Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-11-22

Bark IN 1nllauelpnla ana Lincoln iaTk III
Chicago Central Park is said not to be so
well cared for as Prospect Park in Brooklyn
In the afternoon. | took ride of some hour.
about the city. Saw the City Hall, the Post
cffice Trinity church, the Tribune building,
and various other magnificent structures.
Broadway is splendid Stree tor avenue, of
great length and adorned with many fine pub
lie and private buildings. Wall street is
rather dngy, but ii is the home of the mon
ey lords in business hours. My hotel was
near the elevated railway and the street cars;
and both of them seemed to run just rs much
in the night as in the day, be-
sides carriages and express wagons rafting
over the pavements. Together they succeed
ed pretty efiectually to "murder sleep"
At sea, July 4th On the 2Sth, we en-
barked on board the Anchora and left New
York harbor about noon. My experiences
for the next few days may be passed over in
silence, for although not very sick, thought
it safer to keep mostly in my berth. At
ter few days, however, got on
deck, and began to eat something be-
sides Cruel The number of passengers was
$50 or POO, nearly all belonging to the Tour
ice excursion party. Religious services were
held every day at ten o'clock, with singing,
PRAYER and responsive scripture reading
sabbath day there was preaching in the fore
noon and praise meeting in the evening.
On other evenings, musical and literary en-
tcrtainments were held, including comic as
well as serious performances Most OF the
time, the sky wore veil of fog, which some
times dissolved in rain. Sunshine was scarce,
and old ocean rather monotonous-wherever
and whenever one looked, the same view of
waves and fog. To-day being the ith, was
celebrated by a band of Calithumpi ans
marching about the decks with tin pans and
kettles, also by singing "America" and the
"Star Spangled Banner" There are an organ
and piano in the music room, and several
of the lady passengers are fine singers. The
celebration closed with several short speech
es, one of them by the Scotch captain of the
Anchoria.
Sabbath, July 9th. The fog continued
through yesterday, with southeast wind,
but this morning the wind changed, the sun
came out clear, and we have one day of fine
weather. But we were truly crooked on the
bosom of the deep" for the waves were high
er and more furious than they had been be-
fore 1t was a magnificent spectacle to see
them rising rolling and breaking with white
crests as far as the eye could reach. Rev.
Mr.. Jones of Vermont, preached a solid, Wig
orous sermon in the forenoon on the value of
Chistian character. We have in our party
over 80 Congrcgationalists. 20 Unitarians, II
Baptists, II Methodists, II Presbyterians, 10
Universalists, Quakers, Swedenborgians,
&c. All or nearly all join in the religious
exercises. In the evening, an hour or two
was spent in singing Moody and Sankey
hymns. One or two of the ladies sang solos
with fine effect, but most of the hymns were
sung by the whole party. On Monday even
ing a collection was taken for Scotch Sea
mans Aid Society
Life on an ocean steamer has its peculiar
tiles, particularly with a crowd Of passengers,
as our steamer had. The music room, which
was over the dining saloon, had not seats for
half the party. When gathered together for
morning service, the gentlemen all stood,
leaving the seats for the ladies. The evening
services were held in the dining saloon. All
could not find seats there. During the day,
unless stormy, some of the passengers occu-
pied the benches on the hurricane deck.
Some walked the decks. Many had steamer
chairs of their own, and sat and cOnversed,
read or unused by the honr. Some wrapped
themselves in shawls and overcoats and sat
silent or dozed for hours 1t is asserted that
no one takes cold at sea by any ordinary ex-
posure. There were some athletic games in
which gentlemen engaged with zest on deck.
Others occupied the smoking room, and
smoked, played cards and chatted. We had
one preacher from Florida) who smoked
and played cards. and was rebuked for it, and
confessed it was wrong. Some were half
sick in their berths nearly all the voyage
One of my room mates was well the first half
of the voyage, but was afterwards very sick,
and had a physician. He recovered after
getting ashore. Of course. most Of the pas
sengers wished to write more or less Mt sea
but the accommodations were not very con-
venient. Iwrote my letters sitting in a berth
by a port hole, with book on my knee, the
vessel rocking all the while. Once we came
near a collision. One morning large ship
crossed our bows not many yards distant, I'M
der full sail. but fortunately she crossed safe
ly. One day, when the pillows were noun
tain high, several passengers were walking
along near the rail, and a wave dashed
against and over the side of the steamer, COW
ering them with salt water, and drenching
them thoroughly.
| Any one who has any sense of the Provi-
dence of God. and of dependence on Him,
cannot but have these feelings deepened at
sea- while away from home and friends,
amongst comparative strangers, tossed on the
wild waves, with no stay or reliance, but on
the strength of the steamer, the skill of the
officers and crew, and the power of that arm
that is "mghty to save" The hymns often
sung-"Nearer my God. to Thee, Rock
of Ages, cleft for me, My faith looks up
half way across the ocean,-especially the
lines, &, e-
Jesus, lover of my soul,
Let me to thy bosom fly,
While the nearer waters roll,
While the tempest still Is high"
Truly the pillows of the deep ragged and
rolled, though sailors would hardly say that
the tempest was high. The fog and mist fol-
lowed US all the way to land, excepting one
fine day already mentioned The wind blew,
but it blew In the right quarter, and waited
us on our way.
A Complete Victory.
The republican victory in tho State is COM
plete and unbroken. The doubt and ques-
ton of the first few days are removed and the
success of the whole State ticket, except En-
gineer, is established and conceded. albany
journal.