New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-06-17
EIOT NHIpS.

The new era in steamships Is making great
change in Of the most attractive aspects OF tDe
sea VOYAGE To the restless Of business, hurry
ing to make his purchases and get home again WIN
the least possible waste of time, and to the un1Ortu-
nate persons for whom the ocean means nothing Dut
prolonged misery, the increase OF speed IS an I'M
mixed blessing; but the trip is losing certain
charm for which many travellers Will think tine
quick pace no compensation. The summer voyage
used TO be- in their case the best imaginable rest lot
the overstrained vital forces. There is haste and
pressure enough on shore; there used TO be many a
bright and quiet day on the Atlantic when we
lounged for hours on the shady side of the decS'
lnlled by the pure breeze and the sound OF the hap
ping sails and telt chat we could be idle with SAFE
conscience and that time no longer our tyraht.
4 fine weather voyage then meant season of re-
pose, of the standard length of ten days. Nobody
tried TO make it less and nobody worried.
Bat now that the rivalry in speed has begun. the
travellers temper changes. He can no longer rest
at sea He brings board with him worry ana
eagerncss He is riding great race. and there is
crowd of noisy and excited people around MIN. Keep
ing tally of the run. betting on it, selling pools, put
ting their nerves to the stretch in mad longing to
cut down the record by another ten minutes THERE'S
no more of the delicious languor of the summer seas
The ocean has lost some of its immensely and
grandeur; ii has grown smaller and even little
vulgar. churned as it is by n hundred bic excursion
boats. all crowded with inpatient passengers who
are leaning over the bulwarks in their eagerness to
get ashore first. In year more the man who needs
a rest will as soon think of fast railway ride as OF
a voyage to Liverpool
The truth is that the characteristics of travel by
water are undergoing the same change which has
taken place in travel by land and that senti-
mental Journey over any part of the globe is be-
coming an impossibility. The old fashioned steamer
is as much thing of the past the post-chaise or
the stage-coach There was a species of enjoyment
in the long drive country roads. flavor OF adj
venture in the descent at waysde inns and The COM
partnership of strange people, which we have
certainly lost; but probably we have lost
our capacity for this kind of holiday pleas
IRE along with our opportunity fer trying 1t;
and the drcamicst of loungers. if he were sent
travelling now in his grandfatheIs vehicles, would
soon begin fret for the lightning express just 50
the same persons who used to enjoy most kecny the
leisure and mental repose of ten days ut sea are
miserable now unless they compass the same
distance in seven, and specializing upon the
chance of doing it next year in less than six. The
sea has been spoiled for them since rival excursion
contractors have taken to Boosting how biz bust
ness in foreign tours they do ut wholesale rates,
and how fast and far they shoot their customers
over the deep for two hundred dollars Speed is the
law of our steam civilization, and Of course the
world must have fast ships; and yet it is pity too.