The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1871-11-16
Letter From Boston.
Correspondence of the Journal
Journeying by Water. A Commodious
Steamers and Polite Officers. Windy
Night and Rouuh Seas,
BOSTON, Nov. 10, 1871.

BOSTON, Nov. 10, 1871.
There was long, sharp whistle; a
Whriring of wheels; dashing of water;
the flying of ropes; q quick transporting
OF bags, boxes, and bundles; hrurying
feet, shouting voices, planks adjusted; q
| pause; then another loud screech from
the black-throated steam-pipe; the furious
ringing of bell q cry OF ''all aboard"
planks indrawn; ropes slipped; quick
throb from the engine; and we were fair
| ly started upon journey seward You
| chatty old Journal, who ride every week
| in some tasteful little cars that know OF,
| pleasantly provided with pretty bay-win-
dows, broad comfortable, softly cushioned
seats, and conductor of spicy name and
| gentle speech, know right well that cars
are convenient, and very good in their
way; but that their ways are not always
| pleasantness, any more than their paths
are peace. Cars are silent, constrained
conventional, aristocratic Steamboats,
are bright, wideawakc, stirring, and
! communicative. In cars one must of
| necessity wad themselves all up into q
| heap and sit there from dawn till dark
| stupidity staring out Of windows, dissect-
! ing the freshest daiies; wondering what
on earth they shall do next, and not talk
| ing because of the roaring and rafting
and rambling; and not moving about be-
| cause there is no room. say they must
sit STILL and 50 they must, unless they
| chance to have been born great or achiev
ed greatness, or had greatness thrust up
| ON them under which circumstances,
they can, at the occasional little stops, 90
out upon the rear platform of the rear
car. and make a bright little speech, to a
bright little multitude, be introduced,
shake hands, AMI kiss all round, and after
| wards be petted, praised blamed and
| abused a fate which does not happen to
| ordinary mortals, but only settles down
now and then upon 1.-THE chietest in ten
| thousand"
Steamboats, are ditfe rent, and very nice
too, if ones stomach has only been prop
erly trained to respectful habits of obedi-
ance, and doesn't insist upon naughtily
misbehaving As soon as the waves get il
a commotion. The chairs may be moved
hither and thither or wherever YOU please
the stools are convenient the sofas com
Portable. One may walk forward or aft
lean elbows on the table or put feet upon
the stove. Their is always lot Of room
in which to move about and be happy
and plenty of laxative people to interest
and amuSe; with quantit es of gossip
harangucs and arguments upon politics
religion and dress; and the observing Of
different people. 50 that somehow the
| time slips unnoted and happily by, with
ont dragging and lengthening and weary
ing upon ones hands.
| Thus, being in u mood irrepressible,
and not caring to be pent up in one small,
silent corner for twelve long hours. we
went steamboating on q late windy day
! and-well the steamer tossed, and rolled
and pitched, and tumhled about to oul
hearts content. But rs like 4 plenty Of
! sca-room, and as 4 pcnty of sea-room
was the inducemcnt that took me here,
was of course rejoiced and proportionately
happy. And when the landings had al
been made, and the sullen night had como
between restless eyes and the white firing
ed shores, and the twinkling lights at
Raelsland had flashed parting fare
! well, then we went under official guidance
}exploring all through the grand saloons
and capacious cabins diving into closets.
fpantries and subterranean passages, visit
ling the cook in his cozy Kitchen and re-
ceiving SO much Information from the
Ipollte presiding genius rs tempts us &c
| the belief that we can fry potatoes ant
bake meat with the best of you; and i
we can't, we certa My know who can
| Next made call upon the "two gentle
linen OF Verona posted on high stools
deity making up he accounts of the
steamer, We introduce them to you jus
As they We're presented to us, and can onlj
say in addition that if Verona has many
more such courteous gentlemen she il
truly favored town. Thence to queen
room that looked gloomy and ghastly
enough, with only dim flicker Of Gas
light, and rough beams and huge ma
chinery on every side. But here all alone
sat u quiet individual, who for our edit
cation wound up u clock-like apparatus
that caused heavy weights to slowly drop,
forcing the gas from the large rubber
tanks on deck, through the long, slender
| pipes TO all parts of the ship 1t seemed
strange enough, but coming out into the
broad cheerful light Of the supper room we
confessed it also convenient A delicious
supper, made up of everything that was
nice, and sleek shining walters all re-
splcndent in bright buttons and braid
dropping dainties down beside your plate
Just al the right moment. and in the most
| uneXceptional manner
Anu AFTER all lneStA tHt cfOWnln1 enjoy
ment a walk over the hurricane deck, a
peep down into the glowing. rushing,
painting confines of the huge engine, and
a seat within the precincts of the pilot
/! house" Such solitude of darkness
Darkness within and darkness without. A
stout muscular form peering anyiously
and steadily out through the inky dark
ness, and breaking the monotonous silence
now and then with brief orders, as ''port''
''hold her steady" Port, Sir" repeats
the sturdy sailor, and in his brawny hands
| the polished wheel moves like plaything.
A bright steady light CLEANS away on our
right, which to the pilot means Boothbay,
and which we call "faith," being fixed
and true. Ahead is Monhegan, flashing
upon us broad, dazzling blaze of light,
that seems to beckon alluringly through
| the blackncSS and then GOING ont into the