The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1880-03-03
Entered at the POST Office at Richmond, Va, as
second-class matter.
CORRESPONDENCE
Letter from Rev. DR.. M. D. Hoge.
AT SEA, February 18th, 1880.

AT SEA, February 18th, 1880.
MeSsrS EditorS,-A steamer tossing on
the wild Atlantic in the winter time is
not the most favorable place for letter
writing, but as there is little probability
of having more quiet waters during this
voyage, l will get ready, as best may, a
short communication to be posted when
We reach Queenstown.
Our passengers on the Scythia, about
sixty in number, are for the most part
business men, as few others make the pas
sage at this season of the year. 1 find
one gentleman on his way to the East,
who expects to remain two years, and
young lady from one of the Northwest
ern States, bound for Cairo, Egypt, who
wishes to get there by the most direct
route. There are ten ladies on board,
and some Of them have not made their
appearance since the first day of our voy-
age. The incessant. rolling of the ship
has caused the usual amount of sea-sick-
ness, from which have been entirely ex-
empt, not having had qualm, or missed
meal.
This reminds me to say that the absurd
custom of setting the table FIVE times
day has been abolished on the Cunard,
and perhaps on other lines. When |
crossed on this ship three summers ago,
we had breakfast at 8, lunch at l, dinner
at 4, tea at Z, and supper at 9 o'clock
Now we have breakfast and lunch at the
former hours, and dinner at 6, with moth
ing after. This saves an immense amount
OF trouble, and makes the dining-saloon.
which has to serve for parlor also more
pleasant to the passengers, as the annoy
ance of preparing the tables for two su
perfuous meals is now avoided.
hear many of those with whom have
become acquainted regretting that they
did not take their passage on the White
Star Llne,-the Germania and the Bri-
tannia being the favorite ships. They
make the voyage in about 8 days, and
some in 7 days and from to 10 hours
The discontented ones on the Scythia,
came on her, l suppose, because the day
OF sailing suited the exigencies of bust
ness, or because they preferred safety to
speed. 1t is said that passenger on a
Cunarder, as one of the steamers of the
White Star Line passed by with rush
asked the Captain if it did not mortify
him to be thus distanced in the race. His
reply was, Ny orders are to land nv
passengers" But Captain of the White
Star Line would probably say the same ;
and the almost universal verdict of the
sea-going public is that the accommoda-
tlons Of the other lines excel those of the
Cunard. Still, people will patronize the
line whose boast is that the life of no pas
senger has been lost in career of thirty
years.
On Sunday, the 15th the weather was
too rough to make it practicable either to
deliver or to hear a sermon About 20
or ~ passengers assembled at 1O4 o'clock.
The Captain was on deck, none of the
sailors came to the service as is the Gus
tom on British steamers, and the PRAYERS
were read by the ships Doctor. He had
nearly finished, when wave broke over,
m1dshlps, and the water came down
through the sky-light of the saloon to the
immediate disturbance of the devotions
of those who sat beneath At l o'clock
IN our longitude it was / o'clock in Rich
mond, and l went in spirit, at least, with
the congregation that assembled in the
Second Presbyterian church to hear DR..
Dabney, and wished that l could be one
Of the number who enjoyed that priv
ilege
FRIDAY, February GOTH
| am going to leave the Scythia at
Queenstown and will 90 Uja Dublin,
Kingston, Holyhead, and Chester, direct
TO London, thus saving a day, and ena-
bling me to reach Paris by Saturday night.
NOW that we are in sight Of land once
more l cannot repress an emotion Of sad
ness that the romantic eagerness to see
the shores Of the old world can come but
once, and that the thrill Of emotion with