Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1874-06-20
JottIngs by the way.

Dear Telegrdph-The inclination to slip
away from home, and its treadmill duties,
and make brief visit to friends, and an
earlier home, has recently been yielded to
by one of the editorial households and
now the prompting comes to tell you and
your readers, how much this change was
enjoyed, and real physical benefit secured
The life that many lead, is too often
monotonous and toilsome-prostraung to
mental and physical energy. Wise would
it be, on the score OF health and longeVi-
ty, if more time for rest and recreation
was indulged. This is, however, fast
and high pressure age. To work and
to win is the goal to which this genera
ton, generally, are aiming.
Of our pleasant ride over the Erie Road
to New York City, we will first tell you /:
Of its broad gauge. and roomy cars, its
elegant drawing room and sleeping coach
es, many. of your readers are familiar
with. and know, too. that in all that per-
tains to comfort they are superior to the
narrow gauge. Under the presidency
and general management of our former
townsman, Mr.. P. r. Watson, and his CO.
worker, Mr.. Ewing, and their associates,
the road has been thoroughly repaired,
and so drained and completely ballasted,
that the clouds of dust that so often rem
der railroad travelling unpleasant, is pre-
vented. Arriving at Jersey City, boats
are at the different slips, ready TO convey
passengers to the up or down town land
ings; cars and omnibuses are in waiting,
which, if their regulations are under
stood, will convey passengers to different
parts of the city, and thus avoid the high
rates and exhorbNant charges of the hack
men. Arriving in this busy, active me-
ropolis, we are soon conveyed TO the
pleasant home of our friends, which is
about to be given up for year or two's
sojourn in foreign land. Two days are
spent in friendly intercourse, and then we
accompany them to the magnificent
steamer that is TO convey them, with hun
dreds of others, across the broad Atlantic.
This huge ship-the Oceanic, of the
White Star Line-we find in all its ap-
pointments, superb, neat and orderly, with
many of the elegancies of modern homes
Through the politeness of the purser of
the steamer, we were shown different parts
of the vessel, all of which were arranged
with especial care, for the comfort and
speedy transmission of passengers, not
only, but for the conveying of one of our
staple articles of food, wheat-thousands |
of bushels of which were being slipped
into the hold of the vessel. A novel way
was witnessed, by which horses were
shipped and carried safely over the turbu-
lent waves of the Atlantic The animals
were placed in movable stalls-the sides
of which pressed closely to their bodies:
then by elastic bands they were suspend
ed TO the ceiling above, thus lifting them
slightly from the floor. To US, this
seemed painful and unnatural posi- ton
in which to be held; from recent letters,
however, we learn that they were convey
ed without injury TO the other side.
Our party enjoyed the ocean voyage.
without discomfort Or sea sickness; not
when the ship sailed Sc
we're storm was raging upon land Like |
magnificent intelligence, did this noble |
steamer glide from her moorings-amid |
the almost breathless watchings of the
multtitude-sweeping from the wharf,
and then, when the last good-byes had |
been spoken, and the voice could be no |
longer heard, up went cloud of waving |
handkerchieis and hats, while the good
ship was soon lost In the distance.
A few days later, we are In our Connec-
ncut childhoOd's home, greeted by loved
friends who knew us in our childish days.
memories CT our hopes and our joys-ot
our early struggles against difficulties in
S''enulng the distant school, walking-six
III week-three miles to gain the
niss Luuiments of knowledge. Here is
sun the old school house. and here too
near Dy' the running brook. ipto which n
was our delight to play; the hill nm
"nlcn our wintFy sport was indulped NV
hill. siiuing uoWn
a, our early abode, sad memorie, All
our ' near'' OF our first bereavement in the
,osS oi parents the dlsbanding of the
home circle, the opening of hearts and
homes OF the kindly relatives to ,Le or.
phan children, the loving and tender oaro
with which the Heavenly Parent WATCHED
over and guarded the little flock to ma
ture years, and all along lile's later iour.
ney, too. We visit the quiet, staid town
OF hidSefeld, and see an aged uncle and
aunt who have passed their four score
years. and are still mentally vigorous. and