Thomas Fleming Day

 

Thomas Fleming Day [1907]

Whose Zoo in Yachting

Near-Biographies of Prominent Yachtsmen

Thomas Fleming Day (poet, publicist and, by Special Patent, Parole Painter to the Heavenly Wonders -- Sunrise, Sunset and Full Moon) was born a British subject and is a born sailor. While still young, the Dawning Day obeyed the siren call of the sea and traversed its vast depths from corner to corner, and back to corner again. Eventually he was cornered in New York where he lives a natural life although never naturalized. There he launched that now stately packet of which he still remains unrivaled in his sphere, the "old man" Pa Excellence. Upon her sternboard at first there was emblazoned "With Rudder, Sail and Paddle," a name that the rigors of commercialism, and the forgetories of the negligee subscribers, have contracted to its present form — The Rudder. Maintaining his position upon her quarterdeck through every condensation and vicissitude the never waning Day still has his say, firing away at ev'ry lake, ev'ry bay, in ev'ry sea where yachtsmen lay, from India's strand to Ioway, he bids us stay and tribute pay -- "Calloo, kallay, Oh! frabjous Day!"

Mr. Day has filled with well considered zeal many arduous positions of a quasi-public character such as, Guardian-ad-fight-'em of the Central Park Sailors, an uncharitable organization for the invalid chair fleet; Exposer of the Fairweather Cruising Club; Advance Agent on the Bermuda Onion Races; and Promoter of the Lark, Swallow & Sea Bird Hot Air Line, Unlimited.

An Incessant and voluminous writer, Mr. Day has published many works, those of the most promissory note being his great series -- "How to Have a Lark For Fifty Cents"; "How to Build a Dolphin Striker," and "How to See Birds," or, "One, Swallow Does Not Make a Cruiser."

These examples of pellucid exposition entitle their author to high honor but are generally overlooked on account of his rank in fiction. There the wonderful development of his imagination is well illustrated by such tales as "Blown Off Shore in the Scoot"; "Circulation Stories," and "Are You On Series." But it is as a poet Mr. Day takes his highest place and his epicurean flights surpass Byron at his best. "Songs of See and Sell," and "The Rocking Chere Fleet," appeal to every yachtsman that ever wore pink silk shirt or ever shivered his timbers.

An optimist, critic, small boat enthusiast, deep sea sailor, and ever a force for the upbuilding, broadening of yachting -- that is the whole twenty-four hours of the inimitable Day.

(Transcribed from Boating, July 1907, p. 41. )

[Thanks to Greg Calkins for help in preparing this page. — LF]