord Charles Beres-
ford, who had travelled from London on purpose to
help me, by thus opening the hall. He carried all
before him by his sailor-like words and his breezy
manner; applause rang through the building, and the
bluejackets who had mustered to greet him were
loud in their approval of all that he said.
The following is a verbatim report : —
In a few sailor-like words Lord Charles said :
" I should like to mention some facts which I think
ought to be known more publicly throughout the
Empire. I find that this block of buildings above
and below have cost no less than ;^20,ooo, all of
R
258 MY LIFE AMONG THE BLUEJACKETS
which has been got by Miss Weston and Miss Wintz
to better the condition, to make more comfortable in
every way the British man-of-warsman.
" I find that these Rests at Portsmouth, Devonport,
and Keyham have cost no less than — Portsmouth,
^^140,000; Devonport, ^120,000; and Keyham,
;^8ooo ; making a grand total of over a quarter
of a million sterling. What I want to impress upon
you is that all that money has been got together
by the energy and the unselfish work — voluntary
work — of Miss Weston and Miss Wintz.
" In one month alone men-of-warsmen have taken
12,610 beds, and 1845 "^^^ have been put up on
couches, or on the floor, because there was not sufB-
cient accommodation in the cabins and beds. In
one year there had been 352,345 beds taken by
British men-of-warsmen.
"Another point I want to impress upon you is that
these great establishments are entirely self-supporting,
and all these properties have been placed by Miss
Weston and Miss Wintz in the hands of trustees, so
that in after years they are insured for all time for
the benefit of British sailors. I cannot emphasise
too strongly what these figures mean.
" It means that men can come ashore with their
money, and go to a respectable comfortable home.
They can put their money and clothes here, and live
like gentlemen. The comfort and convenience of
the men, I am very glad to say, is more studied than
it used to be. There is more sympathy between
officers and men.
"In the old days a great number of 'disagreeables '
existed, and the insubordination which occurred
UNDER THE SEARCHLIGHT 259
undoubtedly existed because there were no Rests of
this class. And then the Admiralty is going to do a
great deal more by giving two years' commissions,
and more leave to enable the men to get home to
their families. I let the men go on shore on every
available opportunity, and the result has always been
in my experience that they loyally backed me up,
and I have had no leave-breaking at all hardly.
" Another point is that the Rests Miss Weston has
established are of great good to the State ; anything
that makes the men more contented and happy is
directly to the benefit of the State and the Empire.
I won't say to Miss Weston and to Miss Wintz how
grateful the officers and men are to them for their
loyal energy, and their indefatigable work and zeal,
in having got the public to subscribe and start the
' Rests ' of this character, I understand Germans,
Americans, and Japanese have all sent personally to
know how to run these institutions.
" Then, besides this, in the time of bereavement
these ladies give immediate help to the sorrowing wife,
mother, or other relative, and by the confidence of
the public they are able to give first aid at the
moment of terrible solitude. Among the cases men-
tioned are the Enrydice, Atalanta, Serpent, Victoria,
Condor, Orwell, and quite lately the submarines ; all
the poor relatives of the crews of these ships were
immediately relieved by Miss Weston.
" How happy must these ladies be to see the success
of their gigantic undertaking. I congratulate them
on the part of the navy. I congratulate ourselves
on having such deservedly popular friends, as they
have proved themselves to be."
26o MY LIFE AMONG THE BLUEJACKETS
Several officers spoke most warmly and kindly,
including Admiral Robinson and Captain Lowry,
now Admiral Lowry, one of our trustees. The
Earl of Mount-Edgcumbe, who has been a kind
friend to my work for many years, said that he had
noted all that we had done from the earliest date ;
he had also known Lord Charles Beresford in his
breezy days, and it was good to hear his words, and
to see the old chivalrous spirit in him, deepened by
the responsibilities that life had brought. He hoped
that war might be far distant, but, if necessary, naval
officers and men would know how to defend their
country.
Lord Charles, in responding to the vote of thanks,
said he knew perfectly well when they went into
action and won that most of them (the officers) got
covered with ribbons and that sort of thing ; but
that the " man behind the gun " did not get all the
credit he ought to receive. If the " man behind the
gun " did not get the orders and the ribbons,
they all equally shared in the honours won by the
navy.
His brother-officers were all absolutely the same
in their opinion ; whether they were high or low they
gratefully appreciated what they owed to the men
they commanded, and therefore he considered it an
honour when Miss Weston asked him to perform
the ceremony, for the reason that his brother-officers
and himself took the greatest interest in the welfare
and contentment of their men.
It was quite a red-letter day in my life, and from
that day to this the hall has done yeoman service to
the men of the fleet.
UNDER THE SEARCHLIGHT 261
We turn the searchlight off this bright opening, on
a January day, on to the halls themselves, and the
class-rooms connected with them, and the work
carried on in them. My great desire has always
been to lead our men and those dear to them to
that knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ, which,
apart from all creeds, leads to salvation.
Our platform is broad ; we do not try to win men
for denominationalism of any kind, but for Christ ;
and they are free to join any section of the outward
Church that they may wish. Our great desire is that
they may belong to the Church Invisible. Our work
is a pioneer work ; we get men in often when very
far out of the way, and we present the simple truths
of the Gospel in an unconventional manner.
Every Sunday evening our halls at Devonport
and Portsmouth are crowded by seafaring men,
soldiers and marines, sailors' wives and mothers,
pensioners from the service, &c., &c. The platform
is filled by bluejackets and marines, and a small
string and brass band leads the singing ; the service
is opened with a short prayer, often offered up by a
bluejacket ; the hymns are given out, and the lesson
read by service men ; the address may be given by a
clergyman, a Christian officer, a bluejacket or marine,
a layman, and sometimes by myself. The attention
of the great audience is most striking.
The whole service never lasts more than an hour,
and is followed by a short bright meeting of half-an-
hour for singing and prayer. At this meeting many
decisions are made, and many a heart and life is
surrendered to God, and the reality of it is testified
to by a changed life altogether. I could give count-
262 MY LIFE AMONG THE BLUEJACKETS
less instances of this, and I will turn the searchlight
on a few.
" 'Twas all my chum Jim, and there he sits
in the hall," said a young sailor with H.M.S.
Excellent on his cap one Sunday afternoon in our hall.
We were having our "At Home," which is a real At
Home attended by from 500 to 700, mostly seamen,
marines, and their friends ; this young fellow stood
up to speak of the power of real Christianity.
"Jim and I," continued he, "came outside this
hall one Sunday afternoon some weeks ago ; we
were both wild young fellows, but we liked to hear
the singing. ' Let's go in,' said Jim to me. ' I shan't,'
I said ; ' I ain't going to be laughed at.' ' You won't
be laughed at,' said Jim. ' Come along, I'll go with
you ; I likes the sound of them hymns.' We went
in and I enjoyed it very much, so much that I
determined to sign the pledge at the end of the
meeting ; and so I did, and the next day I wrote to
the old people at home (I didn't trouble them much
with letters) and told them what I had done.
" In about a week I got a letter from my brother
George saying he was so glad to hear of what I had
done, that it was a good step to take, and now would
I not go farther and give my heart and life to the
Saviour who died to redeem me ?
" I went to the Sailors' Rest again and yielded my-
self to Christ, and I feel a new man ; but Jim wasn't
changed.
" How I longed for Jim to love Christ too ; but
though he brought me into the meeting, he didn't
care about it.
"Well, I thought, God hears prayer and answers it
UNDER THE SEARCHLIGHT 263
too, so the shortest way to get my chum converted
is to pray for him, and I did.
" One night I was at the prayer-meeting at the
Sailors' Rest, and when the leader said, ' For whom
shall we pray ? ' I said, ' For my chum Jim.'
" We did pray for him, and the next morning Jim,
with tears in his eyes, said, 'Ted, old boy, I was
praying for myself last night, and God has answered
my prayers, and I'm a happy man.' So that me and
my chum we are more friends than ever."
Another figure comes before me — a bright, sunny,
stalwart and yet rough-looking young seaman. He
was once an infidel and a terrible blasphemer, given
up to drink and every kind of iniquity. Often he
had dared God openly, and was known on board his
ship as one who made a mock at all religion, and
declared that he believed in neither God nor Devil,
Heaven nor Hell.
He did believe in the Sailors' Rest, because, he
said, "he could see it ; but Miss Weston must have a
jolly good reason for carrying it on : no doubt she
was lining her pockets."
Thank God, the Sailors' Rest was destined to be
the best place he ever came into. One evening a tea
was being given to a party of seamen in my dining-
room, and this man was invited. Seeing, with him,
was believing, and the tea and cake, jam and Devon-
shire cream were very real, and the bright faces and
happy laughter of that tea-party. He enjoyed it very
much, and when the harmonium was opened, and
the singing begun, he felt it would be rude to go.
After the meeting one of my workers, himself once
a seaman, had a long talk with him, and he came out
264 MY LIFE AMONG THE BLUEJACKETS
with all his old arguments. " No, he didn't believe
in a God, and never should." As the two talked
they had walked out of the building into the open
air.
" Look," said the Christian man, laying his hand
on the bluejacket's arm, and pointing to the glittering
stars ; " if there is no God, who made these ?" The
young seaman looked up at their pure bright radiance,
as he had done many times before when keeping
watch on board his ship, but on this night they
seemed to speak to him, and old words, long for-
gotten, rang through his heart — ■" The heavens
DECLARE THE GLORY OF GOD, AND THE FIRMAMENT
SHOWETH His handiwork." Deeply impressed he
said to the Christian man by his side, " If you can
pray, pray for me."
In our Sailors' Rest we have a prayer-room, which
has been consecrated by many a true conversion ;
the two men went up and closed the door, and very
earnest prayers ascended from that Christian seaman
that all his brother's sin and blasphemy might be
pardoned.
That prayer was answered. He gave up all his
infidelity, signed the temperance pledge, and attended
our Bible-classes and meetings, gladly testifying how
Christ had met him like Saul of Tarsus, and had
pardoned him.
I could tell of hundreds of such cases, but these
two will illustrate my point, and will show the work
that we desire, by God's blessing, to do.
One more little incident I feel that I must turn
the searchlight upon, and although it is unconnected
with the navy, the very same facts have happened,
UNDER THE SEARCHLIGHT 265
and are happening in our Sailors' Rests, to our joy
and rejoicing.
Not long ago an infidel lecturer was speaking in a
large town in the north of England, bringing all the
most powerful arguments he could to bear on the
absurdity of believing a word of the Bible. He con-
cluded by saying, " Now I hope I have succeeded in
explaining to you that the existence of Jesus Christ
is a myth."
He had hardly finished speaking, when a working-
man, who had entered in his grimy and toil-stained
clothes, stood up. All present never forgot the look
on his honest face as he said : '* Sir, I'm only a
working-man, and I don't know what the word
'myth' means. I suppose it means that things that
we thought all right aren't all right, and you've been
trying, as I can see, to explain them away. But
you can't explain ME ?
"Three years ago I had a miserable home; I
neglected my wife and children, I cursed and swore,
I drank all my wages away, till some one came along
and showed me the love of God and of His Son
Jesus Christ.
" And now all is different ; we have a happy home,
I love my wife and children, I feel better in every
way myself, and I've given up the drink. A new
soul has taken possession of me since Christ came
into my life.
" ' Sir,' and his face was all aglow, ' can you
explain ME ?'"
The lecturer had no explanation to give, and that
working-man sent people home feeling that Jesus
Christ was anything but a myth.
266 MY LIFE AMONG THE BLUEJACKETS
We will focus now on our class-rooms. We have
meetings for the study of the Bible, and also for
prayer, and a quiet room in each of our Sailors'
Rests, where men so minded can talk or pray
together, read their Bibles, and consult modern
books on the study of the Scriptures ; sometimes
a pleasant little tea-party is held there, especially on
Sunday afternoons, for men who have no homes.
All the spiritual work focuses into the Royal
Naval Christian Union, all the temperance work
into the Royal Naval Temperance Society, while
ambulance work, night schools, &c., &c., hold a
position of their own. We are bound by our trust-
deed to carry on spiritual, moral, and any other
work for the benefit of our men, their wives, and
families. Frequently four or five meetings are going
on at one time.
We have splendid electric lanterns at each Sailors'
Rest, and we make good use of them in the winter,
and we have also a bioscope for living pictures,
which are a great delight. While we teach the old
truths, we desire to move with the times as to every-
thing that can impress the heart and bring those
truths home. God's Holy Spirit alone can do the
great work, but God works by means, and whether
in the hall or the institute, we want to use all to His
glory. Our meetings are always full ; indeed the
crowd of people outside before the doors are opened
is something like the sight outside a theatre when a
popular play is on.
As a searchlight is specially directed now on our
halls and the work connected with them, let it shine
on the R.N.T.S.
UNDER THE SEARCHLIGHT 267
The Royal Naval Temperance Society is going ahead
fast — the weekly gatherings of the members are a
sight to see — such enthusiasm and stir, and the com-
mittees being formed, members receiving honours,
fresh members joining. Over a thousand gallant
service men have been at these meetings at the two
Sailors' Rests during the last few weeks. Many have
become members by signing the total abstinence
promise, and receiving their card and badge of
membership.
Other officers, firmly convinced that one of the
greatest helps to a virile navy is the temperance
cause, have given me their names as patrons of the
Society. Admiral H.R.H. the Prince of Wales,
through Sir Arthur Bigge, wrote to tell me that he
had received the Report of the Royal Naval Temper-
ance Society, and would become one of its patrons
with pleasure.
The following is a characteristic letter from
Admiral Lord Charles Bcresford : —
" H.M.S. King Edward VII., Channel Fleet.
" Dear Miss Weston, — Many thanks for your letter
and the Report of the Royal Naval Temperance Society.
The aims, object, and work of the Society is doing an
immense amount of splendid work in the service, and to
the energy of the Society, I am sure, can be traced the
marked improvement to be observed throughout the navy
with regard to temperance. May all success attend the
efforts of yourself and your co-workers. — Yours very
sincerely,
"CHARLES BERESFORD."
268 MY LIFE AMONG THE BLUEJACKETS
Now for another moment we will focus the light
upon an up-to-date letter from a bluejacket on the
Mediterranean station, and we shall see that Christian
life in the navy is not all rose water, nor do we
wish it to be so ; we want Christian men in the
service to have plenty of real backbone, and not to
be of the jellyfish type. " Christian work in the
navy is increasing, though it is greatly persecuted.
Of course, the condition of a Christian in the navy
is greatly different to this condition in civilian life.
" In the navy we have to live with men from
year's end to year's end. We are always in their
company, always working with the same men, and
example testifies more than anything else.
" Of course, after the day's work you can't go home
and go to prayer-meetings and get away from sin
and temptation ; you are always in the midst of it.
Christian work is greatly increasing through the
grand efforts of Miss Weston. We have a lot to
put up with in my ship. The crew number 790,
and the Christians number eight, so we have to be
continually watching and praying.
'' Though we get made fun of we get admired,
because they know we are men that can be trusted ;
they know that we are right. The men that per-
secute us most are the men who know that we are
right, and that they are wrong. The best thing to
testify, as I said, is example.
"Men are watching you in everything you do. They
listen to your conversation, they are always ready to
find fault, and they put temptations in your way, and
they do things to try to make you lose your temper.
But, thank God, He is always by our side to help us.
UNDER THE SEARCHLIGHT 269
" Sometimes we get permission to hold upper deck
meetings. We get plenty to join in with us, and
some join in for the purpose of annoying us. The
average bluejacket is fond of singing. We get plenty
of names, such as ' Bible-thumper.' I have been
in this ship for nearly two and a half years ; we
have been on the Mediterranean station all the
time.
" When we commissioned we had two Christians
in the ship, and now there are several, and we are
hoping shortly to have some more come over on
God's side. I can say what it says in the 2 Sam.,
chap. xxii. verse 33. Will you please pray tliat God
will bless the work in the navy, and that those that
are Christians will stand firm ? We are praying for
you in the homeland."
Every word that this man says is true, and his
experience is repeated on board almost every ship.
When these men come home, they make for
the Sailors' Rest, and naturally expect to find some-
thing going on to help them. I have a band of
excellent workers, men who have been in the service
and know the ropes ; they are always about the
Sailors' Rests, ready to chat with men, to read or
pray with them, and to help them in every way.
I can never get out of sight of our sailor lads ; we
have so many about us, who are out and out on
the right side ; of course, being young, they are
optimistic, and often cheer us up. I feel as if I could
never really grow old while these dear lads are
around me. So I must once more focus the search-
light upon them, or rather, perhaps, on their letters,
which often come to me.
270 MY LIFE AMONG THE BLUEJACKETS
I had a party of boys ashore at Portland to have
tea with me, and I also went on board the Boscawen
to have a talk with them, and I told them that I
should be so glad to hear from any of them if they
liked to write to me. A few days later a note,
written on cream-laid paper, with a blue and gold
forget-me-not in the corner (he must have gone
ashore to buy it), came from one of the same
boys.
He evidently had not forgotten the afternoon that
we spent together, but looked back upon it with
tender feelings. Perhaps I cannot do better than
give his letter entire : —
t>
" H.M.S. Boscawen, Portland.
"Dear Miss Weston, — I now take the great
pleasure of writing to ask you for two of the photos
that we had taken at the Rest. I hope that you will
forgive me for asking for two, only one of my chums
wanted one when he knew I was writing to you. I
am certain you will oblige me.
"Dear Mother (I might say), it seems so nice to
have another mother to write to again, as I lost my
poor mother ; we all thought about you last Tuesday
around here, and wishing we were at the Sailors'
Rest again ; but the time will soon come when I
hope we shall be able to come again. Please excuse
bad writing. — I remain yours truly,
"JOHN H ."
And I must give yet another, for a letter from a
sailor boy always cheers my heart : —
UNDER THE SEARCHLIGHT 271
" H.M.S. Black Prince, Mess No. 25,
QUEENSTOWN, IRELAND.
" Dear Miss Weston, — I now take the greatest of
pleasure in answering your kind and welcome letter,
which I received all right, hoping this will find you
quite well, as it leaves me here at present.
'• I am getting on very well, and I will soon be
losing two of my chums, Nesbitt and Black. I am
very glad to say that you send them letters and give
them good advice. Nesbitt was the boy who asked
me to lead a Christian life, and we used to meet in the
schoolroom of an evening and read a passage out of
the Bible and say a prayer each. I shall miss him
when he goes. He is going with the brig next
Monday, so I shall have to pull along by myself, and
I do hope I shall succeed.
" If I stick to God He will stick to me, and will see
me all right, but it is hard work. If I turn to the
right there is temptation waiting me, and if I turn
to the left, go forward, or turn round there is temp-
tation. And if your mates notice that you don't
curse, they will mock and laugh at you, and try to
make you curse. But if ever I fall I go straight to
God and tell Him my trouble.
" I thank you very much for the little book you
sent me. When I read it I gave it to a boy who
sleeps alongside of me, and he asked me would I be
mates with him, and I said I would, and he asked
me to say a prayer and let him follow me. The
only prayer he knows is the Lord's Prayer, so I have
started to struggle along with him, and proves
successful so far. I must now close my letter,
272 MY LIFE AMONG THE BLUEJACKETS
so good-bye, and God be with you till we meet again.
— I remain yours truly,
" JAMES BARROW."
Now how can these sailor lads die ? The search-
light once again will show this up. One case out of
numbers that I can remember. Not very long ago,
in the daily papers, there was an account of the
accidental shooting of a young seaman at a rifle range
in Ireland, and his patriotic desire to be buried at sea.
This young fellow was known to us, and was
about to join our Royal Naval Christian Union. I
give a letter written to me by the chaplain of the
Albion : —
" Dear Miss Weston, — One of our boys, James
F. Coleman, expressed a desire three months ago to
join the Royal Naval Christian Union. He filled in
his paper on December i8th, so that we should have
sent it to you in a day or so.
" He was a good lad, but God took him to Him-
self yesterday. While at pistol practice some one
accidentally fired a shot that went through Coleman's
chest. He lived from three o'clock until half-an-
hour past midnight. It was impossible to save his
life. He was a brave lad, for he was quite clear-
headed for some hours before he died, and was
peaceful and happy when told of the coming change.
" He looked so bright when I whispered to him the
first verse of ^Jesu, lover of my soul,' and after-
wards he said, < Let my mother and sister know
that I am dying, and send my ditty-box and cap to
my mother, and my kit to my chum, and I should
like, if it could be, to be buried at sea.'
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UNDER THE SEARCHLIGHT 273
« He was so thoughtful and unselfish, a great ex-
ample to me of the peace and love that fills the hearts
of those who are close to Jesus. We said together
' The Lord is my shepherd,' &c. We may be sure
that his Father had a bright home prepared for that
sailor-boy. Will you write to his mother ? "
I need not say that I did this, and received a
sorrowful but loving letter back.
The dying wish of the young sailor was reported
to the authorities, who ordered that the warship
Albion should steam out into the ocean, that he
might lie in a sailor's grave. And so Coleman went
home.
We looked for him to be an earnest worker in the
navy, but the Good Shepherd took him to the land
where there shall be no more sea.
CHAPTER XXII
"THERE'S SORROW ON THE SEA"
When H.M.S. Eurydice went down off the Isle of
Wight, her Captain, Captain Marcus Hare, R.N.,
went down at his post, and when, months afterwards,
the ship was raised and towed into Portsmouth har-
bour, his writing-desk was found, and in it, among a
number of letters and papers, a piece of poetry which
he had written in more than one album, ''There's
Sorrow on the sea."
All who know the sailor's Hfe know this full well.
Sometimes the sorrow, as a great national catastrophe,
bursts suddenly, and the smaller incidents, none
the less sad, go to swell the dirge, " There's sorrow on
the sea." Each incident and each catastrophe has
its points of interest, whether ashore or afloat. Last
year our hearts were stirred to their depths by the
loss of the Tiger and the Gladiator, and by minor
accidents to the Gala and the Britannia. When I
think of the two first-named, I scarcely know how to
write, my eyes and my heart are so full of tears.
Disaster has succeeded disaster in our navy, and
each one has told its tale of death.
Here at Portsmouth, looking over Spithead and
the Isle of Wight, I seem to be looking on a cemetery,
a God's acre ; for within a few miles' radius how
274
"THERE'S SORROW ON THE SEA" 275
many of my friends sleep until the resurrection
morning.
One quiet day before Easter H.M.S. Tiger, with
others of the big fleet of which she was a small unit,
went out for night-manoeuvring with lights out, about
eighteen miles to the south of St. Catherine's Light-
house, on the Isle of Wight.
The mimic battle began ; and how was it ? Who
shall say ? The vast hull of H.M.S. Berwick towered
over the torpedo destroyer, and, spite of all that
could be done, the collision took place ; and the
collision was destruction. The bows of the Berwick
cut right through the ship, dividing her into two
parts, which sank rapidly.
The Commander gave all possible orders, including
one for the men to save themselves, and he went
down with his ship. In an instant the sea was a
blaze of light as all the searchlights of the ships were
turned on, and boats were pulling in every direction
to rescue the poor fellows struggling in the water
and sinking one after the other.
There was no sign of panic or confusion, not at
the moment of the crash, not when the ship parted
asunder and went down under them. Ofiicers and
men were true to the best traditions of the service,
and the country has good reason to be proud of her
boys in blue.
In the water — one seizing an oar, others pieces of
wreckage — they battled bravely with the waves, sing-
ing out one to another to keep up courage, and that
all possible would be done to save them ; and this
after the Tiger had made her final plunge, her boilers
exploding and adding to the horrors of the scene.
276 MY LIFE AMONG THE BLUEJACKETS
All in the fore-part of the ship were drowned ; the
poor fellows in the stokehole had no chance, the
hatches were fastened down, and the ship was run-
ning under forced draught, going at tremendous speed.
The spectacle on that dark night in the channel — the
roar of the escaping steam before the ship foundered,
the men ranged quietly at their stations and waiting
for orders, and then the waters closing over them —
such calm courage and steadfast obedience to duty
makes us think well of our naval service.
And what of the widows, the mothers, the fathers,
not only in Portsmouth, but all over the country ?
The thirty-three brave men, exclusive of officers,
whose homes were desolated ? The little children
whose fathers would never come back again ?
The gunner of the ship was talking brightly to
one of my people in the afternoon as he cycled
from his home to go on board, little thinking that in
a few hours he would be in eternity. Sad to say,
all pay was stopped by death on that Thursday night
in April, and our duty was very plain. We got
the names and addresses, and we visited all living
in the town, and communicated with all away. In
local cases we were able to hand them at once the
money that they would have received on the Friday
night or Saturday morning, and we were also able to
sympathise personally with them.
The letters that I have received from the grief-
stricken relatives would bring tears to every eye, and
I was rejoiced to find that they seemed to value the
sympathy more than the help.
They told me how their boys used to talk at home
of the Sailors' Rests, and what we either had done for
"THERE'S SORROW ON THE SEA" 277
Ihcm or had tried to do ; and surely this was reward
enough. I completed relieving as far as there was
need, and I was glad to know that the fund in-
augurated by the Mayor of Portsmouth had taken
up the stricken ones, and would give pensions to all
dependents. The balance of money in my keeping
was handed over to the Mayor's fund. My work
for the Tiger, which was first aid, closed then as
far as money help was concerned.
We had hardly recovered from this blow when
another, quite as crushing, came upon us. An April
day, when May had nearly arrived, was ushered
in by snow, driven by a fierce cutting gale from the
north-east. The snow was a blizzard ; at times no one
could see more than a few rods before them.
On this fatal Saturday a cruiser, H.M.S. Gladiator,
was coming from Portland to Portsmouth, where she
was due at four o'clock. She had passed the Needles,
and was off Hurst Castle, when the ss. St. Paul, twice
her tonnage and going at twice her speed, and more-
over, it is said, carrying a steel ram, struck her in a
vulnerable point, and she sank in twenty minutes.
Some of the men were terribly injured by the im-
pact, others were drowned ; the death-roll totalled
twenty-six.
The same obedience to duty was shown. The
men mustered as if to quarters, and never attempted
to leave the ship till the order was given and repeated
by a warrant officer, who called out, " Every man
for himself, and God for us all."
And then the desolated homes, wives rushing
down to the Commander-in-Chief, shrieking in agony,
others stunned and mute. Again we put our organi-
278 MY LIFE AMONG THE BLUEJACKETS
sation to work, but here we had to face a great diffi-
culty. We could not get the names and addresses
of the men, whose homes were scattered over the
country, as the books had gone down with the ship ;
but the Admiralty and Commander-in-Chief were
most kind, and supplied me with information as
quickly as possible. The Mayor telephoned asking
me to do all possible until he should be able to take
it up with his friends.
The Gala in the North Sea lost her Engineer-
Lieutenant, who was killed in his cabin by the
impact of the scout Attentive^ again manoeuvring at
night with lights out.
The Britannia lost three poor stokers by the
bursting of a boiler. They were scalded and burned
so terribly that they died. I have my Naval Disaster
Fund, from which I was able to draw. My desire is
that I may be always ready, not only to help such
calamities as those of the Tiger and Gladiator, but
smaller ones, none the less pathetic in that no one
knows of them.
Jack's kind-heartedness is proverbial and true. I
received a letter from H.M.S. Hart, signed by repre-
sentatives of H.M. destroyers in the China seas, en-
closing the sum of £^2, is. id., asking me to take
charge of it and to spend it for the maintenance of
the two little children of a dead shipmate whose wife
died a few months ago. The letter is signed by
men of various ratings, and runs thus : —
" H.M.S. Hart, China Station.
" Madam, — We, the undersigned members of a
committee formed for collecting contributions from the
''THERE'S SORROW ON THE SEA" 279
torpedo-boat destroyers on the China Station for the
benefit of two young children who have now become
orphans through the death of their father, a leading
stoker of this ship, who was accidentally drowned on
May 6, 1906, at Shanghai, are taking the liberty of
sending you the sum of £^2, is. id. collected, to be
put to the best use for the children's good, which
we have every confidence it will be in your hands.
" These children had the misfortune to lose their
mother a few months previous to the death of the
father, and are now living with their grandmother.
Trusting that we are not trespassing too much on
your time and kindness of heart, we remain, yours
faithfully."
Then come the signatures of petty officers and
men.
There is a light side of Jack's life — merry Jack, as
he is often called — but there is a tragical and sad
side. A seaman — a petty officer — was dying in
hospital, and some of my workers had regularly
visited him. He had been one of my helpers. We
had known him all through his life. He met his
wife at the meetings at the Sailors' Rest at Ports-
mouth, and they had a flock of little children.
It was hard to go, a young man of twenty-nine
years of age. " For myself," he said, " I am glad to
go to be with Christ, but it is for my wife and little
ones ; but Miss Weston will take care of them."
The next day a telegram reached us telling us that
the man was dead, and that his wife, not knowing
of his death, was on her way to see him. Would
we meet her and break the news to her ?
2 8o MY LIFE AMONG THE BLUEJACKETS
One of my workers did so. She seemed perfectly
stunned, and only came to herself as she gazed on
the calm dead face of her husband. We took care
of her, and in a day or two there was a naval
funeral. Our wreath, with loving sympathy, was laid
on the coffin, and the widow and her little child, with
some of ourselves, saw him laid in a sailor's grave.
Another sad accident occurred on board H.M.
torpedo-boat Ferret. This was the case of a poor
fellow, a first-class petty officer, falling overboard.
He was promptly rescued, but life was extinct, and
the doctors attributed his death to syncope, brought
about by sudden immersion. Death appears to have
been instantaneous. He left a delicate wife, to
whom the news was broken somewhat suddenly.
Her mind was nearly unhinged by the severity of
the blow.
"To think that he should go away well and strong
in the morning, and I was expecting him back to
tea " — no wonder that reason almost totters. The
brotherly kindness, not only of the officers and men
of the Ferret, but also of the torpedo flotilla, has been
most touching, and shows naval camaraderie in bright
colours.
The Lieutenant-Commander of the Ferret and the
Artificer-Engineer came to see me, and we had a
long talk together as to the widow, and how we
could help her in her sore strait. The m.en of the
torpedo-boat and of the flotilla were anxious to do
all possible themselves, so I offered that we would
visit and cheer her as much as we could, and would
also give her weekly pay until they were able to
administer their fund.
"THERE'S SORROW ON THE SEA" 281
One more life -story and I must turn to other
themes. A bluejacket, another of our friends, was
serving in the Mediterranean when he got bad news
from home saying that his wife was very ill, and that
her one desire was to see him. As he was a man of
good character, his Captain gave him leave ; he was
to go home in a returning ship, stay a few days, and
return in another ship to his station.
He wrote to his wife and told her that he was
coming. When he arrived at Plymouth, he de-
lightedly thought that he would steal home, and
what a surprise it would be. He crept up the stairs,
the door was ajar, he saw her looking better and
sitting up in bed.
** Here I am, my lass," he shouted. With a cry
of delight she threw up her arras, and fell back dead
— joy had killed her. Poor fellow, he was broken-
hearted, and returned to his station feeling that he
had accidentally killed her who was the light of
his life.
Many an anxious heart has watched and waited
through nights of storm and stress, and in many
cases the husband or son came home no more. A
little child, a member of my Children's Brigade,
called out to his father one stormy night from his
cosy crib in his father's dressing-room, " Dadda, the
poor sailors are drowning," and the next minute, in
his little night-shirt, he was kneeling by his bedside
and praying the " Lord Jesus to guard the sailors
tossing on the deep blue sea." Such pure young souls
keep watch and ward over Jack.
About the year 1904 an interesting incident
occurred connected with the Russo-Japanese war.
282 MY LIFE AMONG THE BLUEJACKETS
As I shall presently narrate, we knew the Japanese
sailors well, having often welcomed them at the
Sailors' Rests, but we had not then met the Russians.
Somewhere, I think in 1903, two Japanese ships of
war sailed from Genoa for the far East, commanded
by British officers and manned by British seamen.
War had not then been declared, but it was trembling
in the balance. It was a plucky thing to take those
ships out, but it was done. The English surgeon
failed at the last moment, but a Japanese naval
surgeon took his place.
On arrival at Yokohama Captain Paynter, of the
Kasuga, offered the doctor the usual fee. He de-
chned, saying that it was too much, and on the
Captain pressing it, he said, " Send twenty guineas
to Miss Weston, and ask her to use it some way for
the good of the British Blue, whom I greatly admire,
and if my name can be associated with it I shall be
very pleased." A bath cubicle was set aside. The
following letter came to me from Dr. Suzuki, this
Japanese naval doctor : —
" I.J. M.S. Yayayama, OFF PORT ARTHUR.
"Dear Miss Weston, — I duly received your
kind letter, and a copy of your monthly magazine
Ashore and Afloat, in which I am glad to find a pretty
story about me. I see that you have appropriated
my contribution to a bath cabin, and I shall feel
very happy if it is of use to your bluejackets. My
sympathy and interest is very deep in your good
work among the men.
" Our navy has taken after you, and, to my great
joy, 1 can tell you that now we have Sailors' Rests
"THERE'S SORROW ON THE SEA" 283
in every port throughout Japan. Hoping that you
will come to Japan some day to see how happy our
bluejackets are in the Sailors' Rests, and wishing
you every prosperity in your work, believe me
yours very truly,
"T. SUZUKI."
I think that it may be thought that I paint the
British bluejacket in too rosy colours. I ought to
know something about him, for, as the Devonshire
people say, I have wintered him and summered
him for over thirty years. I know the bluejacket
of the older times, and I know the bluejacket of the
present date, and the great difference between them,
which will probably be accentuated by time.
The sailor pure and simple has disappeared
with the sails that he used to manage. "Going
aloft," " furling sails," " smart royal yardsmen," all
these have passed away, probably never to return.
Swedish drill and other athletics are relied on to
keep up muscle in the present mastless ships.
Education has advanced enormously, and has
brought many advantages with it, and the clean,
smooth-shaven face of the twentieth-century blue-
jacket has replaced the bearded, jolly, happy-go-
lucky face of the man of older type.
To provide a home for Jack and to run it for him
is not all easy sailing, and I do not advise any one
who wants to have "a quiet time of it" to run a
Sailors' Rest nowadays. I sometimes get blamed
for things for which I am not responsible, but I
have many brave and bold champions on the lower
deck who stand up vigorously for me.
284 MY LIFE AMONG THE BLUEJACKETS
A friend of mine, travelling by rail, met a tall,
powerful bluejacket, a stoker, going on leave. He
began to talk about the Sailors' Rest, and said what
a home it had been to him. " I'll tell you what," he
continued, " I came to Portsmouth a drunkard, but
Miss Weston took me by the hand and made me
what I am. I hear her run down pretty well by
some chaps on board, but I get up and I answer
them, and explain it all to them. If they don't see
their mistake and say they're sorry, then I up and
lays them down quite gentle-like on their backs
on the deck, and I don't hear any more of it.
That's the best way to settle up these sort of
things."
I look upon the Fleetman as my friend simply
because he is in the navy. I am only too glad
to help him as far as it lies in my power, and I
always speak well of him. The question has been
put to me :
A ''True Blue," what is he? The ''True Blue"
taken at his best, and it is always well to look on the
sunny side, is a very fine fellow. Bright, cheery, and
sunny-faced, picturesque and stalwart, he stands true
to his old friends, as he stands true to his country.
Brave to a fault, he is ready to do or to dare any-
thing ; the greater the danger the more eager he is
to face it. When volunteers are called for the diffi-
culty lies in the numbers that come forward. When
a ship is in danger through some dreaded explosion,
the " True Blue " is calm and obedient ; he never
leaves his post.
Brave Stoker Lynch rescued a shipmate at the
cost of his own life. Chief Stoker Gee, late of H.M.S.
"THERE'S SORROW ON THE SEA" 285
Blake, is of the stuff of which we are proud in our
service ; he went through fire and steam four times
to rescue Hfe, and brought out two men, but one,
alas, was a corpse ; the chief stoker was terribly
burned and scalded. The " True Blue " carries his
life in his hand, especially since the introduction of
machinery. He is possessed of that grand quality,
self-reliance ; it is said that he is " sharp enough
to see through a three-inch plank," and truly he
is astute enough to meet danger and to see his way
out of it.
In his home the " True Blue " often shines brightly.
Here is a house known to me. A sailor's wife, quite
a young woman, is dying of cancer, her agonies are
fearful, and she has passed through many operations.
There is no hope, and her one wish is to see her
husband once more. This wish is gratified, the
ship has returned and has brought back the absent
husband — a sad home-coming truly. What a clever
and gentle nurse that man-of-warsman made, and
how he soothed and brightened the last weeks of his
wife's life ; but spite of his devoted care she passed
away.
Early in the year 1907 we were invited to take
counsel with the then Commodore of the Royal Naval
Barracks, Portsmouth, towards the starting of a
coffee canteen for the men, or rather, perhaps, we
should say a "restaurant," where meals and refresh-
ments could be obtained at any time, and from which
all intoxicating drink was to be excluded. Some
years before we had been asked to do the same
for the Royal Naval Barracks at Devonport ; we
furnished the dining-room there from the Sailors'
286 MY LIFE AMONG THE BLUEJACKETS
Rest, and Miss Wintz gave all the information and
training possible, and supplied a manager. This
place worked splendidly ; the men thronged it and
thoroughly appreciated it, and it went a long way
towards keeping them steady. It was managed by
a committee of officers and men, and was, after a
while, taken in hand by contractors, and, as far as
I know, is running satisfactorily now.
Having this experience we were very glad to help
Commodore Galloway and Commander Sinclair at
Portsmouth. Miss Wintz threw all her energy into
it ; the place, which was sombre and gloomy before,
had to be entirely altered and made bright and
attractive ; difficulties were great, and red tape was
somewhat in the way, but all was triumphantly over-
come, and one of the best temperance restaurants
of "that date was opened in the Royal Naval Bar-
racks, Portsmouth, and was speedily crowded with
men.
It was quite delightful to see how they appreciated
it. Having done all this, and having got it into
good working order, we retired from the scene.
Miss Wintz somewhat done up with all the extra
work that it involved ; but it was a labour of love
to us. This restaurant was much admired by the
Admiralty, by Royalties, and by highly placed naval
officers, who were taken round by the Commodore,
and it was so popular that it speedily became too
small.
Very soon afterwards the Admiralty voted a con-
siderable sum of money, and a very much larger
restaurant, gay with colours and the electric light,
was built. Naval pictures of old sea fights and other
"THERE'S SORROW ON THE SEA" 287
scenes decorated the walls, and the steaming urns,
and the counters dressed with cold meats, pastries,
buns, and all sorts of good things, welcome the blue-
jacket to sit down and enjoy himself in this ^^public-
house tvithout the drink."
CHAPTER XXIII
"THE FRENCH MAID"
This title is, I acknowledge, a strange one, but the
story of my life would be incomplete if " The French
Maid" was left out. But who is " The French Maid" ?
She was, and is not.
" The French Maid" was a public-house in Chandos
Street, Portsmouth, next to our Diamond Jubilee
Block, and for many years this public-house was
a snare to the men, and also to the boys of the
5/. Vincent, who used to come up to the Sailors' Rest
every Sunday and Thursday. The St. Vincent, like
nrost of the other training ships, has paid the debt
of nature, and the boys have been transferred to the
training establishment at Shotley.
" The French Maid" was not much to look at,
but I suppose would be termed a snug public-house,
in a quiet side street. There was a drinking bar
in front, and a small music-hall, with a stage gaudily
dressed up, at the back. For many years we had
been thinking about this public-house, and only
wishing that it might come into the market, and that
we might get it. We prayed about it often, but
there seemed to be no sign whatever that it would
come into our hands.
The "Maid" was very dangerous to the susceptible
•88
"THE FRENCH MAID" 289
sailors, and was well frequented. Many a fight took
place outside in the street, and our building was
more than once bespattered with blood and hair.
Young seamen frequented it largely ; men, according
to the police reports, from eighteen to twenty-two
years of age, the very lads that one wants to save,
for their own sakes, and for their mothers' sakes.
At last an auspicious day dawned for us. The town
authorities decided that " The French Maid" must
be suppressed and her licence taken away, on account
of a redundancy of public-houses in that neighbour-
hood ; and then came on the moment for which we
had waited and prayed. We made inquiries, and
our movements were considerably quickened by the
rumour that it might be acquired by an adjacent
public-house, in a parallel street, anxious for ex-
tension, to be used for billiard-rooms, &c. So we
determined to secure it if possible, and now we hold
it for our men.
I made a great effort to advance the sum to pay
for it, for it was then or never ; and the sight of the
keys upon my writing-table was a very pleasant sight
indeed. ** The French Maid" has ceased altogether
now to attract bluejackets to evil, and will, I feel sure,
do good in the future. I very soon received the
money from my many friends to pay for it, and plans
were got out for a large building to stand upon its site.
This building adjoins the Diamond Jubilee block,
of which I have already given some particulars, and
it will contain two hundred comfortable cabins.
I am always careful not to go into debt over
buildings, and to expect the public to help me out.
Some people say that it answers well for a society
T
290 MY LIFE AMONG THE BLUEJACKETS
to be some thousands of pounds in debt. I do not
presume to say what is best for a society, but I know
personally that it would not do for me.
Many years ago my accounts were once overdrawn,
and we showed a deficit of some ;^7oo. It was not a
very large sum, but, far from finding it interesting, my
subscribers lectured me vigorously, saying that they
thought that I never went into debt, that it was a
very dangerous path for a personal worker to embark
in, &c., &c. They, however, kindly sent the money
to pay up the deficit, and I hope that I profited
by their advice ; for although our ship has been in
shallow water often, and our balance has been very
small, we have never touched ground, but have
always come out on the safe side.
Miss Wintz often astonishes people by revelations
of the number of men frequenting the Royal Sailors'
Rests during the year, and their feats as trenchermen.
She gives the number of sleepers in one year as
378,375. Our clerical staff worked out the following
amusing facts from these figures.
If the men stood with linked hands they would
form a line 245 miles long, reaching from Paddington
to Plymouth — this in a single year. The food con-
sumed during this period was truly astonishing ;
the oxen, sheep, pigs, &c., forming a procession
nearly a mile long ; while the tea, coffee, and cocoa
put away during that period would float a first-class
torpedo-boat.
It is only right now that I should act as cicerone,
and take each one reading this book round our great
Institutes ; and then I will endeavour, by picking Miss
Wintz's brains, to tell of the methods by which we
"THE FRENCH MAID" 291
have brought this organisation up to the point at
which it now stands. I hope that it may be a help
to some who are embarking on the same crusade,
although I well know that every decade brings its
changes and developments, and that experience is a
commodity that each one has to buy for himself.
To illustrate the truth of this, I will take my readers
round the Sailors' Rest. The men are ashore ; it is a
Saturday afternoon, and a great crowd blocks the
booking-office, clamouring for beds, standing one
behind the other, the queue stretching out and down
the street.
The tickets are issued as fast as the sixpences are
laid down, until all the beds are exhausted, and then
there is a groan among the waiting ones, as the
placard is hoisted up, " All beds booked," some five
or six hundred ; then shake-downs, tables, chairs,
&c., or a plank-bed on the floor.
After this glance at the booking-office, let us turn
into the restaurant. As we are looking round on a
Saturday evening in the winter, the restaurant is
brilliant with electric light, and also with mirrors,
colour, and silver urns. The marble-topped tables
are crowded, and waiters are flying about.
The restaurant being open to the public, we see
not only bluejackets, but their friends, wives, mothers,
and sweethearts, while a few perambulators tucked
away show the presence of King Baby. The noise,
whirl, and clatter is something that must be heard to
be understood ; the lifts are working rapidly, and
down the speaking tubes hurry the orders, " sausages
and mash for three," " fish for six," &c. A small
fish supper on these busy evenings means about five
292 MY LIFE AMONG THE BLUEJACKETS
hundred portions. No wonder at Devonport that we
have to send the horse and cart to the Barbican, to
meet the trawlers, and to buy up fish wholesale.
For fish, eggs, sausages, &c., Jack shows an appe-
tite begotten of the ozone of the ocean ; for if the
public help him on the Saturday evening, he has it all to
himself on Sunday, when outsiders are excluded. The
neat little bill of fare from Saturday night to Monday
morning runs thus — 1700 sausages, 2000 and odd
eggs, 3000 rolls and butter, 80 gallons of tea, besides
coffee and cocoa, 2 cwts. of bacon, 5 cwts. of fish, and
endless smaller goods, bread and butter, tarts,cakes, &c.
A turn will bring us into the Petty Officers' Coffee-
room. This room is spacious and handsomely fitted
up, with its separate staff of waiters ; and the petty
officers, whose purses are longer, are to be seen
indulging in roast fowl, grilled steaks, kidneys, and
other luxuries. This room is also open to all ; but
here the barrier drops, and, with the exception of
baths, the rest of the building, with all cabins and
sleeping accommodation, is devoted to the service.
The Parcel Office on the ground floor is very busy,
taking in parcels and giving them out ; a bluejacket
rides up on his bicycle, takes a ticket for his machine,
which is forthwith wheeled off to the bicycle store,
and he drops into the restaurant, or into the reading
or smoking rooms.
As we go on, we pass through several reading-
rooms, and also writing-rooms ; men are asleep on
the lounges, reading papers or books, or having a
friendly chat or discussion. The last reading-room
is the largest, very bright and spacious ; here an
electric piano discourses brilliant music or national
"THE FRENCH MAID" 293
airs, and about twice a week a " Sing-Song " is held,
in which the men take part.
But we must dive into the basement, and see the
kitchens, and all the machinery that drives this great
business. Putting Portsmouth and Devonport to-
gether, our staff numbers some two hundred men and
women. Here is the kitchen. The chef and his
staff, in their white caps, jackets, and aprons, are
very busy, the stoves are full blast, and mighty joints
of old English fare, roast beef, with its first cousin,
corned beef, legs of mutton, and pigs galore; and
the electric bell and speaking-tubes from the restau-
rant and coffee-room are going hard.
In another room the vegetables are washed and
prepared ; then the larder, and a very spacious wash-
ing-up room, connected with the restaurant by lifts,
up and down which cups and saucers, plates, &c.,
travel, keeping three or four men fully employed.
As we pass on we come upon the bakehouse, with
a staff of first-class bakers. The room is lined with
white tiles ; lighted by electricity ; and from its huge
steam ovens an endless stream of new bread, rolls,
tarts, tartlets, turnovers, custards, cakes, &c., pour
forth. The bakers are at their posts at four o'clock in
the morning, sometimes earlier.
We follow the rolls to a room, where, under the
natty fingers of women, they are split, buttered, and
the nice slice of ham or beef inserted, making sand-
wiches. Jack cares nothing for the sandwich that
the delicate lady produces from her handbag, or for
similar articles served at the railway buffet. " Shav-
ings and trash," he murmurs ; *' a man wants to feel
something between his teeth."
294 MY LIFE AMONG THE BLUEJACKETS
We must pass on ; the steady throb of a powerful
engine begins to sound in the distance, but first the
storeroom, which occupies all the space under the
large hall, must be inspected. It is a model of clean-
liness, and is like a great wholesale store — sides of
bacon, sacks of flour, chests of tea, hogsheads of
sugar, kegs of butter, and all the countless accessories
that are needed every day are here. All supplies are
drawn from this store, and duly checked.
We now begin to see straps and whirling shafts.
Here is the mineral-water plant, where gingerbeer,
lemonade, and the hundred and one " ades " of
various flavours, that go to make up temperance
drinks, are made : machinery does almost all, even
washing the bottles.
There is the sausage machine at work, everything
so bright and clean, the sausage meat all prepared
on the premises ; one can almost say that the pig
goes in at one end and comes out at the other —
sausages ! Another whirling affair, producing a great
deal of starch, is washing and peeling potatoes ; all
this machinery is a vast help.
Before we get to the engines, we must pause to
look at the baths. Each bath is in its cubicle, and is
a full-sized bath, of white glazed earthenware ; the
hot and cold water taps are under the control of the
bathmen ; radiators dry the towels. Each bath is
lighted by electricity, and is kept scrupulously clean ;
the same may be said of all the lavatories, with wash-
ing basins, barber's shop, &c., on which I hav^ spent
many thousand pounds. Gentlemen inspecting them
say, " that they are equal to a first-class London
club." I am describing all this as closely as I can,
"THE FRENCH MAID" 295
but I do not wish to take any credit to myself, as
all this organisation is the product not of one brain,
but of many.
We open a door on which is painted " No
Admittance," and the heat and whirl of the engine-
room is upon us. These engine and boiler rooms are
very spacious ; the huge boilers supplying baths and
radiators meet us first ; a large pump is working
hard, pumping water from a great reservoir under
our feet, to the tanks at the top of the building, and
all over it.
Farther on, an engine of 125 horse-power is
working the dynamos which produce the elec-
tricity to light the great buildings : we have some
thirty-five arc lamps, which light the Sailors' Rest
outside, the hall, &c., also any amount of incan-
descent lights, and our " wiring," which extends for
some miles if laid out straight, lights all parts of
the structure, including the Diamond Jubilee block.
As we walk underneath we can hear a band, sing-
ing, and applause in the hall above. This is Saturday
night, and the social is on, but other meetings are
simultaneous ; a meeting for prayer in the small hall,
and nice little gatherings of Christian and temperance
seamen in the R.N.T.S. and R.N.C.U. club rooms
upstairs.
We have seen a great deal, but we have not
seen the dormitories ; they rise tier above tier, and
they are all ready for their occupants, all clean
and trim, the night watchmen bustling about, and
showing " early birds " to their beds. The large
billiard-room, with several tables, is full of eager
faces and talk, and the click of the balls : no gambling,
296 MY LIFE AMONG THE BLUEJACKETS
I am glad to say, to our knowledge, spoils the fine
game under our roof.
The Sailors' Rest is open all the twenty-four hours,
and no one is turned away ; our aim is to get all
possible under our roof, and to try to do the best we
can for them, so that every man shall have a chance ;
some are very lively, and give a good deal of
trouble.
The buildings are patrolled by four night watch-
men, and as the morning comes on, bells are rung
all round the dormitories, and the stentorian voices
of the watchmen call, as on board a man-of-
war, " Show a leg, show a leg, hurry up for the
five o'clock boats." Then again later, " Hurry up for
the six o'clock boats ; " and hundreds of feet are
racing down the stairs. Breakfast is a pick-up — a
cup of coffee and a roll, a cake, or a sandwich ; and
laughing and talking, 500 or 600 men, in some cases
1000 or 1200, stream out of the building, and away
to ships or barracks.
I do not want to weary, but after this long tour it
might be well to inquire the lines on which these great
places are run, and the steps taken to ensure careful,
methodical, and business-like working. The estab-
lishment is worked in departments.
The kitchen, the store, and dormitories ; the
restaurant, the watchmen and engineers' depart-
ments, have each a day and night staff of their
own, and by this means none of the employes,
except under the most exceptional circumstances,
have to work more than eight or ten hours a day ;
and on Sunday, as far as possible, everybody is allowed
half time off.
"THE FRENCH MAID" 297
Many people have written to ask me about our
gentlemen managers, and would I recommend them
some one of the same sort. As we have long since
dispensed with these gentlemen, and have run the
Sailors' Rests on the departmental lines, I regret I
have not been able to comply with these requests.
Miss Wintz is assisted by her first lieutenants, who
have thoroughly mastered the work (one at Ports-
mouth and one at Devonport). These ladies have
the engagement and dismissal of the large staff
entirely in their hands. The utmost contentment and
happiness prevails among the servants ; the food
is good, and the hours on duty are not excessive.
The receipts are carefully checked by means of a
cash register, and banked daily by an official from
the office. Everybody, from the chef downwards,
has to render a daily, weekly, and monthly return ;
stock is taken every month, and a balance is struck
after the allowance has been made for rates, taxes,
depreciation. This system works admirably, and all
leakages are quickly detected and stopped.
The work is never-ending, but, as far as possible,
all is done to ensure success, and the immense
masses of men using the Royal Sailors' Rests bear
eloquent testimony to the management.
" No cup of tea anywhere like that at the Sailors'
Rest," is the verdict of the sailors' wives, who crowd
in with babies and children, after the Monday after-
noon meeting, or when out shopping in the busy
thoroughfare in which the Portsmouth Sailors' Rest
stands.
Our other departments are carefully organised.
Our subscriptions and donations, which go to philan-
298 MY LIFE AMONG THE BLUEJACKETS
thropic and religious work, are under my immediate
supervision. I receive all gifts personally, and am
responsible for them until banked, my accountant and
a staff of clerks sending all receipts and reminders ;
the system of checking and counter-checking is
carried through everything. All this has been in
vogue for thirty years past, but it has been steadily
built up on the foundation laid, and with, I think,
good and solid results.
CHAPTER XXIV
HISTORIC SPITHEAD
I HAVE called this chapter '* Historic Spithead." The
windows of my room enable me to take it in in all
its length and breadth. It is, I suppose, the most
historic anchorage in the world, and is making history
now. The old wooden walls used to moor here, and
during wars with France and Spain awaited their
orders or returned with their prizes triumphant, or
sometimes struggled in almost done to death.
The old Victory lay here when Admiral Lord Nelson,
amidst the cheers of the people, left the sally-port at
old Portsmouth to go on board for the last time
before the battle of Trafalgar ; and here the Royal
George careened over and foundered with her Admiral
and " twice four hundred men."
During the last few decades magnificent fleets of
all types, including the more modern, have received
the approval and inspection of the Sovereign ; and a
fleet has only just dispersed which, I suppose, ha
been the most up-to-date of all, to show the repr
sentatives of the Press of our world-wide Empire
something of the navy which we feel belongs to
us all.
But apart from our own ships, Spithead has been
the gathering-place of warships of many nations.
•99
7
300 MY LIFE AMONG THE BLUEJACKETS
Our King has been, and is, an Apostle of Peace ; he
has travelled from Court to Court sowing not discord
but goodwill, and, in consequence, the various nations
have returned these visits in a friendly and kindly
spirit. The French, the Japanese, the American, the
Italian, the Spanish, the Swedish, and the Russian
navies have all been represented.
A slender thread of kindness will sometimes do
good, and I have endeavoured personally, by means of
the Sailors' Rests, to make all welcome. The warmth
with which these little kindnesses have been received,
and the pleasure that they seem to have given to
officers and men, has been a great cheer to me and
to all my fellow-workers, and my bluejacket friends
have also backed me up loyally.
We have had several visits from the Japanese, and
have formed a friendship with their officers and men
that I hope will not be broken ; and I believe that
we shall in the future be somewhat closely connected
with work among the men of the Japanese Navy.
In 1902, when the Japanese squadron lay at Spit-
head at the time of King Edward's coronation, we
saw a good deal of the sailors at Portsmouth ; they
came to the Sailors' Rest and were much pleased
with it all. A Japanese clergyman was with us ; he
used to visit the men on board their ships, circulating
the Scriptures among them, and talking with them.
We put a room at his disposal at the Sailors' Rest,
to which he invited them when ashore, and together
they studied and talked over the Word of God.
There were several Christians on board the warships.
I understood that one of the Japanese admirals and
three captains of battleships were Christians.
HISTORIC SPITHEAD 301
Admiral Gore Inguin was in command of the
ships Asama and Takasaga, and he expressed a wish
that a party of his men should see the Sailors' Rest,
with a view to establishing a similar institution in
Japan. I need not say that I was delighted to fall
in with the proposition. So twenty Japanese sailors,
with a warrant officer, came officially by the ad-
miral's wish. We laid ourselves out for their enjoy-
ment, and they appeared to be a very bright, merry
party. After disposing of a good supper, they came
upstairs to be received by Miss Wintz and myself.
We spoke to them, and our words, being translated
by the officer, seemed to please them greatly. After-
wards they went all over the Sailors' Rest, and stayed
the night, sleeping in the cabins.
Meanwhile a great fleet had assembled at Spit-
head, such a sight as has never been seen ; for
fifteen miles those ships stretched in ranks at their
moorings, all waiting to salute, and to do honour to
their newly crowned King.
Foreign nations were also sending ships to swell
the throng. Among them Japan, our new ally, was
represented by two cruisers and a gunboat. Mighty
ships represented France, Germany, the United States,
Italy, Russia, Spain, Portugal ; also ships of other
classes represented Sweden, Chili, Argentine Re-
public, Netherlands, Greece.
I wrote to the captain of each ship, placing the
Sailors' Rest at the disposal of the ship's company,
and welcoming them among us ; but, alas, in every
case but the Japanese, after the terrible blow of the
King's sudden illness had fallen, one by one the ships
stole away.
302 MY LIFE AMONG THE BLUEJACKETS
The next day a letter came from the Senior Officer
of the Staff HJ.M.S. Asama at Spithead : —
"Dear Madam, — By your kind permission I enclose
a cheque for five guineas, which is a humble present to the
Royal Sailors^ Rest from Rear-Admiral Gore Inguin of
the Japanese squadron. This humble amount of money
is purposed to be spent in any way which your authority
thinks most appropriate. — Believe me, yours truly,
"TAKASIU TAKASATA,
" Senior Officer of Staff, Japanese Squadron.^*
This pleasant visit in 1902 was followed by an-
other in 1906, when the Japanese warships Katori
and Kashima arrived at Spithead, and afterwards
came into Portsmouth harbour. The Katori was
the first to arrive, and as soon as she was berthed
alongside, my workers went on board, and with the
kind help of the Commander-in-Chief, I arranged
for the men to be marched up to the Sailors'
Rest for a reception, at which we hoped to
make them feel at home, and to cement the bond
between us.
The next step was a visit which I was able to pay
to the warship with Miss Wintz, by the consent and
kind invitation of the commanding officer. Captain
Sakomoto. We spent some time on board talking
with the officers in the ward-room, giving booklets
and our own publications, and talking with the men
on the quarter-deck.
They were all mustered on the quarter-deck, and a
very interesting sight it was. They listened most
HISTORIC SPITHEAD 303
attentively as I spoke to them, and ail that I said was
translated by an interpreter.
The official visits of the men to the Royal Sailors'
Rests were very successful. We had the Rev. Mr.
Warren of the C.M.S., a missionary from Japan, and
Mr. Usichi, a Japanese gentleman staying with us, also
Miss Ballard, a lady who had resided for many years
in that country, and knew the language thoroughly.
After they had marched in, headed by the band
of H.M.S. Excellent, and had taken their places, I
gave them an address of welcome, which was trans-
lated by Mr. Warren. They listened attentively,
often applauding. After that, a little party of sailors'
children drilled on the platform with English and
Japanese flags, and sang several pretty pieces, to the
great delight of the audience.
The Rev. Mr. Warren and Miss Ballard spoke
earnest and good words to them, and they adjourned
to tea, which was greatly enjoyed. After tea, before
they left. Miss Wintz and myself handed a Japanese
New Testament to each man. They promised us to
read them carefully, and we pray that they may
follow the precepts taught in them. Whenever they
came ashore we were on the spot to welcome them,
and to show them such hospitality as we could, and
we were richly rewarded by their gratitude.
An interesting fact came to light when I was on
board the Katori. A Japanese booklet was presented
to me, and I was told that it was a translation of one
of my own books — " Under the Searchlight " — giving
an account of the starting and working of our Sailors'
Rests.
This book had come into the hands of the Japanese
304 MY LIFE AMONG THE BLUEJACKETS
Government, who ordered its translation, and placed
a copy in the hands of every officer and seaman in
the navy. This led to the starting of their own
Sailors' Rests, of which they have five for the men
of their own navy.
We found several devoted Christians in the Japanese
ships, and several anxious to become Christians.
There was one man, at least, who made a fresh start.
He was a Japanese petty officer, and in his early
days had been a hard drinker. He was engaged in
the third blockading expedition at Port Arthur, and
was wounded altogether twenty-four times.
Sent to hospital, he lay there in great suffering
for weeks, hovering on the brink of the grave, but
while lying on his bed of pain he came across Chris-
tians who taught about a God of love and a Saviour
of sinners, and he quietly yielded himself to Christ.
After he left the hospital, cured, he was among
the ship's company sent to England to bring out the
battleship Katori. Mixing with heathen men who
jeered at his Christianity, he gradually grew cold and
dead ; but, he said, as he sat in our hall and heard the
words spoken, he saw how wrong he had been, and
he joined us in prayer for forgiveness, confessing his
sins, and thanking God very humbly for the renewed
joy and peace with which his heart was filled.
Just before the ships sailed, a deputation of petty
officers and men from each ship came to see me.
They wished to present to myself and my workers
some magnificent Japanese embroidery, which they
said was a small token of all that they felt towards
us, with the following letter written in Japanese,
which I give verbatim : —
HISTORIC SPITHEAD 305
"Dear Miss Agnes Weston, — All of us, the
Japanese petty officers and seamen of His Imperial
Majesty's ships ^ Katori' and ' Kashima,' send out warm
and deep thanks to you, the dear mother of our sailors,
for your deep sympathy and kindness to our men, and for
all that you have done for the British sailors for so many
years.
" Your love has been most self-sacrificing, and we
humbly congratulate you upon your wonderful success.
We have come to England, and we rejoice that we have
looked upon our mother's face. We do hope that you will
accept the embroidery that ive send, which comes from our
own country, and is the humble gift of every petty officer
and seaman on board the Japanese warships ' Katori '
and ' Kashima.' We sign ourselves, your true and
devoted friends."
(Here follow the signatures of officers and men.)
I have lately received an interesting piece of news
from Japan. When our Japanese friends were here,
I felt how much I should like to be able to put
something into their hands every month, like our
Ashore and Afloat, to show them that they were not
forgotten by their friends in England.
My kind and indefatigable friend, the Rev, Charles
Warren, of Osaka, Japan, made a good suggestion,
that I should pay for a thousand copies of a magazine
called the Light of the World, which would be a
special edition to the Japanese Navy. He says : —
" I am glad to be able to tell you that the first
instalment of your gift of 1000 copies of the Light of
the World hns gone out this month to the different naval
ports. I have heard to-day from my workers at Kure
u
3o6 MY LIFE AMONG THE BLUEJACKETS
that they had arrived safely, and that it would give
them the greatest pleasure to attend to the distribu-
tion. I enclose you a specimen copy. On the front
page I have given an account of your life and work,
condensed, of course, but I think that the chief
points are mentioned.
" On each of the looo copies is printed the Japanese
equivalent of ' A Gift from Miss Weston.' I will let
you know as soon as I get any further news."
I shall be rejoiced indeed if these papers are re-
ceived by the Japanese bluejackets in the spirit in
which they are sent. If I find that they are liked,
I will distribute them in the Japanese navy at
intervals, or perhaps once a month.
I am still further cheered and encouraged by a
warm letter of thanks from the Japanese Warrant-
Officers from Kure. I hear that my name has con-
siderable influence with them. At Kure a large
number of copies are distributed in the naval hospital,
twenty copies to the Warrant-Officers' Club, twenty
copies to a Christian Lieutenant, Captain of a sub-
marine, who is delighted to distribute them to his
men, and twenty copies to a Japanese lady who has
started a Christian Home for bluejackets on a small
scale, and which already has outgrown the house in
which she started.
This lady will, I believe, do a great spiritual work
among the Japanese man-o'-war's men ; she seems
specially adapted for it. I hope to continue in close
touch with her, and to be able to cheer and en-
courage her.
We were really sorry when the Japanese ships
left us. We have been associated with several Royal,
HISTORIC SPITHEAD 307
National, and Imperial Navies — the French, German,
Italian, Spanish, Japanese, Swedish, Russian, and
American — and have friends in all, so that our work
is assuming an international and imperial character,
and, what is better still, several of these countries
have started Sailors' Rests, copying more or less
our Homes at Devonport and Portsmouth.
Admiral Prince Henry of Prussia, speaking of our
Sailors' Rests and work in the navy, said, after a few
kind words of praise, " /« my opinion this is a truly
Imperial work."
The far East has occupied our attention, but other
ships of war representing countries nearer at hand
have visited us at Portsmouth and at Devonport.
The visit of the German fleet to Plymouth in 1904
was a most interesting event ; all international
courtesies and amenities are useful, and forge links
in the chain that binds nations together. As soon
as I heard of the visit of the German warships, I
wrote to Admiral Sir Edward Seymour, the Com-
mander-in-Chief at Devonport, telling him that we
should be glad to take our share in the welcome,
and suggesting to him that, as an act of national
hospitality, we should like the men of the fleet to be
our guests while they remained in the Sound.
This invitation met with the cordial approval of
Sir Edward, who promised to send my note of in-
vitation to the German Commander-in-Chief as soon
as the ships arrived. Amidst salutings on each side
the big warships moored ; and among the signals
one was hoisted in the fleet by Admiral Von Koester
to the effect that, "Miss Weston cordially invited the
men of the fleet to make the Royal Sailors' Rest their home
3o8 MY LIFE AMONG THE BLUEJACKETS
when ashore." And I can truly say that the invitation
was responded to ; we were crowded out with the
burly figures and bright smiling faces of the Teuton
bluejackets, sober, gentlemanly, delighted with all
they saw, and astonished, even after the invitation,
at having nothing to pay.
Outside we were bright with bunting and with
the German national flags. We were as busy as
bees. Music, singing, chattering, expressions of
goodwill were heard all round.
They quite understood that ours was a temper-
ance house, and expressed their pleasure that it was
so ; they were lost in admiration at its size, and at
all the arrangements for comfort ; and it was a still
greater astonishment to them to realise that it was
the work of two ladies. They seized me by the hand
and indulged in a succession of " Hochs " that verily
rent the roof. We gave away our own literature
and a quantity of German Gospels as souvenirs.
On the last day of the visit of the fleet they flooded
us out to such an extent that no food was left ; we
searched the town for cake, buns, and bread, and
requisitioned every bit, but still there was not enough.
Miss Wintz, who speaks German, called a halt, and
told the crowding men that we were run out of
supplies, and would they go for a walk for a little
while until we could lay in a fresh stock ?
They took it very kindly, and to bridge the time
over we got up a concert in our hall, which was hastily
cleared of chairs, and filled with men, our band
played, and a party of young men volunteers gave
them some part songs.
I felt that I had an opportunity now to say a few
HISTORIC SPITHEAD 309
words of friendship and goodwill which possibly
might not be forgotten. My German was altogether
too rusty, but a fine young German sailor stood by
my side, and as I spoke he translated my words.
They listened most attentively, and then a German
petty officer proposed a vote of thanks. He said
that " When they saw the signal they all felt the
kindness and friendliness which it implied. They
thought it was very brave of a lady to invite the
whole fleet, but they had accepted the invitation,
and hundreds and hundreds of German sailors would
never forget the Royal Sailors' Rest, Devonport, and
the kind friends there.
"More than that, the news would spread all through
Germany, as every man had written and sent a
picture post-card from the Rest to fathers and
mothers, wives and sweethearts, saying how, far
away from the Fatherland, they had found a real
home." He concluded by calling upon all to give
hearty cheers ; after this we sang the " PVafch on the
RlitJie," the German National Anthem, and the British
National Anthem, and bade each other good-bye.
The fieet weighed anchor at five o'clock the next
morning. I in my turn have received picture post-
cards, and here is one : " Briefkarte. Kindest regards
from two German brothers, who will never forget the
welcome that yon gave them at Plymouth. — R. BerGER,
Edward Staal."
Truth, however, compels me to say that some
of our British blues were jealous. " Why should
Miss Weston receive the Germans, and be so kind
to them?" questioned some stalwart seamen gunners.
It was explained to them that it was done to make
310 MY LIFE AMONG THE BLUEJACKETS
them welcome, and to return in some measure the
kindness shown to them by the German sailors at
Kiel. " Well, suppose it's all right ; but we don't
like to be turned out of our Sailors' Rest for them."
I must, however, tell a story of one of our men,
who was every inch a bluejacket, and a gentleman.
He had just taken and paid for a ticket for a cabin,
and he had secured the last. A German petty
officer came up, and asked for a cabin, and was
told that the last was gone.
Disappointed, he was turning away, when our British
seaman stepped up, and courteously handed him
his own ticket. The German was profuse in his
thanks ; and when the remark was made to the
kind donor that he would probably have to be
content with a shake-down on the floor, he replied,
" It is the least that I could do ; these men are our
guests."
We had a very interesting visit from our German
friends a year or two ago — November 1907 — at
Portsmouth, when the Kaiser and Kaiserin visited
our King and Queen at Windsor.
The ships included the Imperial yacht Hohenzollern,
the cruiser Scharnhorst, and the despatch - boat
Sleipner. I wrote to the Kaiser, asking his kind
interest in our work among his men, and telling
him that we hoped to make the Royal Sailors' Rest
a home for them, and to give a banquet on some
fitting day.
Although the visit of the squadron was very short,
all this was arranged by the Kaiser's kind interest.
My workers had free access to the ships, and we
distributed about 1000 German Testaments and
HISTORIC SPITHEAD 311
Gospels, and a large number of picture German text-
cards. The men received them with great delight
as souvenirs, and we could have distributed many
more if we had had them.
The day was fine when the men were marched up
to the Royal Sailors' Rest to enjoy our hospitality.
The tables looked very bright and pretty, and we had
a number of our own bluejackets waiting to fraternise
with their foreign chums, which they did right well.
I gave them a short address of welcome, which was
translated into German by an officer of the Hohcn-
zollcrn, and was received with loud " Hochs." The
banquet was thoroughly enjoyed, and was followed
by a nice entertainment.
By the Kaiser's direct orders, Admiral Ingenohl,
Commandant of the Imperial yacht Hohenzollern,
came to call upon me, and the kind feeling shown
is expressed in a letter which I received from him a
day or two afterwards, of which I give a translation
of a portion : —
" / desire to offer you my most hearty thanks for your
very kind letter and the book which accompanied it, and
I greatly deplore that I cannot express myself in your
language, as my knowledge of it docs not extend so far.
I wish to assure you that ivhat I had already heard of you
and your blest work, and further what I saiv during my visit
to your Home, the Sailors' Rest, has made a deep im-
pression on me. This impression has been further deepened
by the perusal of the book, ' Our Bluejackets,' by Miss
Wintz. May your example find many followers in Eng-
land and in Germany. — With deep respect, yours most truly,
" INGENOHL, Rear-AdmiraV'
312 MY LIFE AMONG THE BLUEJACKETS
We bade adieu to our German friends with regret,
and hope to see them again.
Itahan and Spanish ships have visited us at Ports-
mouth and Devonport. We have always received
free permission to go on board these ships, and I
have given '' At Homes " at the Sailors' Rests to the
men, and I hope always to be able to do this.
Our American friends are very specially welcome,
and as they receive Ashore and Afloat and my Monthly
Letters every month, there is a close link between
us, as well as the strong international feeling which
binds the White Ensign and the Stars and Stripes
together.
While this fleet was in Portsmouth we had a
very bright and happy time. I telegraphed to
Admiral Cotton, as the squadron lay at Kiel, and
invited 400 men to a reception at the Royal Sailors'
Rest, Portsmouth. The invitation was accepted
cordially by the Admiral. On the day appointed
the fine body of men marched up, the streets were
lined with people, and the Sailors' Rest was dressed
with bunting, the Stars and Stripes being conspicuous.
We had the pleasure of receiving them, while the
band played Sousa's march, " Stars and Stripes."
We had speaking, glee-singing, recitations ; then
refreshments were served, and we finally bade each
other good-bye, after singing, with linked hands,
" Aidd Lang Syjte." As they marched out, after three
hearty cheers, the band played " Had, Columbia."
My workers went on board the ships Kearsage,
Chicago, San Francisco, and Malchias every day while
they lay in Portsmouth Harbour, making friends with
the men, influencing them for good, distributing
HISTORIC SPITHEAD 313
Testaments and books. They took nearly a hundred
pledges, and the demand for the Sailors' Testaments
published by the Scripture Gift Mission was so great
that our stock was exhausted.
Just before the ships sailed, one of my workers
held a Bible-class on board the Chicago, and the
apprentices of the San Francisco sent me ten shillings
out of their wages towards our building fund. We
bade our American cousins good-bye with real sorrow.
The American fleet departed, and we went on with
our ordinary work, but after a time our lively friends
and next-door neighbours, the French, desired to
visit this country. They paid two visits at different
dates, but the largest fleet came to Portsmouth in
1905. Our bluejackets were very excited about
what they called the " Tcniy cordial."
The arrival of the fleet in English waters was not
to be forgotten ; thousands of people lined the three
miles of Southsea beach ; a few trailers of smoke in
the sky showed that our visitors were coming, then
the fighting-tops emerged, and at last the ships them-
selves, moving majestically on. No sooner were
they in British waters than a spurt of flame and
cloud of smoke was followed by the thunders of the
whole fleet saluting the French Republic and Majesty
of Great Britain, and they passed on to pick up their
moorings off Cowes.
After a day or so the fleet got under way, and
this time the destination was Portsmouth. As is
well known, the entrance to the harbour is very
narrow, so the ships came on in single file, the
Massena, flagship, leading. Here again the shore
was black with cheering spectators, and the massed
314 MY LIFE AMONG THE BLUEJACKETS
bands crashed out the " Marseillaise." Curiously
enough, one of the first to receive them was Nelson's
flagship, H.M.S. Victory. She was dressed with
colours, but there she lay as the ships passed —
many a Frenchman raised his cap to the old ship,
once the enemy, now the friend, of his country.
About that moment a string of colours fluttered
from the French flagship, which read that " Miss
Weston would be delighted to welcome any French sailors
that liked to come to the Royal Sailors' Rest." This
signal was made at my request by the courtesy of
the French admiral.
And the signal did its work — the bluejackets came
to us in hundreds. We had turned our large hall
into a salon and cafe, little tables about, plenty of
refreshments and temperance drinks ; the Tricolour
was conspicuously placed, and the hall was gaily
decorated. Two large mottoes occupied each end :
" Bienvenue a la Flotte Frangaise," and "Vive I' En-
tente Cordiale," and here we received our guests, and
they made themselves entirely at home. Songs were
given, and recitations, by English and French sailors,
and also by ladies who kindly volunteered their
services ; also feats of swordsmanship by Lieutenant
and Mrs. Barrett.
Our friends' appetites were considerable ; they con-
sumed 34,765 rolls, cakes, and tarts, 5061 eggs, 2771
bottles of temperance drinks — which they observed
were " very good, with no headaches in them " —
also 20 sides of bacon, and 120 joints of beef and
mutton.
My workers visited the ships, and were allowed to
give away our souvenir books, of which we issued
HISTORIC SPITHEAD 315
15,000 on board and ashore. Crowds of men
rushed for them, and said that they should read
them, and send them home to their wives and
mothers.
The Daily Mail remarked : " The French and
British paraded the streets arm-in-arm like sworn
brothers. If their gait was not always steady, you
may set it down to hospitality, which the occasion
excused. And really there were remarkably few
evidences of excess. Proof of this might be found
at the Sailors' Rest, where Miss Weston is the good
angel who shelters those who have succumbed to
the temptation of the moment."
" We have had no cases of drunkenness," was the
statement of our interpreter. "A few men were sent
to their ships in cabs, but it was not necessary to
detain any. Hundreds of French sailors have visited
the Home and have spent hours here. They are
amazed and delighted with the warmth of their
welcome. Many have never before set foot in
England, and believed that the British were a cold
and difficult people. Not a few imagined that
English women were as the French caricaturist often
depicts them. They have denounced the caricature,
and are filled with remorse and admiration."
Our happiest day was Sunday. We had announced
a religious service in the afternoon, and had invited
them to come, but we did not expect the 600 that
crowded in. We sang hymns in French and English
simultaneously. The British blues gave sacred solos
and choruses. I spoke to them, and they listened
most attentively ; the words came from my heart,
and I hope went to theirs. We parted later in the
3i6 MY LIFE AMONG THE BLUEJACKETS
day, after a hearty vote of thanks had been proposed
by a French chief petty officer, and enthusiastically
carried by all present. We did thank God that we
had been able to take our small part in furthering
I' entente cordiale.
Space will not admit of my chronicling the visits
of several other foreign fleets, but I must say some-
thing about a navy that has loomed large before us
during the war in the East — I mean the Russian
navy.
Early in 1909 a Russian fleet appeared on the
horizon. I watched them as they passed the Nab
Light and steamed slowly through Spithead to the
harbour, where they took up their moorings. The
entertaining of 500 Russian officers, seamen, and
marines at the Royal Sailors' Rest, Portsmouth, was
a very pleasant event.
It was a fine sight to see them march up, headed by
the band. They filed into our hall, and soon took
their places at the tables, where an appetising spread
awaited them. In my unavoidable absence, Miss
Wintz welcomed them in the names of ourselves
and all our workers. The address was translated
into Russian by an officer of one of the ships, and
was received with great pleasure by the audience.
After the banquet we had a concert, exhibitions of
drill were given by the Royal Naval Cadet Corps,
together with fencing and athletic displays by men
of the Royal Marine Artillery. The Russians
thoroughly enjoyed themselves, and took much
interest in the drill displays, the sword exercises,
and the musical marching by the girls, while they
applauded every item in the programme. A party
HISTORIC SPITHEAD 317
of British sailors was present to fraternise with the
guests, and in every way the concert went off
remarkably well.
Our reception took place on Thursday, and on
the Saturday, the day on which the squadron left, I
received a signal from the Admiral commanding,
asking if a deputation from H.I. M.S. Cesarevitch
could be received. We were, of course, only too
pleased to receive them, little imagining their kind
thoughts to us.
The Evening News says : " The deputation — three
fine stalwart specimens of the Czar's Slav subjects —
were accompanied by an officer to present them
and to act as interpreter. This he did in a charming
manner, bowing very low and kissing hands. He
desired first to thank Miss Weston for receiving
the representatives of the crews, who had come at
the instigation of the men of the fleet to convey the
unanimous appreciation of the whole fleet for the
hospitable reception of over 500 of them in the
beautiful hall at the Royal Sailors' Rest, and to ask
her acceptance of a small gift as a lasting memento
of the hearty friendship the occasion had engendered.
" One of the trio (an electrician) then presented,
with much profound salutation, a handsome silver-
gilt vase inscribed with these words : —
IN MEMORY OF
THE KIND RECEPTION AT THE ROYAL
SAILORS' REST
FROM
THE GRATEFUL CREW OF
T.R.S. CESAREVITCH
3i8 MY LIFE AMONG THE BLUEJACKETS
"The deputation made a complete tour of the
institution, and expressed again and again their
amazement at the vastness, the resources, the
cleanliness, and the organisation of the huge
establishment."
We were all very much touched by the kindness
of our Russian friends, and still more so when we
ascertained that the gift not only came from the
lower-deck of the Cesarevitch, but also from the
lower-deck men of the other ships of the squadron,
and that it had been quite their own thought, and
not in any way prompted by the officers.
The next day we watched the Ccsarevitch, Slava,
Olag, Bogatyr, 2ind Admiral Makaroffy steam majestically
away from Spithead until they were well down in the
horizon. Many good wishes followed them, and
earnest prayer that the 500 copies of Russian
Scriptures scattered through that fleet might be good
seed which in God's time would bring forth fruit in
hearts and lives.
It is remarkable to see how this international work
has opened up, and I hope in the future we shall
be able to continue and perhaps enlarge it in various
ways. As in the case of Japan, one can never tell
whereunto this sort of work may grow ; we can but
sow the seed, and leave the result to a Higher
Power,
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CHAPTER XXV
THE FAMOUS SIGNAL
Amidst all the modern scientific navy there is a ship
at Portsmouth useless for fighting purposes, but
invaluable for the lessons she teaches, and for the
history and poetry that surrounds her — I mean, of
course, Nelson's old flagship, H.M.S. Victory. Thou-
sands of visitors crowd to see her year by year. When
I pointed her out to the Japanese seamen from the
deck of the Kasuga, they prostrated themselves in
reverence. And years ago, when I was allowed to
hold a meeting for the signal lads, in Nelson's cabin
on board the grand old ship, I felt an irresistible
influence — magnetic, one might almost call it — which
seemed to possess me.
On the 2ist of October last I went down to the
dockyard to refresh my eyes and my heart with the
sight of the famous signal flying from the ship, the
same signal hoisted at the main, fore, and mizzen,
that flew on the first Trafalgar Day ; while the garland
aloft commemorated the death of the gallant admiral.
I felt that that signal had a message for me, not only
from my country, but from the Sovereign Ruler of
the world.
An old pensioner, with his sailor son and grand-
sons, feebly climbed the companion, and looking at
319
320 MY LIFE AMONG THE BLUEJACKETS
the signal, about which he waxed eloquent to the
youngsters, crept to the inscription on the quarter-
deck, and, baring his head, placed his wreath over the
words, '' Here Nelson fell." The little scene spoke to
my heart and speaks now, as does the signal.
There is One who has taught us that our duty is
the duty of love, " By love serve " — and the evolve-
ment of love, if we are Christians at all, must blossom
out in our lives. I have found all through my life's
experience that while ways and methods change, and,
we trust, improve, as years roll on, the root principle,
" love," never changes, but " abidetli for ever."
It crops up every day in hundreds of ways — in
letters from relatives and friends all over the country,
asking me to tell them of the whereabouts of the
relatives from whom they have not heard ; letters
from men in all our colonies, and in foreign lands,
recalling old times in the service, and breathing love
and affection ; letters from mothers on all kinds of sub-
jects connected with their sons. And last, and not
least — showing, I suppose, the greatest confidence of
all — letters from men asking me to choose wives for
them from among the many girls well known to me,
feeling sure that as I have helped them on so far, I
will help them in this most important step of all.
And so my work is, to say the least, varied, and
the spirit of love, and, I hope, common sense, runs
through it like a thread of gold.
I am so thankful to see that there seems no cessation
in our onward course under the new regulations.
The navy, as far as organisation is concerned, has
entirely changed, and the system of working our two
great Societies, the R.N.T.S. and R.N.C.U., has had
THE FAMOUS SIGNAL 321
to be rearranged to follow the changes in the service.
By the help of an earnest naval ofticer this reorgani-
sation has been, and is being carried out, with ex-
cellent results.
A great deal of work, which I hope will increase in
the future, is opening out at Chatham. We have a
capital wives' branch of the K.N.T.S., and both our
naval men and their wives are doing right well. All
this indicates life and virility ; and the work of
the bluejacket is splendid, not only at the ports, but
on board ship, and all over the world.
It seems strange, but it is true sometimes, that
just a word or a sentence spoken will go on sounding
in the heart of another when we have forgotten all
about it.
One of my bluejacket friends O" a shooting ex-
pedition once got lost in a jungle, and separated
from his comjianions. He wandered for hours,
and then found himself at the spot from which he
started. Night came on ; his matches had been
spoiled from jumping into the water to help pull
the boat ashore, he could not light a fire or smoke,
and as he camped on the ground he heard the low
growling of wild beasts in the jungle.
His rifle lay beside him at full cock. But sup-
pose a beast of prey leaped upon him from the rear ?
The thought sent a cold trickle of icy water down
his spine. "All at once," he said afterwards, "the
Sailors' Rest seemed to stand before me, and I heard
your voice saying 'Always trust God' — only three
words, but it was enough 1 committed myself to
Him, and although the wild beasts came near me
they never touched me. After a time, resting on
X
322 MY LIFE AMONG THE BLUEJACKETS
these words like a pillow, I fell asleep, and was
roused by a loud halloo at dawn.
" ' Here you are then, Jim ; we've found you.'
And all danger was past. Can you wonder that I've
decided to trust God about everything ? "
This sounds strange. What is it ? Memory ?
Telepathy ? What ? God used some of His natural
laws to convey a message to that man's inner con-
sciousness, a telegram to his spirit. The storehouse
of memory is wonderful, and I am sure that this
true story will cheer any worker who may be
reading it.
One of the incidents in Nelson's life, well known
to all, has often been a help to me. In one of the
naval battles, it will be remembered, he was anxious
to press the fight to a conclusion, and was ranging
alongside his enemy's ship to rake her fore and
aft, when the Commander-in-Chief hoisted the signal,
" Cease firing." This was reported to him by his
signal lieutenant. Nelson put his telescope to his
blind eye, and, gazing for a moment, he called out,
" I see no signal ; down with the helm and give her a
broadside."
As I look back I can remember when many
friends more fitted to judge than I could be, hoisted
the signal to " Cease firing " — worldly people who
did not care to associate with me, unless I gave up
an eccentric life, and conformed more to the habits
of society ; Christian people, who disapproved of my
methods of conducting the work, and who wished it
done in their own way ; some who desired to stop
all entertainments and recreations, to put away all
games, and to hoist the piano out of the window.
THE FAMOUS SIGNAL 323
Others wished all religious work of every kind
stopped as uncongenial and morose. Others, again,
ran a tilt against the conducting of the Sailors' Rests
on temperance lines, and others wished me to hand
over the money given to me to spend for the good
of bluejackets to the bluejackets themselves, who,
" of course, knew better than any one else what they
liked."
All these were orders in various ways to " Cease
firing" but I have always put the telescope to my
blind eye, and have gone ahead, and the result has
been certainly beyond my expectations.
The fable of ^^i^sop, of the old man and his ass, is
often enacted in real life with the same result, that
no one is pleased, and the ass is lost into the bargain.
I do not presume to think that my way of working
is the best, but as 1 look back over my life I can say
with all humility that I feel that I have been led on
step by step by God, otherwise I could have done
nothing ; and feeling sure of this, I take my orders
from the great Commander-in-Chief above. I hope
that I am ready to take advice from any one, but
whether that advice would be acted upon I can-
not say.
I am surrounded and supported by a splendid
body of Trustees, I have a staff of workers, ladies
and others, second to none ; we are all of one heart
and of one soul, and we know how " to haul upon
one rope."
The Holy Book, which reveals to us the personal
Saviour and the presence and power of the Holy
Spirit, is the fcnuulation, and, as the late Empress
Frederick remarked to me, " Hie crown 0/ our work."
324 MY LIFE AMONG THE BLUEJACKETS
Our Sailors' Rests are wonderful witnesses to the
faithfulness of God, in so far that He made two very
simple women strong to overcome all difficulties,
monetary and otherwise, and enabled us to start and
to carry on this work, ashore and afloat, for so many
years.
I did not leave my home and give my means
and all else to make the Sailors' Rests into clubs,
but my desire has been to give them Christian
homes, where they could come when ashore for
refreshment for body, soul, and spirit — for 1 take it
that every man is composed of these essential parts
— and in these homes that they should have freedom
to come and to go ; food for the body in abundance;
teaching for the mind and morals, through books,
lectures, lanterns, discussions, and all else that can
be thought of ; and last, but not least, spiritual help
and teaching in the simple presentation of the Lord
Jesus Christ as God and Saviour, Pilot and Captain,
through life to eternity.
After forty years' work among the bluejackets of
the Royal Navy 1 feel, as I look back on the voyage
behind, and forward into the glow of the western
sun, that God's Hand has been on the tiller. The
little seed of the past has grown into the great tree
of the present, and its influence extends all over
the world. A sober navy is a National Insurance.
Given sobriety and there is nothing that the British
bluejacket will not do or dare.
The Royal Naval Temperance Society y the uphill work
of so many years, is under the direct patronage
of the Lords of the Admiralty, and numbers among
its patrons H.R.H. the Prince of Wales, Admiral Sir
THE FAMOUS SIGNAL 325
John Fisher, Admiral the Hon. A. G. Curzon-Howe,
Admiral Lord Charles Beresford, Admiral Sir Charles
Drury, Admiral H.S.H. Prince Louis of Battcnberg,
and other distinguished oOicers. Its president is
Admiral G. F. King Hall, C.V.O.
This Society and the Royal Naval Christian Union,
hand in hand, and numbering some 25,000 members
scattered all over the world, have their headquarters
at the Royal Sailors' Rests. I provide all the funds
and generally superintend the work. The number
of packets and parcels of literature, including the
monthly issue of Ashore and Afloat and Monthly
Letters, amount to 225,236, a large number to send
out during the year ; these go to ships and sailors
all over the world, and are read with pleasure, and I
hope witli profit ; the weight of this large output of
reading matter amounts to 40 tons, 10 cwt. every
year.
The Royal Sailors' Rests — so well known at
Devonport and Portsmouth — have over 1400 beds
between them. The grand totals of men sleep-
ing on these premises last year reached the follow-
ing remarkable iigures — 352,384. These figures
show the popularity of the Sailors' Rests without
further remarks. There seems a growing tend-
ency nowadays to start sailors' homes and clubs
with a drinking bar, on the ground that if intoxi-
cating drink is not supplied that men will not
come.
The figures that we give prove this to be an utter
fallacy. Homes without strong drink can, by proper
management, be made much more popular than
homes with drink, and surely if this is the case, what
326 MY LIFE AMONG THE BLUEJACKETS
can be the need to add another pubHc-house to the
numbers already existing.
If our Royal Sailors' Rests have done nothing else,
they demonstrate clearly that the bluejacket of the
twentieth century does not need the attractions of
strong drink ; and, indeed, men constantly say how
glad they are that such things are excluded from our
homes.
Christmas 1908 was a happy time to me. Letters
from all parts of the world poured in, with flowers
and illuminated addresses from my naval friends
and their wives. But first and foremost I was
honoured by a letter from His Majesty the King,
which he was graciously pleased to send me. It
was quite unexpected, and therefore all the more
valuable. The portrait spoken of by His Majesty
duly arrived, with the Royal signature affixed. The
King is in the uniform of a British admiral, and it is
a speaking likeness.
I need not say how highly it will be treasured,
with the letter that accompanied it, which I am sure
that I have His Majesty's permission to give.
The letter is written by command of the King : —
" Sandringham, 2ird December 1908.
^^ From General Sir Dighton Probyn.
To Miss Agnes Weston,
Royal Sailors' Rest, Portsmouth.
" Dear Madam, — / wrile by command of the King
to send you His Majesty's best thanks for your letter, and
for the Report and copy of your book which accom-
panied it,
" The King further commands me to say that nobody
THE FAMOUS SIGNAL 327
is better aware of, nor more thoroughly appreciates, the
great work you have done for the British sailor, and for
their wives and children also, than His Majesty is, and he
thanks you sincerely for the same.
" I am by the King's command sending you a signed
photograph of His Majesty, which he wishes you to accept
as a small token of his gratitude to you for your noble
services. I am to add at the same time His Majesty's
fervent hope that you may yet long be spared to your
country to carry on this great work to which you have
given so many years of your life. — / remain, dear madam,
yours faithfully,
"D. M. PROBYN,
General,
Keeper of His Majesty's Privy Purse"
This letter, I need not say, was Christmas cheer,
and I was glad indeed that the work that had been
done has merited, and has received, the unstinted
approval of my sovereign.
The King's letter was followed by a sweet and
gracious letter, which I treasure much, from the
Queen, and which I am sure I may venture to give : —
"Sandringham, Norfolk,
" 27M December 1908.
" Dear Miss Weston,—/ have had the pleasure
of subniitting your letter and enclosures to the Queen,
and am commanded by Her Majesty to thank you
very much for so kindly keeping her in touch with
the interesting and invaluable work that you have
carried on for so many years with such wonder-
328 MY LIFE AMONG THE BLUEJACKETS
fid results among the British sailors, their wives, and
families.
" That God may bless and prosper these endeavours
for many a ne^v year is the Queen s most earnest wish
and prayer. — Believe me, yours very truly,
"CHARLOTTE KNOLLYS."
Although a great many years of my Hfe have
passed away I am active and strong, and I look
forward to years of good service, and I shall rejoice
in developments of any kind. I have no idea of
giving up the work that I love so well, and retiring
into a life of leisure and ease.
When I die I should like to die in harness, and to
keep my flag flying to the last — that is, of course,
always supposing that sufficient mental and bodily
health and strength are given me.
I realise every day more and more that it is only
as God works through us that we can do anything ;
and as I look back over my past life I see that since
1876, when the Holy Spirit taught me the great
truth of the indwelling of Christ, that success has
crowned this work in an unparalleled manner ; the
failures and mistakes have been mine, and the glory
is God's.
I rejoice that I live among my own people. Our
men, their wives and children, are around me ; their
interests are my interests, and their best welfare my
aim and my prayer. I have seen the girls and boys
of our Guild and Brigade grow up and settle into
homes of their own, in their turn bringing their little
ones for me to see and admire.
THE FAMOUS SIGNAL 329
A tall, bearded, non-commissioned officer in the
Royal Marines cam.e up to speak to me at Devon-
port not long ago. "Do you know," he said, "that
you once took me in your arms ? My mother brought
me up when I was a baby ; she never forgot it, and
how you said that you hoped that I should grow up
to be a help and comfort to her." I looked at my
herculean friend, and felt glad that he could tell me
such a story.
Can you wonder after reading these simple annals
of my life among our bluejackets that I wish nothing
better than to live and die in such happy service,
and that the advice of a nautical friend will, I hope,
be acted upon — " ^/s lo)ig as you have any sca-lei;s
left keep the bridge." Of my past life I can truly
say, "God's Hand has been upon the Tiller."
Printed by r.ALLANTVNK, Hanson .<-» Ca
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BOSWORTH SMITH
A MEMOIR
By his Daughter, Lady Grogan
With Photogravure Portrait and other Illustrations.
Demy Svo, los. 6d. net.
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many notable friends he counted both at Harrow and in the
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MY RECOLLECTIONS
BY
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With Photogravure Portrait and other Illustrations.
Large crown 8vo, 6s, net.
Mr. Eugene Stock has long been known for
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AN IMPRESSIVE BIOGRAPHY
LIFE OF
CANON FLEMING
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Large crown 8vo, 6s. net ; postage 4d.
The Daily Telegraph says : — " Its best claim upon the wide
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