Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1881-04-06
AUGUSTA ApR11e 1881 81
NO. 80.

/ uSatu Hiahe heT u >te3uN Saitor-3S tue pas
sengers on her first voyage can testify, for in
the midst of succession of heavy gales she
neither rolled nor pitched to any extent. and
on the worst day there was not the slightest
need of placing racks on the tables. Every
improvement, has been introduced: she is
built of steel, has steam steering apparatus.
telegraph in the engine room and several
steering places, and is as light, airy and COM
Portable as money and the latest inventions
can make her. She was on exhibition for
three days and thousands of people visited
her.-over 5000 in one day. An admission
fee of ten cents was charged and the pro-
ceeds given TO city charities. Nearly 81, 500
was made in this way, and the same plan is
to be pursued in Halifax.
| Wednesday afternoon Sir Hugh Allan en-
tertained about $50 gentlemen on board the
steamer. Governor Long, Collector Beard
aud other distinguished people being among
the number. After the Luncheon" as it
was modestly called. had been served, an
hour and half was devoted to speech max
ing These were all worth hearing or read
ing, but of those in a jocose vein, that of
Gen. Swift was particularly happy. The
newspapers report him something like this:
SPEECH OF GENERAL JouN l.. SWIFT
am not one of the principal merchants Of
Boston. Laughter. have nothing what
ever to do Nth the railroad or the shipping
business; belong TO that large and respect
ed class that come under the head of "other
citizens" Laughter. | read this morn
ing in the new spaper that this was a sub line.
this Boston affair, and am anxious to know
what the main line is, il this is a subordinate
concern. Laughter. am also anxious to
know what a regular full meal would be il
this is only a luncheon. Loud laughter and
applause. The speaker claimed a special
right to be present, because he was a men,
Der of the legislature in 1855. and favored
the construction of the Hoosac tunnel: and
also because, by the partiality Of the collector
| of the port "who is and is To be for many
years" loud applause and cheers |, he was at
the head of the marine department, and no
vessel could come into this port without COM
| ing over his body dead or alive. Laughter.
While we look upon the grand proportions
| of this vessel and admire the skill of that
masculine part Of il, so far rs its workman
ship is concerned, yet the first time as l
looked around upon the grace and beauty and
lovelness of this uncqualed ship, realized
why she is classed with that gentlcr sex
without which life would be barren
blank, and existence an unknown
quantity. Laughter and applause
1t is said that an old Greek, watching the
ships us they sailed out of Pyr@us, became
| infatuated with the idea that they
belonged to him personally, and always
waited with great anxiety for their return;
| and when cured Of his malady he said the
greatest pleasure of his life had been in the
safety of ships in which he had not a particle
of interest. So l, sitting, As do, at my
desk taking the oaths OF these brave com
manders as they come and 90, have come to
have a sort of dreamy, poetic, sub
| lime, undivided interest in these i'm
mense steamers, although no part
| of the dividend ever came my way. Laugh
| ter. None the less do | admire these saga
| cious and masterful men who stand at the
| helm in storm and cold well as calm and
sunshine in command of these transatlantic
ships that like mighty shuttlcs, go to and fro
weaving the web of that vast product we call
civilization. Loud applause.) Looking
| around upon this immense vessel, this
| wonderful specimen Of maritime mechanism,
we feel that it is no mere ship, no mere sys-
TEN of transportation for cattle or for people,
but we realize that it is force in civilization:
that its operations are above the mere level Of
an investment of capital that they are the
bringing together of the old and the new, the
bringing together in firmer bonds of unity
and sympathy the land of Carlyle and the land
of Emerson. Applause
| In the evening a banquet was rendered Sir
Hugh by the city.
EsrELLE NJ. HATCH.