Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1867-08-01
Especial Rnropean Correspondence OF the
HERALD
A Voyage Across tho Atlantic.
BAD HoMBURG,
FRANKPoRT-oS-THR MAIN,
July 7, 1867.

the dock on the morning or June Othi
you might have seen patriarchd look.
ing Individual of some five feet eleven,
in height, with some pretensions If port
illness of physique, standing with his
better half, and two inheritors # their
virtues or misfortunes, in the veil de-
yeloped figures of promising manhood
beside them. They were responding to
the waving adieus of faithful friend,
as the africa" moved gracefully from
her fastenings, heading down he bay
for old Englands far.off coas. So
numerous were the greetings and SINH
lar efforts of the many other passengers,
that no offense can be had If youidenti-
fication of the party refer to hal failed.
But there they were. A bright genial
sky, gave all an opportunity for catch
ing the last familiar recognitios, and
contrasted most agreeably with The ex-
perience of many other departurs from
the same place in rain and storm. Eleven
a. m. the signal gun announced our
disconnection with old scenes AMI faces
and our actual time of sailing. The sail
down the bay was very pleasant md in
teresting. And so busy were all talk
ing and chatting that only Boston outer
light, and the steamers bell for lunch, at
Il M, reminded us Of the hours pssing.
As the passengers gathered at The table
our first real opportunity for observation
was afforded. And at our 1.-THE Ieuten-
ants table we found such an array Of
scientific, professional talent, as imme-
diately and totally annihilated al hope
of distinction for any little qualifications
of intellectual vigor or pretensitns, we
may have thought of arrogatirg. In
fact, it was q source of no little uneasi-
ness, the supposition that we had such
"a feast of reasoning" as would make
our usual sea.lke and Unsuitable appe-
titles appear gross and obtrusive,
Lunch over, (seats all arranged), and
return to the deck, was the next in
course. Old Neptune was in his best
bumor, but it was evident his dominion
was of different nature than "terra-
lrma." The gentle rolling of his salu-
tations as We trespassed upon his do
main, leaving land astern, was not a
matter Of Indifference, however by any
means. Very gradually the songs whist
ling, and the jests, began to subside,
sea-chairs were being arranged, travelling
shawls and robes appeared most mys-
teriously from below, attitudes snd posi-
tions of rather a negltge character, were
at first very reluctantly assumed. But
it was no use, the old sea.god is per-
feet hater of dignity, and as to being " a
respecter of persons, he is, so far as to
make the most sensitive, the most ridi-
culous, and so it was, that the most dis
tinguished wardrobes, the most luxuri-
Gus dresses, crepe ringlets, jaunty hats
and swell cuts, were PROSTATE, en- masse,
and when the dinner bell at p. m. re-
quested an inspection of the "bill of
fare" with its stereotyped array of
soup, fish, flesh, fowl, entrees, desert"
an expression of the most decided aver
sion to such an intrusive, repulsive
effort came from more than one
pair of lips. The attendance at tables
had fallen off at least fifty per cent.
To US, cold stagers," it seemed al
most impossible for any discomfort to
have existed, so quiet and mirror-like
was the sea. 1t was evident we were no
fair judges Of what great events little
causes might produce. So down below
we went, and unstrapping our traps,
and DOMINIC our sea-gear; put up
clothes.lines overhead, as a substitute
for clothes hooks; transferring our ap.
parel from carpet. bags, to the hunks
drawers, we ceased to excite the envy
and animadversions OF those who de-
sired to be well, but had to be sick. Tea
at seven and a half p. m. The gather
ing around the smoke-stack soon be-
came an institution" especially after
meals; and all who could, assisted the
demand for the next crop of tobacco by |
a generous consumption Of the present |
one. Stories, jests, jokes and "sells,"
were thrown into the common pool, and |
each person was at liberty to take from
it, as much as he could, as reserved |
fund for future use, under different |
scenes and circumstances. A photo
graphist might have given you a cor
rect delineation of face, form and figure |
of each and all. But a written photo |
graphy is always unwelcome. If truth |
full, it becomes personal. If not so, it
Is deceptive. l never justify it, and |
therefore carefully avoid it. Our pas
sengers came together as strangers, but
separated as friends and pleasant &C.
quantances. We had every variety of |
character and person, of almost every
nation and language; and yet not an |
unpleasant circumstance occurred so far
as we could observe. There were fiirta.
tons, some rather severe, but none was