Титаник
Chapter 17
Themenwhodidtheworkoftheshipwerenocomposite,highlydrilledbodylikethemeninthenavywho,isolatedformonthsatatimeandausterelydisciplined,areeducatedintoanespritdecorpsandsenseofresponsibilitythatmakethemwilling,inmomentsofemergency,tosacrificeindividualsafetytothehonouroftheshipandoftheServicetowhichtheybelong.Thesestokers,stewards,andseamenweretheordinaryscratchcrew,signedonatSouthamptonforoneroundtriptoNewYorkandback;mostofthemhadneverseeneachotherortheirofficersbefore;theyhadnoneofthetrainingorthesecuritiesaffordedbyagreatnationalservice;theyweresimplyespeciallyinthecaseofthestokersmensolowinthecommunitythattheywereabletolivenopleasanterlifethanthataffordedbythestokeholdofashipaninfernoofdarknessandnoiseandcommotionandinsufferableheatmenwhoseexperienceofthegoodthingsoflifewashalfanhour’sbreathingoftheopenseaairbetweentheirspellsoflabouratthefurnaces,oradrunkenspreeashorewhence,afterbeingpoisonedbycheapdrinkandrobbedbyjoylesswomenofthefruitsoftheirspelloflabour,theyareobligedtoreturntoitagaintofindthemeansforanotherdebauch.Notthestuffoutofwhichonewouldexpectanaustereheroismtobeevolved.
