Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1876-01-07
Yors IN Corrsspoudsucs OF tho rrss Pms snd Times
r.. .. v.-s. 80 n.<k

I did not think it just to judse the pas
sags across the English channel BY what it
W. on my 6st trip. and 50 promised to
give its bad name better report If it vas
pleasanter on my return. The second pas
sage was essentially like the first, only If
the first was nasty the second was nastier.
I left Paris on the eighteenth Of November,
at half past twelve. arrived at Dieppe at
seven, went on the steamer at nine. The
evening was cloudy but mild and quiet, so
we had good time for sleep until four a.
IN. when we left the wharf. The steamer
was small, dirty looking affair, compared
with any I ever saw in American waters
not more than half as large a the smallest
passenger steamers on Lake Chanplain, and
the finish, comforts and conveniences for
travellers were in worse comparison than
that. There was nothing like prom
cnade deck. Perhaps one would nerer be Of
any use. | cannot say as to that, but 1t
certainly would not have been on either OF
the trips tried What there was Of upper
deck was blocked by hatch-way, machinery
and boxes of freight 50 that only the sailors
could safely pick their way along it. The
saloon was a somewhat spacious room, oced-
pying the whole width of the after part OF
the vessel, with two tiers Of open berths al
around it. These berths were simply mat
tresses covered with black enamelled cloth,
with small bolster of like character for
each. When it was cold the steward would
bring out blankets and spread one over each
passenger. In the middle of the saloon was
a table, and at one end of the table little,
old. rusty coal stove, with the pipe running
up to the deck, to discharge its gas and
smoke Just outside. for the comfort OF those
who should attempt to walk there That is,it
would have done 50 had there been any pipe
aud any fire in the stove, but there wasn't.
On some stormy passage, the steward said,
a few weeks ago, the pipe had been knocked
down, and they hadn't put it up. SO we
shiyered in the cold November night and
through the day, with the boat all dripping
with dampness, without any fire or heat OF
any kind As soon as the boat started the
steward brought around shallow bowls about
foot in diameter. and sat one right under
each passenger face. This was rather
ominous, and not quite comprehensive
to US, for all was still and quiet, and
most of US were asleep. But the
steward knew his business, and
what was coming. Whether those pots
had anything to do in bringing about what
followed. would not dare to say, for you
know one has sort Of honest tendency to
do as near as is convenient just what is e1-
pected of him. And, in this case, at least,
we were all disposed. with one accord, to do
precisely that which the attentive and gen
ial steward seemed to expect We would do
Not, however. that We organized ourselves
into a deliberatiye body, and voted all at
! once to obey the expectations Of the stew
ard We came into the agreement by de-
grees, one by one, or sometimes by Whole
|
to come in reluctantly at first, but we all
, came, and spontaneously, and with all the
might, mind ard strength We had The
man right over me made motion, and
his motion struck me so unpleasantly that
| sprung up to demonstrate with him but
; turning up my face to his, his whole yi>age,
his heaving breast and the SAVIOR OF his
utterances 80 overw helmed me that in part
through pure sympathy, and in part. doubt
: less overcome BY the same reasons that Undue
ed him to make the motion, vehemently
seconded it. We two, of course, soon per
shaded the two men whose heads were next
to our to ioin rs, and the next quartette OF
; heads did not hold back very long. Thus 1t
! went all around the saloon. There was no
opposition. Even the steward said be felt
a strong impulse to join us, and thought be
should If he had not 50 much else 10 do.
We were sll Of one mind and one spirit.
Soon when motion was pending every one
was down, some on their trunks, many on
the floor, fiat and still as the rolling OF the
boat would permit. There was no laugh
: ing, no ioking, no conversation all was too
serious for these Ii had become daylight,
but we knew nothing of what the weather
WAS, except from the rolling and pitching
of the steamer. Becoming nearly sufocat-
ed by the sour air, determined to attempt
10 get on deck for fresh air. The moment
nv feet touched the floor | pitched head
long against a post. Recovering little, |
pitched the other way, and was caught by
the steward, who led me to the foot OF the
stairs. | crswled up and found all the AR
holes battened to prevent the ingreSs oil
water, and the outer hatch door boited- \
sailor unbolted it and | held it open enough
to get my nose into current OF fresh am.
There stood aud began TO lose sympathy
with nv comrades below. didn't agree with
them now as much a. had done. i liked
the motions OF the sailors on deck better. 80
opened the door. pushed through, made
for the bulwark- tive feet high and found
myself SPRAYING among some coils OF rope,
with the spray dashing over me. Then /
got up aud pitched for the hatehway, caught
its pillar and resolutely determined to take
the spray and the breeze for few minutes
while looked out. let what would come.
The sun Was shining through the breaks of
the clouds Whether it was raining or not
| could not tell. The white chalk bluffs Of
England were in sight, and, while summon
ing up some beautiful reflections for after
took about one and a-half seoonis) billow
struck the side of the ship and landed
about ton of sea water over my head on
to the deck, which water began to How
down and back from one side OF the ship TO
the other with laundering splashes. My
reflections ended suddenly. pried the hatch
door open and rushed within ! had got
enough of the sailors paradise, for | bad
no water proof over me to keep the sea
outside of my clothes. While | chung to
the inside of the door, with my nose thrust
out at the crack As before, young man
crowded up the stairs beside me, got his
nose out. too, and dolefully asked whether
thought it possible We should ever get on
land again. The question, of course, was
comforting to me, but ! didn't know any
more about it than he did. In fact, bad
been so absorbed with the motions in the
saloon and the movements and sights on
deck, that had not thought of it before,
and did not think of it afterward, till We
landed But this young mans voice sound
ed so home-like that we talked and asked
questions, Yankee-like, till We knew each
other thoroughly. His name was William
Human, of Brooklyn, n. Y. lie had been
travelling all over Europe for six months.
He had score or two Of cousins, of the sec
ond, third and fourth degree. in my native
town, in Vermont, and in adjoining towns,
of whom he knew something and | much
more, some of them having been my most
intimate and most esteemed friends lie
was only proud of them as bearing the
same name and descending from the same
ancestors az himself We landed safely at
two O'Clock, and every one of those sea-sick
passengers, who had not eaten morsel
all day. nor thought of eating, went ashore
as briskly. as well and as hungry as if they
never had been sick. and nv friend
Human rode to London together. kept to-
gether as long as We could, met lloyiully
and as old acquaintance, the next week. IN
q oroud on tho Strand and / sincerely