Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1855-06-06

Life on a SIeamship---HOracu GreeIY's
Description of Voyage across the
atlantic,
The New York Tribune furnishes, in a
letter from Mr.. Greely,the following graz
phic description Of life at sea, on the
last trip out of the steamship Asia. 1t
will furnish many stay-at homes a pretty
good idea of what sea voyage really is
The day opens at this season about
sunrise with a concert Of scrubbing imple-
ments on the decks, and the first passen-
gers who rise End the sailors still intent
on the purifying process. Occasionally,
brass band~railings, &c., are rubbed, and
no pains spared generally to keep the
vessel as can as possible. One by one,
the passengers stumble by from their
state rooms, and gather for warmth around
the great smoke.ppe amidships, or being
walking back and forth the hurricane or
quarterback. When the wind is very high
or the spray particularly searching. this
is abandoned for one or both Of the open
passages on the main deck, on either side
of the dining room. When the rain pours
tiercely, all out door walking is forborne,
or only prosecuted by the stubborn under
the protection of an umbrella. A loud
bell at eight summons the sluggish to
prepare for breakfast, which is served
half an hour later from one third to two
thirds of the passengers, according TO the
state of the weather aud the waves. enter
ing an appearance at the breakfast table.
Some Of the residue are served in their
bcrths; some have plate on deck i;
some others are too sick TO eat at all.
From breakfast. the active adjourn to
the decks, there to resume the monoto-
nous tramp, tramp. or gather in knots
around the great chimney, where heat is
ever abundant many go forward. and
some, alas smoke without going forward,
to the aggregate discomposure of uneasy
stomachs for the sick are crouching in
corners, or lounging on settees. or prop
ped up by the railing in front of cushions,
or trying to walk by the help Of a friendly
arm, or attempting any other dodge which
promises allevialion, if not temporary OBJ
livion of their woes.
A few try to read !; still fewer to write;
but neither of these employments can be
recommended to the sick, and they do not
seem TO recommend themselves very
strongly to the great body of the we'll. As
soon as the tables are partly cleared, some
Of the more inveterate cardpIayers recon-
mend their various games two or three
pairs set down to chess, drafts, or back
CANNON. Noon brings luncheon, which
accommodates class who do not rise in
season for breakfast four o'clock sum
mons to dinner. over which the cOmtOrta
BILE manage to kill an hour or more not
ineffcctiveIy; next follows the more gene>
raj parade and promenade to the upper
deck, which the quality now condescend
to honor by their patronage and CO.. pe-
ration ; and at half~pasL seven the bell
sounds for tea, and thus the evening is
fairly begun.
Tea being speedily dispatched. and the
tables cleared, gOodly company gather
in the dining room, and sit down 10 cheer
full conversation, to the various sedentary
games, to reading. &c. The number OF
whist players is very much larger than by
day, Tor the salt spray and damp night
winds on deck are neither pleasant nor
wholesome. Thus acquaintance are for.
med or ripened; sympathies developed,
and day after day sees the ice which had
separated the company Of recent strangers
gradually dissolving and Disappearing
BY nine o'clock the more hardy or reck-
less begin TO order upper-usually IL
Welsh rabbit, (melted cheese or toasted
bread, eggs and toast, grilled fowl, pick
led salmon, or something of this kind
Lest such a reflection late at night might
overtax the stomach, it is usual to wash it
down with a tumbler Of hot whiskey
punch, glass of cherry bounce, brandy
and Wi t:r, a tumbltr or Two Of champaA ne,
bottle of ale, or something of the sort.
l WAS little surprised to see delicate las
dies. who had cluug to their bertbS
through the FIRST two or three days of the
voyage, soon after take their places at the
evening table and partake freely Of the
edibles and potable above named. When
they appeared next day-which was not
til! long after breakfast had vanished-I
inquired anxlously the state OF their health
respectively, and was assured that it had
been sensibly improved by the rabbits
and punches aforesaid. On the third morn
ing Of my inquiries. however. was infor-
med by candid male friend, who had
freely INDUCED with the rest. that he had
not slept we'll the last night-"the rabbit
kicked me" was his way of stating the
fact. and limiting the cause. Others were
not all 50 candid but suppers and grog
were not half SO popular toward the end
of the voyage as they were at the begin
ming.
Esr We take the following from the