Among the numerous artists and professors of polite trades in the Navy, none are held in higher estimation or drive a more profitable business than these barbers. And it may well be imagined that the five hundred heads of hair and five hundred beards of a frigate5 should furnish no small employment for those to whose faithful care they may be intrusted. As everything connected with the domestic affairs of a man-of-war comes under the supervision6 of the martial7 executive, so certain barbers are formally licensed8 by the First Lieutenant9. The better to attend to the profitable duties of their calling, they are exempted10 from all ship's duty except that of standing11 night-watches at sea, mustering12 at quarters, and coming on deck when all hands are called. They are rated as able seamen13 or ordinary seamen, and receive their wages as such; but in addition to this, they are liberally recompensed for their professional services. Herein their rate of pay is fixed14 for every sailor manipulated—so much per quarter, which is charged to the sailor, and credited to his barber on the books of the Purser.
It has been seen that while a man-of-war barber is shaving his customers at so much per chin, his wages as a seaman15 are still running on, which makes him a sort of sleeping partner of a sailor; nor are the sailor wages he receives altogether to be reckoned as earnings16. Considering the circumstances, however, not much objection can be made to the barbers on this score. But there were instances of men in the Neversink receiving government money in part pay for work done for private individuals. Among these were several accomplished17 tailors, who nearly the whole cruise sat cross-legged on the half deck, making coats, pantaloons, and vests for the quarter-deck officers. Some of these men, though knowing little or nothing about sailor duties, and seldom or never performing them, stood upon the ship's books as ordinary seamen, entitled to ten dollars a month. Why was this? Previous to shipping18 they had divulged19 the fact of their being tailors. True, the officers who employed them upon their wardrobes paid them for their work, but some of them in such a way as to elicit20 much grumbling21 from the tailors. At any rate, these makers22 and menders of clothes did not receive from some of these officers an amount equal to what they could have fairly earned ashore23 by doing the same work. It was a considerable saving to the officers to have their clothes made on board.
The men belonging to the carpenter's gang furnished another case in point. There were some six or eight allotted24 to this department. All the cruise they were hard at work. At what? Mostly making chests of drawers, canes25, little ships and schooners26, swifts, and other elaborated trifles, chiefly for the Captain. What did the Captain pay them for their trouble? Nothing. But the United States government paid them; two of them (the mates) at nineteen dollars a month, and the rest receiving the pay of able seamen, twelve dollars.
To return.
The regular days upon which the barbers shall exercise their vocation27 are set down on the ship's calendar, and known as shaving days. On board of the Neversink these days are Wednesdays and Saturdays; when, immediately after breakfast, the barbers' shops were opened to customers. They were in different parts of the gun-deck, between the long twenty-four pounders. Their furniture, however, was not very elaborate, hardly equal to the sumptuous28 appointments of metropolitan29 barbers. Indeed, it merely consisted of a match-tub, elevated upon a shot-box, as a barber's chair for the patient. No Psyche30 glasses; no hand-mirror; no ewer31 and basin; no comfortable padded footstool; nothing, in short, that makes a shore "shave" such a luxury.
Nor are the implements32 of these man-of-war barbers out of keeping with the rude appearance of their shops. Their razors are of the simplest patterns, and, from their jagged-ness, would seem better fitted for the preparing and harrowing of the soil than for the ultimate reaping of the crop. But this is no matter for wonder, since so many chins are to be shaven, and a razor-case holds but two razors. For only two razors does a man-of-war barber have, and, like the marine33 sentries34 at the gangway in port, these razors go off and on duty in rotation35. One brush, too, brushes every chin, and one lather36 lathers37 them all. No private brushes and boxes; no reservations whatever.
As it would be altogether too much trouble for a man-of-war's-man to keep his own shaving-tools and shave himself at sea, and since, therefore, nearly the whole ship's company patronise the ship's barbers, and as the seamen must be shaven by evening quarters of the days appointed for the business, it may be readily imagined what a scene of bustle38 and confusion there is when the razors are being applied39. First come, first served, is the motto; and often you have to wait for hours together, sticking to your position (like one of an Indian file of merchants' clerks getting letters out of the post-office), ere you have a chance to occupy the pedestal of the match-tub. Often the crowd of quarrelsome candidates wrangle41 and fight for precedency, while at all times the interval42 is employed by the garrulous43 in every variety of ship-gossip.
As the shaving days are unalterable, they often fall upon days of high seas and tempestuous44 winds, when the vessel45 pitches and rolls in a frightful46 manner. In consequence, many valuable lives are jeopardised from the razor being plied40 under such untoward47 circumstances. But these sea-barbers pride themselves upon their sea-legs, and often you will see them standing over their patients with their feet wide apart, and scientifically swaying their bodies to the motion of the ship, as they flourish their edge-tools about the lips, nostrils48, and jugular49.
As I looked upon the practitioner50 and patient at such times, I could not help thinking that, if the sailor had any insurance on his life, it would certainly be deemed forfeited51 should the president of the company chance to lounge by and behold52 him in that imminent53 peril54. For myself, I accounted it an excellent preparation for going into a sea-fight, where fortitude55 in standing up to your gun and running the risk of all splinters, comprise part of the practical qualities that make up an efficient man-of-war's man.
It remains56 to be related, that these barbers of ours had their labours considerably57 abridged58 by a fashion prevailing59 among many of the crew, of wearing very large whiskers; so that, in most cases, the only parts needing a shave were the upper lip and suburbs of the chin. This had been more or less the custom during the whole three years' cruise; but for some time previous to our weathering Cape60 Horn, very many of the seamen had redoubled their assiduity in cultivating their beards preparatory to their return to America. There they anticipated creating no small impression by their immense and magnificent homeward-bounders—so they called the long fly-brushes at their chins. In particular, the more aged61 sailors, embracing the Old Guard of sea grenadiers on the forecastle, and the begrimed gunner's mates and quarter-gunners, sported most venerable beards of an exceeding length and hoariness62, like long, trailing moss63 hanging from the bough64 of some aged oak. Above all, the Captain of the Forecastle, old Ushant—a fine specimen65 of a sea sexagenarian—wore a wide, spreading beard, gizzled and grey, that flowed over his breast and often became tangled66 and knotted with tar67. This Ushant, in all weathers, was ever alert at his duty; intrepidly68 mounting the fore-yard in a gale69, his long beard streaming like Neptune's. Off Cape Horn it looked like a miller's, being all over powdered with frost; sometimes it glittered with minute icicles in the pale, cold, moonlit Patagonian nights. But though he was so active in time of tempest, yet when his duty did not call for exertion70, he was a remarkably71 staid, reserved, silent, and majestic72 old man, holding himself aloof73 from noisy revelry, and never participating in the boisterous74 sports of the crew. He resolutely75 set his beard against their boyish frolickings, and often held forth76 like an oracle77 concerning the vanity thereof. Indeed, at times he was wont78 to talk philosophy to his ancient companions—the old sheet-anchor-men around him—as well as to the hare-brained tenants79 of the fore-top, and the giddy lads in the mizzen.
Nor was his philosophy to be despised; it abounded80 in wisdom. For this Ushant was an old man, of strong natural sense, who had seen nearly the whole terraqueous globe, and could reason of civilized81 and savage82, of Gentile and Jew, of Christian83 and Moslem84. The long night-watches of the sailor are eminently85 adapted to draw out the reflective faculties86 of any serious-minded man, however humble87 or uneducated. Judge, then, what half a century of battling out watches on the ocean must have done for this fine old tar. He was a sort of a sea-Socrates, in his old age "pouring out his last philosophy and life," as sweet Spenser has it; and I never could look at him, and survey his right reverend beard, without bestowing88 upon him that title which, in one of his satires89, Persius gives to the immortal90 quaffer91 of the hemlock—Magister Barbatus—the bearded master.
Not a few of the ship's company had also bestowed92 great pains upon their hair, which some of them—especially the genteel young sailor bucks93 of the After-guard—wore over their shoulders like the ringleted Cavaliers. Many sailors, with naturally tendril locks, prided themselves upon what they call love curls, worn at the side of the head, just before the ear—a custom peculiar94 to tars95, and which seems to have filled the vacated place of the old-fashioned Lord Rodney cue, which they used to wear some fifty years ago.
But there were others of the crew labouring under the misfortune of long, lank96, Winnebago locks, carroty bunches of hair, or rebellious97 bristles98 of a sandy hue99. Ambitious of redundant100 mops, these still suffered their carrots to grow, spite of all ridicule101. They looked like Huns and Scandinavians; and one of them, a young Down Easter, the unenvied proprietor102 of a thick crop of inflexible103 yellow bamboos, went by the name of Peter the Wild Boy; for, like Peter the Wild Boy in France, it was supposed that he must have been caught like a catamount in the pine woods of Maine. But there were many fine, flowing heads of hair to counter-balance such sorry exhibitions as Peter's.
What with long whiskers and venerable beards, then, of every variety of cut—Charles the Fifth's and Aurelian's—and endless goatees and imperials; and what with abounding104 locks, our crew seemed a company of Merovingians or Long-haired kings, mixed with savage Lombards or Longobardi, so called from their lengthy105 beards.
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1
allusion
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| n.暗示，间接提示 | |
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conspicuous
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| adj.明眼的，惹人注目的；炫耀的，摆阔气的 | |
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enacted
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| 制定（法律），通过（法案）( enact的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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tragical
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| adj. 悲剧的, 悲剧性的 | |
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5
frigate
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| n.护航舰，大型驱逐舰 | |
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supervision
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| n.监督，管理 | |
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martial
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| adj.战争的，军事的，尚武的，威武的 | |
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licensed
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| adj.得到许可的v.许可，颁发执照(license的过去式和过去分词) | |
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lieutenant
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| n.陆军中尉，海军上尉；代理官员，副职官员 | |
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exempted
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| 使免除[豁免]( exempt的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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12
mustering
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| v.集合，召集，集结（尤指部队）( muster的现在分词 )；（自他人处）搜集某事物；聚集；激发 | |
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seamen
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| n.海员 | |
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fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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seaman
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| n.海员，水手，水兵 | |
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earnings
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| n.工资收人；利润，利益，所得 | |
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17
accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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shipping
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| n.船运（发货，运输，乘船） | |
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divulged
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| v.吐露，泄露( divulge的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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20
elicit
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| v.引出,抽出,引起 | |
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grumbling
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| adj. 喃喃鸣不平的, 出怨言的 | |
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22
makers
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| n.制造者，制造商（maker的复数形式） | |
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23
ashore
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| adv.在(向)岸上，上岸 | |
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allotted
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| 分配，拨给，摊派( allot的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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canes
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| n.（某些植物，如竹或甘蔗的）茎( cane的名词复数 )；（用于制作家具等的）竹竿；竹杖 | |
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schooners
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| n.（有两个以上桅杆的）纵帆船( schooner的名词复数 ) | |
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vocation
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| n.职业，行业 | |
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28
sumptuous
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| adj.豪华的，奢侈的，华丽的 | |
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metropolitan
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| adj.大城市的，大都会的 | |
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psyche
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| n.精神；灵魂 | |
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ewer
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| n.大口水罐 | |
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32
implements
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| n.工具( implement的名词复数 )；家具；手段；[法律]履行（契约等）v.实现( implement的第三人称单数 )；执行；贯彻；使生效 | |
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marine
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| adj.海的；海生的；航海的；海事的；n.水兵 | |
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34
sentries
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| 哨兵，步兵( sentry的名词复数 ) | |
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35
rotation
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| n.旋转；循环，轮流 | |
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36
lather
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| n.(肥皂水的)泡沫，激动 | |
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lathers
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| n.肥皂泡( lather的名词复数 )；紧张；激动；（马的）汗沫v.（指肥皂）形成泡沫( lather的第三人称单数 )；用皂沫覆盖；狠狠地打 | |
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38
bustle
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| v.喧扰地忙乱，匆忙，奔忙；n.忙碌；喧闹 | |
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39
applied
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| adj.应用的；v.应用，适用 | |
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40
plied
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| v.使用（工具）( ply的过去式和过去分词 )；经常供应（食物、饮料）；固定往来；经营生意 | |
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41
wrangle
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| vi.争吵 | |
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42
interval
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| n.间隔，间距；幕间休息，中场休息 | |
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43
garrulous
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| adj.唠叨的，多话的 | |
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44
tempestuous
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| adj.狂暴的 | |
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45
vessel
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| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
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46
frightful
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| adj.可怕的；讨厌的 | |
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47
untoward
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| adj.不利的，不幸的，困难重重的 | |
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48
nostrils
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| 鼻孔( nostril的名词复数 ) | |
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49
jugular
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| n.颈静脉 | |
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50
practitioner
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| n.实践者，从事者；(医生或律师等)开业者 | |
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51
forfeited
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| （因违反协议、犯规、受罚等）丧失，失去( forfeit的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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52
behold
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| v.看，注视，看到 | |
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53
imminent
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| adj.即将发生的，临近的，逼近的 | |
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54
peril
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| n.(严重的)危险；危险的事物 | |
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55
fortitude
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| n.坚忍不拔；刚毅 | |
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56
remains
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| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
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57
considerably
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| adv.极大地；相当大地；在很大程度上 | |
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58
abridged
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| 削减的，删节的 | |
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59
prevailing
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| adj.盛行的；占优势的；主要的 | |
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60
cape
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| n.海角，岬；披肩，短披风 | |
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61
aged
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| adj.年老的，陈年的 | |
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hoariness
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| n.灰白，老年；古老 | |
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moss
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| n.苔，藓，地衣 | |
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bough
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| n.大树枝，主枝 | |
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specimen
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| n.样本，标本 | |
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66
tangled
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| adj. 纠缠的，紊乱的 动词tangle的过去式和过去分词 | |
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67
tar
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| n.柏油，焦油；vt.涂或浇柏油/焦油于 | |
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intrepidly
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| adv.无畏地，勇猛地 | |
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gale
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| n.大风，强风，一阵闹声（尤指笑声等） | |
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exertion
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| n.尽力，努力 | |
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remarkably
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| ad.不同寻常地，相当地 | |
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72
majestic
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| adj.雄伟的，壮丽的，庄严的，威严的，崇高的 | |
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73
aloof
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| adj.远离的；冷淡的，漠不关心的 | |
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boisterous
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| adj.喧闹的，欢闹的 | |
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75
resolutely
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| adj.坚决地，果断地 | |
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76
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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77
oracle
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| n.神谕，神谕处，预言 | |
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wont
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| adj.习惯于；v.习惯；n.习惯 | |
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79
tenants
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| n.房客( tenant的名词复数 )；佃户；占用者；占有者 | |
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80
abounded
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| v.大量存在，充满，富于( abound的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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81
civilized
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| a.有教养的，文雅的 | |
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82
savage
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| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
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83
Christian
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| adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒 | |
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84
Moslem
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| n.回教徒，穆罕默德信徒；adj.回教徒的，回教的 | |
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85
eminently
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| adv.突出地；显著地；不寻常地 | |
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86
faculties
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| n.能力( faculty的名词复数 )；全体教职员；技巧；院 | |
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87
humble
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| adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低 | |
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88
bestowing
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| 砖窑中砖堆上层已烧透的砖 | |
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89
satires
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| 讽刺，讥讽( satire的名词复数 )； 讽刺作品 | |
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90
immortal
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| adj.不朽的；永生的，不死的；神的 | |
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91
quaffer
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92
bestowed
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| 赠给，授予( bestow的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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93
bucks
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| n.雄鹿( buck的名词复数 )；钱；（英国十九世纪初的）花花公子；（用于某些表达方式）责任v.（马等）猛然弓背跃起( buck的第三人称单数 )；抵制；猛然震荡；马等尥起后蹄跳跃 | |
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94
peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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95
tars
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| 焦油，沥青，柏油( tar的名词复数 ) | |
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96
lank
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| adj.瘦削的；稀疏的 | |
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97
rebellious
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| adj.造反的，反抗的，难控制的 | |
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98
bristles
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| 短而硬的毛发，刷子毛( bristle的名词复数 ) | |
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99
hue
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| n.色度；色调；样子 | |
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100
redundant
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| adj.多余的，过剩的；(食物)丰富的；被解雇的 | |
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101
ridicule
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| v.讥讽，挖苦；n.嘲弄 | |
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102
proprietor
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| n.所有人；业主；经营者 | |
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103
inflexible
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| adj.不可改变的，不受影响的，不屈服的 | |
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104
abounding
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| adj.丰富的，大量的v.大量存在，充满，富于( abound的现在分词 ) | |
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105
lengthy
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| adj.漫长的，冗长的 | |
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