Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1884-05-15

| udiieu with welcome deHght. a
spouting whale in sight is enough to
invite every we'll passenger on deck.
A few whales are generally seen on
each voyage. A short time ago the
ship ran against sleeping whale. 1t
stopped the 1000 ton vessel going at
Is miles an hour and it was compelled
to back out of the whale tissue, in
which it entered several feet. A peeu-
liar phenomenon was observed by a
passenger on previous voyage in
which Sword Fish and Thrasher
combined to kill whale. This is
confirmed by sailors who frequently
see it. The Sword Fish cuts and
pierces the whale by swimming against
him with his sword fin and the Thrash
er Ga fish weighing tnns) raises his
tail some 10 to Is feet in the air and
thus continually thrashes the whale
until death ends the scene. The por-
poises are the animals which most
constantly interest voyagers.
Concerts are held on the vessel in
which mingles varied nations with
varied talents. The passengers are
generally first, second and third class
distinctly seperate in apartments and
table. The ship employees 200 hands
and burns abou: 200 tons of coal a
day. Land then appears with joyful
shout--a qualification both from feel
ings of safety and monotony (Which
on sea is nausea. This land is the
large county of Cork in the Emerald
Isle, Ireland. This is where witty
Pat and jolly Mike O'Flanigan comes
FROM and this [ understand is where
the original Bridget was born. The
eastern coast of Ireland is very rough
and the land appears rocky and poor
in soil. Forty acres seems to have
almost as many farmers and they live
in little low houses on the farms. II
puzzles an American with broad acres
in his head how these people live on
such small bits of land. If there be
any fence it is almost always of rock.
Directly in wide contrast to this you
will see the mansion or home of some
Lord who owns hundreds of acres and
devotes large tracts to game for hunt
ing sport. Here he dwels in luxury
and magnificience. In appearance and
intelligence he does seem like Lord
in contrast to those poor and necess-
arily ignorant tenants. No wonder
that the laboring 1riShman clamors and
hopes for the day when he can eat his
own potatoes on his own plate, under
his own shamrock Few horses are
used on these small farms.
The next land we come to is Wales,
a rough and rocky, thickly settled
place. 1t looks about as productive
for farming as pumpkin hill, in Grand
Rapids. 1t has very industrious
people. England now hoves in sight.
You are sure to know it if any English
man is on board as he will at once say:
this is Great Britain. You will
remember John Bull lives here who
murdered the letter Fl, it being restor-
ed in the 10th century by a Yankee.
Liverpool is black city from coal
dust. 1t has some 10 miles of ship
ping docks. is probably the greatest
port in the world. The streets are
narrow and all paved with rock. A
trip across England gives fair idea of
English life. The land is cultivated
to the utmost extent of production.
Every available foot of ground receives
due attention. Their stock is we'll fed
and kept. The fences are rock or
hedge. A hedge fence will grow
strong enough in about years to turn
stock. The Spring of England is
weeks in advance of Wisconsin. The
green fields and medows of England
are now we'll advanced. The blooming
blossoms. the precursor of fruit covers
the whole land The Englishman is
not genius Gas that was probably
willed to America) but he is faithful
persistent worker. There is a char
acteristic solidity about the E nglish
people and their works. 1t is so
thickly settled that outside Of the
large cities the whole might be called
| a VILLAGE. Some narts of Lancashire