Omaha daily bee., 1885-07-14
IN THE YANKEE LAND.
The Joys Of an Ocean Trip From Balt.
more 10 Boston,
Moonlight on a Mirrored Sea, and
Other Aesthetic Delicacies-
Scenes in Boston Hsrbor.
Special Correspondence of the BEE.

June we left Washington at midday fol
Baltimore, and after an hours ride, more
or less, reached that city of gazslle.eyet
girls and hobby streets, drove at once tt
the wharf and bearded the steamer 'De
cantor II. Miller, Of the Merchant ant
Miners transportation company bound
for Boston. After getting settled Ii
the upper deck state rooms, to be nearer
the sky and captain for safety, we hat
ample time to watch the loading up o.
human and vegetable freight, and how
differently different people do load up
With eyes on baggage smashers-inter-
esting fellows-and ears turned for the
chatterIng of musical friends who hat
come down to say hail and farewell
| felt no impatlence to be off
for though the day wal
rather too hot to be comfortable on land,
q delicious breezs swept across the deck,
making parting q sweet aorrow. But the
beat of friends must part, and at 3 o'clock,
the appointed hour for starting, my
friends and other peoples friends said
adleu, but as steam vessels are not SO
prompt to the minute as steam cars,
though both are run by the ''iron horse
there Is q slight difference In the fellows
who hold the relns, the vessel having an
obliging captain who has some heart and
sympathy for tender. hearted lovers weep.
Ing on soft shoulders, while the terrifying
car conductor Is q hardened wretch and
will wait for no man
except the boss. The captain
gave us time to talk at long range and
hutter handkerchiefs and hats. What
would a summer jsunt be without all
these little nothings that go to fill in the
odd moments and help us throw care to
the dogs, and have a good timer
Well, the steamer weighed anchor and
glided down Chesapeake bay, which was
as smooth as a mirror. l dreamily looked
at the objects of Interest being pointed
out. l have forgotten what they were
l think they had something to do with
the war, they always do have-of 1912.
But having access to the congressional
library, with Its one or two volumes Of
war history, and having met a Washing.
ton lieutenant and his staff, such as gem
erals, colonies, etc, besides reading the
Washington Sunday papers felt no great
amount of enthusiasm for the points of
interest that had q war history. 1t was
simply heavenly to forget there ever had
been a war and strife on this beautiful
land, and enjoy the blue sky, drsped In
Its tieecy white clouds, and be famed by
the invlgoratlng breezs while playing hide
and seek with the sun, a bit of innocent
psst time that beams nc harassing
thoughts to make ftightful dreams.
% At 6 o'clock we were called below to q
very tempting supper, and 1t is something
to be at the right of the captain and his
good wife at the supper table, 1t insures
prompt attention from the walters and
attention generally, we all like 1t. The
twilight and moonlight blended into a
long, delightful evening on the deck, and
was with regret 1 Stunned In" for the
Tuesday morning l awoke to find
the steamer at the Norfolk wharf, where
we spent the day, the boat taking on
more freight, such as early string beans,
patatoes, cabbages and people. Some of
our party chaperoned by Capt. Frank
Howes and his wife went over to "Vir-
ginia Beach, a new summer resort, by
the cars In q half hours ride. Of course
this is to be the "Coney Island" of the
80 we were told by enthusiastic
Spectators. Possibly, but at present a
most barren spot with a good deal
of ocean, high surf and a big
hotel. Pleasure-starved people ard
mosquitoes have 8 good time trying to
decide which shall have the right of way.
With the sun boiling your blood by day
and these ''pesky skeeters" draining your
blood at night, surely this must be a de-
apot to spend the heated term.
Yet all things are possible with enterpris.
people. l can remember when Coney
Island was a less inviting rpot, and now
what a heaven on earth. "Virginia
may be made delightful some
lay, 1 hope 30.
1 was told that $50 the war Norfolk
was a big town." Just now it looks drow.
", as though 1t might be taking an after.
loon nap; everybody seem. too
azy for thought, even, the
'nly activity being the loading and
Unloading the vessels on the whsrves.
The labor was done by negroes, who keep
a constant talking and yelling; 80 used
re they to being yelled at that If there
5 no white 'boss' to do 1t, they yell at
ach other, keeping up o constant ~clatter
nd bang. One active Yankee would DO
he work of four negroes, and In less
ime. / marked the sharp contrast of
after reaching Boston In the unload.
ug of the vessel. Reaching Boston too
In the evening for the Fitchburg
rain, I remained on board the boat; and
Though about q hundred men were busy
the wharf and unloading the boat, 80
was the work performed our sleep
vas not In the least disturbed. 1t was a
novelty staying on the boat that
light. There were but a few passengers
our party who remained, the
eat going to their respective
ZONES and hotels. The scene about the
larbor was wiered and strange, with a
'erfect forest of masts and lag-staffs,
which were seen the different
ights of the vessels and the gas Jets of
he city beyond, with the silver sheen of
he moonlight upon the water, all added
0 the pictureaqueness of the novelty of a
light spent In Boston harbor, and the
many tales told by the jolly kind. hearted
may have had something to do with
he pleasant dream, that followed. But
o go back to Tuesday nlght-sfter leav-
ng Norfolk, we were soon out to sea and
more glorious night / never expert