The New York herald., 1869-06-22
How the Band Plays and What th'
Passengers Do. ae1slsq9o .sF.
apoes tha. Include s.uinn,, bos. p.


It was Saturday afternoon, June TO- and tn
Sound steamer Providence was about TO leave 10
Newport and Fall River. There was . crowd o
orange women and newsboys and bootblacks ant
nve cent cigar venders the pier, who kept up an
ncessant cianor, ana, owing to this fact probably
The man In blue coat and brass buttons and goit
laced hat. who stood at the carpeted gapgplank
like Mrs. Frezziwig ga vast substantial smile'' IL
himself did not hear this strange question about ths
astufin." Besides, the small cannon at the bow o.
the boat had just be,ched forth for the special bench
Of the passengers su1ocating cloud OF smoke &C
companied by detonating report that would have
done credit to a ten-inch Rodman. and the bras
band 'abait the SHAFT" just over Mr. Gold Lace's
head, was blowing like mad, as II to clear the smoke
away and drown the report OF the gun at the same
time. r @
BEFORE THE START. j
Finally the bands wind gave out and burly fel-
low pushed his way through the crowd to the gang
plank and stood face to face with Mr.. Gold Lace.
de was lively specimen Of the Eighth ward rough,
full Of swagger and impudence and dressed to kill.
He wore white beaver, with the fur brushed the
wrong way around the top, nashy plaid vest with
huge black buttons. and white pants 80 tight and
long over his patent feathers that 1t was miracle
they didn't burst at every move he made. His hands
were stuffed in pair Of kid gloves the size Of which
left arm dangled cadaverous-looking female In
blue silk with jngling beads, whose head leaned
often her companions sleeve that her complexion
was fast rubbing or on the glossy black surface. AS
be approached the boatman he put his hat on one
side OF his head with the brim half hiding his eyes,
and extending two blue tickets asked.
''Say, boss, does that include stufln'r'
AR. Gold Lace took the tickets and innocently IN
Qured the meaning Of "stuGln'r at which the cada-
verous-looking female grinned very broadly while
her companion burst into roar Of laughter.
''Why, fodder, IN course; that's what 1 means,n
finally spluttered out the man with the white hat,
when he was able to catch his BREATH Fodder being
evidently better English for meals than "stufn' In
the boatman's mind, he comprehended and re-
plied:-- Ha
'Not much; that's only passage to Newport and
backn
"Wha-at ~ exclaimed the Eighth warder as he
passed over the gangway, 'yer don't means ter say
that Use got 70 pay extry for bunk does yerf
Eyes sir, II you can get one" ..
and the fellow began to take or his Kids by pulling
the finger ends with his teeth. - = f-'''-'~ =
"Why, what's that your business?n
'pn tell yer why; bought these ,ere tickets ON
cry for be bed j and nd board and 4 Jim Fsk's here III
With this sage remark the indignant rough strut
ted up stairs into the saloon, where he was seen
a,
wish were angel, - and with his heels resting On
marble table IN front Of him. :
The gentleman Of the elegant manners was not thu
oniy one Oh the many passengers who had many
questions 10 ask, nor was he the only "pecuiar'
their way IN the saloons and were certain after an
hours hunt for their room to wind up just where
When the steamer finally got under way, which she
did about nve O'Clock, the brass band set 70 work
the country Ss who esareS s5as ahe Se
brass instruments as though they had never seen 4
nand before In all their e. lives Ihe rush for state
had got wen abreast OF Blackwel's island the gong
was sounded and all the passengers-at least all who
could scramble down stairs at once without break
ing their necks-dashed down the winding staircase
leading TO the supper room. Several bran new hats,
and even some cloves OF bonnets" (for women were
In the scramble as well as mem were crushed the
struggie but the tables were soon well surrounded
and those who were unable to get position place
and comfort" in time were compelled to prowl about,
like hungry wolves, until their chance came about.
But the supper tables aid not long remain FULL not
because the mere looking at the good things spread
out In dainty dishes were alsufcent to appease ,he
appetite. but because everybody was not aware OF
the price it costs to get good supper aboard the
Providence. There was time when a passenger
went TO supper and got all ne wanted for one dollar;
but there Is a new system now, and 1t worked on
Saturday very much TO the dismay OF many an
was presented, nrst with a Lin OF fare with
the breaking names OF the eatables, and the
price Of each; and secondly. with another bill on
and put the price opposite each article. The grand
sum total OF the prices of-course his bill. In the
system itself there was not so much to flnd fault
with as there was with the prices For instance Q
gentleman vino feels like having good meal takes
Il into his heau to start with s then iiie porter
house steak, accompanied by an omelee. This costs
him 81 95; and as potatoes are indispensable TO the
STEAK, he orders plate and as tea and bread lsay
them, and on getting up finds his bill 81 so. or
course this kind OF thing not expected by many
Of doing Business. and they were not slow in giving
vent TO their feelings There IA, however tea room,
where meal is served at lower prices; but, some
way OF other, by the time mans appetite Is salts
ned by what ne gets there. his DILL Tails at very
great distance IRON the bills Of the other room.
IN THE SALOON.
After the supper the brass band transformed Itself
into orchestra, and did IT. meodious best to en-.
liven the passengers. The saloon was hung with
banners and ags OF all descriptions the tasm anic
letters ~ f. Jr,n and ~. g." inscribed IN red on
white nags, meeting the eye at every turn. The
instance, instead OF the stars and blue ground there
was an ugly looking steamboat The passengers.
In various ways. -Four young men. for instance,
seemed TO enjoy themselves 20 their hearts content
at game Of cuchre, one Of the sofas In the saloon
them warned everybody against gamblers aud an
nounced IN naming characters that mo card play
the four young men could not read OF the officers OF
the boat could not see card after i've O'Clock In the
with all regard 20 the latest style In coats and hats
and pants, promenaded ub and down the apartment
In the company OF two women, whose painted faces
loud dress and abundance Of paste diamonds that
glittered from nearly every finger OF their hands,
proclaimed them TO be, TO use mild term. "soled
doves.r Several OF the stateroom doors were nun
wide Open ana In several OF them the bottle and the
glass were handed about without regard 20 conse-
quences aud the disgusting odor OF bad whiskey
oftenttmes came waited on the same gust OF that
brought the sound OF voices singing In no low tones,
songs that would have been better unsung.
THE 'soILED DovEs,n f HI
OF whom there were several on board, mean while
nited about the saloon with the bold faced i'm.
pudence Imaginable Two OF them had the enrontery
70 st In their stateroom and smoke cigars, whining
the smoke out Of the windows into the faces OF the
passengers as they went by on deck. II may be that
there are rules or regulations for their exclusion
rom the boat under certain conditions but n there
are any such rules or regulations they were not ap-
parenty enforced. Many OF the oficers appeared TO
know the women personally and always nodded Ia
them In q friendly way as they passed and as for
the colored watchmen, they were as obeequious 10
the painted witches as could be. II was altoaetner