Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1854-09-01
Old Ocean.


Old Ocean.
No man, the proverb says is hero to his valet de
chambre. Certainly no poet, no hero, no inspired
prophet ever lost so much near acquaintance as
this same mystic, grandiloquent Old Ocean. The one
step from the sublime to the ridiculous ispever taken
with such alacrity as in sea voyage.
In the first place. it is melancholy hct, but not
the less rue that ship life is not at all fragrant
In short, particularly on steamer, there is most
mournfpl combination of grease, steam, onons and
dinners general, either past, present, or to come,
which, floating inysiby in the atmosphere strongly
predsposes to that disgust of existence which, In
half hour after sailing, begins to come upon you
that disgust, that strange, mysterious, neabe SEN
saon which steals slowly and nexplicably upon you,
which makes every heaving billow, every white
capped wave, the ship the people, the sight, taste,
sound, and smell of every thing matter of mex
pressibe loathing Man cannot utter it.
1t is really amusing to watch the gradual progress
OF this epidemic: to people stepping Oh board in
the highest possible feather alert, airy, nmble, para
ding the deck, chatty, conyersable the best pos
sible terms with themselves and mankind generally
- the treacherous ship meanwhile unduating and
heavng in the most graceful rises and pauses magl-
nable, like some voluptuous waltzer-and then to see
one after another yielding to the mysterious spell
Your poet launches forth, " full of sentiment sub
lime as bows" discoursing magnifcently on the
color of the waves and the glory of the clouds but
gradually he grows white about the mouth gives
sidelong looks towards the stairway: at last, with
one desperate plunge, he sets to rise more
Here sits stout gentleman, who looks resolute
an oak log. 6 These things are much The effect
of imagination he tells you "a little selfcontrol
and resolution" sc. All me ii is delightful when
these people, who are always talking about resolu-
man said to the Mississippi river, about The steam
boat they "get their match Our stout gentleman
sits quarter of an hour, upright palm tree his
back squared against the rails pretending TO be read
ing paper; but dismal look of disgust is settling
down about his lips; the old sea and his will are
evidently having pitched battle All, ah there
he goes for the stairway says he has left book in
the cabin, but shoots by with most suspicious
ocity You may fancy his finale.
Then of course, there young ladies, charming
creatures, who in about ten minutes going 10 die,
and they shall die, and don't care if they
do; whom anxious papas, brothers, lovers
Consgn with all speed to those dismal lower regions,
where the brisk chambermaid, who has been expec-
ting them seems to think their agonies and groans
regular part of the play. ....---
| had come on board, thinking in my simplicity Of
u fortnight to be spent something like the fortnight
on trip to New Orleans, on one OF our tioatl ng
river palaces that should sit in state rooms,
read sew, sketch, and chat; and accordingly laid
in a magnificent provision in the way of literature
and divers matters of fancy work with which to
while away the time. Some last, airy touches, in
the way of making up bows, dispo-ng ribbands, and
binding collarets had been left t. these long leisure
hours matters of amusement.
Let me warn you, if you ever go to sea, you may
as well omit such preparations. Don't leave SO
much the unlocking of trunk 10 be done after
sailing. In the few precious minutes when the ship
stands still before she weighs her anchor, set your
house, that is 10 say, your state room, much in
der as If you were going to be hanged place every
thing In the most convenient position 10 be seized
without trouble at moments notice; for be sure
that in half hour after sailing infinite despera-
ton will seize you, in which the grasshopper
will be burden. If thing is in your trunk it
might almost we'll be in the for any practical
probability of your getting to it.
Moreover, let your toilet be emnontly simple, for
or arrange ruff will be matter of absolute des-
pair You lie discOnsolae in your berth, only des-
ring to be let alone die and then if you are told,
as you always are that ''you mustn't give way" that
''you must rouse yourself and come on deck you
will appreciate the value of simple attire With cv-
erythng in year berth diZzily swinging backwards
and forwards your bonnet, your cloak. your tippet
your gloves, all present so many dlscouraglng mpos
sibilities knotted strings cannot be unlied and
modes of fastening which seemed curious and conven
lent when you had nothing else 10 do but to faste.
them, now look disgusngIy impractcable Never.
thelcss, your fate for the whole voyage depends
upon your rousing yourself TO get upon deck at first
To give up, them is TO be cons gned to the Avernus
the Hades OF the lower regions, Tor the rest of the
voyage. 4 y x
But al night The beauties Of a night on ship
board Down in your BERTH with the sea kissing
tizzng, gurgling and booming within inch of your
ear; and then the steward comes along at twelve
o'clock and puts out your lis ght, and there you !!
Jonah in the whale was mol darker OF more dismal
There, in profound Ignorance and blindness, you lie
and feel yourself rolled upwards and downwards anC
sideways and all ways, like cork in tub of water
much such sensation as might suppose ii to bs
were one headed up in barrel and thrown into the
sea.
| Occasionally wave comes with thump agains
your as if great hammer were knocking on your
| barrel 10 see that all within was safe and sound
Then you begin TO think OF krakens and sharks, and
porpoises, and sea-serpents, and all the monstrous
Shiny, cold, hob goblin brood who perhaps are your
next-door neighbours and the old blue haired ocean
whispers through the planks, ''Here you are Ive
go you. Your grand ship is my pIaything | car
DO what like with it..
Our cook has specially interested me-a TALL slen
der. melancholy man, with watery blue eye, pa
tent, detected visage, like an individual weary o
the storms and connections OF life, and thoroughly
! impressed with the vanity of human wishes. | 81
there hour after hour watching him, and it is evden
that he performs all his duties in this frame of sat
compOsure. Now | see him resignedly stufing Z
turkey, anon compromising sauce, mournfully
making little rpples in the crust of tart but all il
done under an evident that il is OF no trying
| Many complaints have been made Of our coffee
since we have been on board, which, to say tht
truth, has been as unsettled as most of the socia
questions OF the day, and perhaps for that reason
quite generally unpalaable; but since have seer
our cook am quite persuaded that the coffee, lk,
other works Of great artists has borrowed the hue,
of it's makers mind. think hear him soloouiz,
over it. 8 To what purpose is coffee OF what avail
tea Thick or clear All is passing away ; little
egg fish skim more or less, what are they O. Ant
SO we get melancholy coffee and tea, owing to ou
philosophic cook.
After dinner watch him as he washes dishes. I.e
hands up whole row of tin; the ship gives lurct
and knocks them all down He looks as if it was