THE SHIP'S STEWARD AND HIS DUTY.
[From "Life on a Liner," in Leslie's Monthly for May.] A STEWARD is nothing more or less than a combination waiter and chambermaid. His duties begin an hour before breakfast, by all rights, inasmuch as it should take him that time at least to brush up his blue or black uniform, shave, make his hands neat, and shine his shoes. He is supposed to wear a spotless and expansive bosom to his shirt, clean collar, and black or white tie. I do not think I ever saw but two stewards who had shirts; all the others used a dickey for the sake of economy. Waiting on the passengers at table, the care of the tables, the care of the silverware, and a certain amount of dishwashing and pantry work, make up the steward's dining-room duties. The other half is work in the staterooms, making the beds, straightening up the rooms, and doing the general work of a chambermaid, as well as giving a certain amount of attendance to the occupants of the rooms. The pay is very poor, and the principal dependence of the steward is on the tips he receives. They are really the poorest paid class that goes to sea in one way, and yet I have known men to make £40 in tips on a six weeks' voyage.