And what country can preserve its liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms. The remedy is to set them right as to facts, pardon and pacify them. What signify a few lives lost in a century or two? The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.
There's a reason that early steam powered ships swept the old wind powered ships from the sea. It's expensive to pay and support the large crews needed to work those sails. And the wear and tear on the rigging and wooden hulls required frequent rebuilds. In a book on the Flying Cloud, a chapter described the dinner McKay gave when the ship returned from it's record breaking trip to the Orient. The centerpiece of the table was a hardwood wedge that had been removed from the ship on it's return. It was part of the system of wedges that supported and braced the masts.
Diners could shove their hands into the block of wood and pull out fibers by the handful, the stress and constant working of the mast had crushed the wedge. The ship was heavily rebuild in-between each voyage .
White buffalos are the breaking wave tops in a fresh gale and above. The cloud is the acres of canvas charging across the seas under the command of sinewed men.
Meeting at sea is a wholesome sight. The heart leaps. Grand is the image of the cloud rising the horizon. Ever nearer, ever larger. Magnificent.
Commerce was the cause of these great clouds. Commerce was what done them in. Birthed and died in that same bosom.
That's a lot of sail!
ReplyDeleteHoly moly. You ain't kidding!
DeleteThere's a reason that early steam powered ships swept the old wind powered ships from the sea. It's expensive to pay and support the large crews needed to work those sails. And the wear and tear on the rigging and wooden hulls required frequent rebuilds.
ReplyDeleteIn a book on the Flying Cloud, a chapter described the dinner McKay gave when the ship returned from it's record breaking trip to the Orient. The centerpiece of the table was a hardwood wedge that had been removed from the ship on it's return. It was part of the system of wedges that supported and braced the masts.
Diners could shove their hands into the block of wood and pull out fibers by the handful, the stress and constant working of the mast had crushed the wedge.
The ship was heavily rebuild in-between each voyage .
Iron and coal was cheaper.
White buffalos are the breaking wave tops in a fresh gale and above. The cloud is the acres of canvas charging across the seas under the command of sinewed men.
ReplyDeleteMeeting at sea is a wholesome sight. The heart leaps. Grand is the image of the cloud rising the horizon. Ever nearer, ever larger. Magnificent.
Commerce was the cause of these great clouds. Commerce was what done them in. Birthed and died in that same bosom.
Me stinks you consider yourself a poet.
DeleteMe agrees with you.
Actually, rarely am I struck with prose worth remembering. The way it comes to me is as a blessing. That is, I am only the messenger.
DeleteHowever, this one came by me remembering an event while on ocean passage.
Thanks.
Makes me think of the O'Brian series
ReplyDeleteI haven’t seen Costco sell TP in this manner. Must be a right coast thing? I dunno. Legio XIX
ReplyDelete