The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1874-03-27
TELL Us ALL ABOUT A SEA
VOYAGE"

Just before leaving Portland for our
present sojourn in San Francisco, Sa-
lem (Oregon) friend forwarded us the
following note:
DEAR Mrs. DUEIwAY Wont you, for the
benefit Of thousands Of your readers who have
never taken an ocean trip, and never expect to
lake one, be considerable and kind enough TO
give uS all the particulars OF your forthcoming
Journey PIl venture 10 affirm that two-thirds
Of your readers never have seen, and at least
half OF them never will see, an ocean steamer
80, no matter how commonplace the theme
may seem 10 you, who often take these jour
u-ys, please give US all the details and oblige,
Yours as ever, NJ j. r.
As it is our business to serve our pat
rons, the exacting and often capricious
public, to the best of our humble ability,
We shall endeavor to give the desired
information, only asking OF those who
are familiar with the subject under this
head, to read carefully what we shall
say, and if We do not tell the truth as
they experienced it, to correct us in
these columns.
AAG -NlaA - AAhNr am EA AhAAhNn sNAi
other ocean steamers on the Northwest
coast. IL Is long, narrow, unwieldy and
staunch-looking, cramped in its state
rooms, capacious in its decks and dining
saloon, villainous in its OdOrs, sitting
IN the confinement of its atmosphere,
narrow in its hunks, hard in its beds
and pillows, musty in its sheets and
towels, mysterious in its cookery, affa-
BILE in its servants, jolly in its captain,
gentlemanly in its purser, greasy and
busy-idle in its crew, mixed in its pas
sengers, Uneasy i'm its movements,
creaky in its timbers, and freezing cold
in its cabin.
There is more of the ''shoddy" ele-
ment visible on board Of an ocean
steamer than anywhere else outside of
Government barracks. Here cheap
army officials, in imaginary titles, or
their wives, daughters and-relicts, put
on airs Of pigmy superiority, which
causes everybody who is republican
enough to stand upon his Or her own
merits to look with quiet and pitying
disdain upon mock dignity and would-be
aristocracy. These "dignitaries" have
no eye for anybody who is not captain
or "eunnel." But we beg pardon fol
having noticed them. Our obligation
to note down everything as it occurs il
our only apology, and these people ar'
always going down into the sea il
ships. There are also to be found OF
every voyage that We have yet mad'
high toned, dignified gentlemen o
worth, title and culture, who take grea
pleasure in giving you the benefit o
their superior experience in journeying
and in every other proper way alleviat
ing the little annoyances of travel an'
its accompanying curse, the omnipres
ent and inevitable sea-sickness.
After purchasing your tickets, taking
care to secure state-rooms as nearly a
possible in the center of the vessel
which we failed in doing this time, anC
our perch was, therefore, at an angle o
forty five degrees from the mizzenmast
whatever that is-you send your trunks
down the hatchway, put your checks
IN your pocket, and, with basket ol
bundle in hand, proceed to ensconct
yourself in your narrow domicil. happy
indeed II not more than two of Won are
TO nave quarters in a state-room seven
by five feet in its dimensions. ineludino
hunks, wash-stand, chair, band-boxos
baskets and bundles.
The first day on the river is dac;do,,,.
pleasant. Everybody, not forgpttin'
the omnipresent Israelite, the most 49,
gratory of human beings, is ready G.
breakfast, lunch and dinner. Thes
meals consist of every imaginable an,
unimaginable style of cookery, anciep
and modern. It is beyond our power I
describe the bill of fare further than I
say we did IL justice.
The scenery on the Columbia betwee
Portland and Astoria is for the mo: