The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1872-09-06
MI i S c elaine GUS
LETTER FROM EUROPE,
LONDON, July 18th, 1872


Mr.. EDITOR: | leave London to-mor-
row for the Continent. Before retiring to-
night after the six weeks hard work of
pleasure and sightseeing, my conscience
somewhat reproaches me for the failure of
the half promise l made you, to OCCASION
ally throw from across the Atlantic to the
readers of the Lkgis u young bachelors i'm
pressions of life and travel in Europe.
The very first lesson 1 learned was the
inconvenience ofwriting while on the wing,
and the next, the difficulty of concen-
trating ones thoughts sufficiently to write
when even on the rest, if London is rest.
l can make some amends, however, by has
tily running over my route from landing in
Ireland to my reaching London, promising
to do better perhaps, hereafter, and COM
ment more upon the life and habits of the
people.
We embarked from New York on the
morning of the 25th of May, in steamer
of the White Star line in every respect
trst,class vessel; she is screw, 43O feet
long by 40 feet beam. The weather was
propitious and the sea smooth, and we
made Queenstown in days and 20 hours
The saloon passengers numbered nearly
100, most of the States being represented
and with few exceptions of the Jolly and
agreeable stamp. The smoking room was
a great centre of attraction, where wit and
humor flowed as freely as the sea around
us, while the piano and promenade deck
gave their full share to the pleasures ofthe
voyage. The passengers generally cheerful
and the ladies quite pretty when starting,
with their bright eyes and ruddy complex
ions. AS an investigator, and to study char
acter and the effect of sea-sickness upon
others, sweet B. and sat unobservedly en-
veloped in shawl Dickens like for the
first days "notes" al sea. No change
perceptible till ~ o'clock, when passing
Sandy Hook the breeze stiffening, the white
caps appearing and the discharge of the
pilot, indicated clearly we were fully at
sea. From my notes of that evening the
attack of sea-sickness comes on very grad
ually; but how nobly they fight against
it. By watching their countenances intent
ly noticed tagging in the conversation
first, then slight pallor and dreamy indif-
ference, then this group of six or eight set
tied down to downright apathy; one or two
move their sea chairs a little, perhaps to
try their sea legs, and one young girl
stealthily drew from her pocket lemon
and mouthed it. Two Others seeing it fol-
lowed the example. The younger len on
girl unable to rise, l assisted her and asked
| # she were sick. "Oh no, sir only feel
little queer, but think will 90 down
stairs little while;" and others went be-
low because she did. F. said he believed
he would turn in" that he generally
took nap about this time, but it was
rather longer than usual noticed.
In few days the tables were all filled
again and at midnight of Sunday, June
I'd, the noble ship lay to for few moments
off Queenstown, where many of the pas
sengers were transferred to wretched lit
tie steamer and then to more wretched
craft of legally inquisitive Custom House
officers; soon to pass my first night on
Irish soil and an Irish floor, and dream OF
Home.
To attempt detailed account of my
tour through Ireland, Scotland, England
and the Isle of Wight to London, with the
interesting incidents connected with each
day would require volume, so l must
hastily carry you from point to point, rcser-
wing comments and subjects of more inter-
est for perhaps future day. The morning
after my arrival, Queenstown, to my eyes,
possessed nothing of especial interest, if |
may except its noble scenery and spacious
harbor. Though railroad from Queens
town to Cork Q1 miles,, connecting with
the rail to Dublin, we preferred the little
steamer on the river Lee. The beauty of
this lovely stream, dotted with ruined
castle, monuments, gardens and villas is