It is not to be supposed that the only road to success was through the galley doors.  I do not mean that at all.  There were scores of men that became shipmasters on our north-east coast who never sought the opportunity of figuring in the galley, and even if they had they could not have cooked a potato without spoiling it!  It has long been a saying among sailors that “God sends grub and the devil sends cooks,” and the saying is quite as true to-day as it was when cooks had not the advantages they have now of attending cookery classes.  I merely relate the story of how a number of these men of the middle of last century added to their incomes in order that they might not stint their families of the necessaries of life, and at the same time might put aside a little each voyage until they had accumulated sufficient to enable them to stay ashore and pass the necessary examination.  How a certain section of these men acquired their diplomas will always be a mystery to themselves and to those who knew of them.  They were sailors every inch, and they claimed no higher distinction.  It would be ridiculous to suppose that they were representative of the higher order of captain.  With these they had nothing in common.  Indeed, they were a distinct race, that disdained throwing off forecastle manners; whereas the higher type of captain, wherever he went, carried with him a bright, gentlemanly intelligence that commanded respect.  The higher class of man nearly always soared high in search of a wife, not so much in point of fortune as in goodness, education, useful intellectual attainment—­a lady in fact, combining domestic qualities compatible with his position.  The merely intellectual person did not appeal to him.  It was rational culture he sought for, a companionable woman indeed, who could use her hands as well as her head.  Sometimes their judgment erred, and carried them into a vortex of misery.

The swift pulsations of a generous heart generally do lead to trouble if not well steadied by sound judgment.  One of the most pathetic instances of this I have ever heard of occurred to a man who was high up in his profession.  I knew him well.  He was held in high esteem by his many friends.  But his big soul was too much for him.  He made the acquaintance of a young lady who intoxicated his fancy.  She was beautiful:  a quick, attractive girl of twenty-one, who could talk brightly of things that excited his attention.  Soon she told him a piteous tale of domestic trouble.  She was an artist in words and facial expression.  Her whole being was indicative of a guileless life.  One morning by appointment they met to say goodbye, for he was to sail from London that afternoon in command of a large vessel on a long voyage.  She was brimming over with sparkling wit that overjoyed him.  She skilfully hinted of marriage on his return, and playfully adjured that he should not allow other attractions when he was abroad to lessen his affection for her.