Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1889-06-10
"CROSSING THE POND. "
Novelties at Sea as Seen by
the Cyclers.
The Journal Correspondent Writes
Of Clear Skies,
Gentle SBellS, Practical Jokes and Incl.
dents Of The Voyage.
Baked Noses and Sunburned Cheeks
AdOfn the Party.

QrEENsrowN, Ma, q.
Oa ard $. ;. Cephalonia May n. 1889.
E'ery'h,ug goes magnl hcently with the Eu
ropean cycle party and here where least ex-
p cited, ali are having a jolly time. We are
today 90 the banks of New f1undlaud snd ia
voed with most charming weather. hile the
sea is a placid as the Kennebec aside from
the ever present long swell The snip is
not perfectly steady yet there has not a,
airy time been motion enough to make A per
s0n on board sick
Crossing the ocean has nov come 70 be so
mmon an occurrence that to people who
have never veniured, the novelty of the un
dcrtaklng seems quite exhausted But they
have only to experience the delights of a
voyage TO have aroused in them sense of
the sublime greater than any of which they
ever before conceived. Nothing 80 tends to
realization of mans insignifcance
Thoughts are elevated TO their highest level
whe contemplating the wonders of the deep
Biographies tell OF the long distance by
water, but We read half understa; dinghy,
gathering but partial import of the words
An uutrhveled man, no matter how much he
thinks so, has no accurate comprehension of
the size of the Atlantic. Inthese days it has
come % be familiar wing, Crossing the
pond, but " hat an enormous sheet of water
il l.. Those who thus lightly speak have no
idea. The truth is we boys have been deep
" lmpres sed. How we shall feel if rough
weather comes-if it should-this letter may
show in the closing paragraphs Our course
has been somewhat south of the regular
route, icebergs having been reported. bat
this afternoon the Prov WAS h, AIDED north
east and will SO stay for number of dars
As yet. we have had no fog, although gen r
ally accounted prevalent in this region.
Promptly at noon last Saturday our steamer
alided from the dock at East Boston, amid
the cheers of the assembled crowd. answered
nth touch of pathos by the good bye." of
the party. In an hour the Hub had faded
from view. and before dark all American
shores were left behind. 1t is no small
thing to leave your native land to say fare
well-if only for a time--to all that is held
dear, and every one seemed speechess in
contemplation of what was happening. All
were thinking thoughts they could not voice
But why dwell on theme so often and
graphically described, Our pen cannot com
pass the delights experienced, which are more
than life has yet afforded.
Sunday was reverentlv passed. At half
past ten the dining sa oon was crowded with
passengers, and worship conducted by the
ships surgeon after the Episcopal form.
Peculiarly imprt ssiye 1t seemed, and vested
with additional attractions unknown on land.
Services on the steerage deck twice during
che day, addressed by Hungarian
attracted much attention. The sun
yet as viewed fr.m the aft deck was
magnificent Not only lid it apparently sink
INTO the sea, of itself a charming sight, but
when nearing the horizon seemed to assume
shapes of varying beauty and curiosity, now
resembling tunnel, quickly changing to a
mushroom, a m untain of fire, and other
things, all within the space of two or three
minutes.
A good deal of amusement vas created
Monday morning by dancing TO music fur
nished by an ACCORDION. Virginia reel,
polka and waltz were all on the order. Be
fore this the antics of the steerage people in
their iigs and the like made high sport for
many who looked down from the promenade
deck 1t is dangerous for any member of
our party to fall asleep in his chair, which
is apt to be rather q common occurrence
Such azness is at once spotted and a dozen
or more gather around the unsuspecting vic
tim TO shoat in concert, Great Scott The
snoozer thu. perhaps little rudely awak-
ened, jumps up exctedly with a wild look
on his cosntenance and thereupon there is a
great laugh. This trick has been worked
often. the writer claiming the distinction of
being among those entrapped.