Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1889-09-19
Reflector Supplement.
For the REFLECTOR.
TO THE FAR EAST.
G1RRALTEE TO CEYLoN.

eomnared to what it was twenty years
400. and in these days OF progress win
steam. electricity, etc, it IS quite d
holiday tour. and a voyage around tie
world does not occupy as much time as
q VOYAGE TO India and Australia uSed
to take with the sailing vessels. Ibis
an old salt regrets as in steamers a
sailor is almost getting thing OF the
mast: in a few years more no sailors
will he left to spin their yarns as when
of old we boys used TO listen Ill wonder
ond CONSERVATION at the tales of wind,
hurricanes. cyclones and typhoons,
ships scudding under bare poles, halr
breadth escapes ard all hands at the
pumps to keep the weather-beaten Old
craft afIoat and save their lives; then
after their trials aud hardships are over
forgetting all about their great danger
and wondering how the wooden OLD
craft pulled through.
Now instead of wooden ships they
are nearly all iron aud unless they
touch something outside, the pumps
with their hardShips are not required
and if they are steam is applied instead
of the old jog, jog, of the men. Ihs
sailors in the steamers are required
to do scarcely any sailors work. II lie
can steer land that is done by steamJ
and furl a sail occasionally 1t is all mat
il asked of him. most of his time
being employed cleaning paint WORK.
painting again, washing and cleaning
decks.
The men are as good as ever blu:
have not the opportunities of learning
to be sailors as formerly, steamers TAX
ing the place of sailing vessels.
The Suez canal has quite revolution
lied the maritime world. Once 1t was
only people with means who could
afford to go the overland route as 1t
was called to the east, the others had
to 90 via the Cape, and if they did 1t
under the 100 days they were very
much pleased.
OF course The old salt is not pleased
az the great change but still he believes
that for the world in general the open
ing of the Suez canalfs great adVan-
tage.
When one has decided by what lInc
of steamers lie will travel, he goes Oh
board his vessel at tie docks in London.
chooses his berth, gets AS near midshIps
as possible If he is afraid of being sea
sick, or near the companion or stair
cases so rs to have as much fresh air rs
possible. (Some like to be as near The
bar as possible SO that when they feel
thirsty they can quench their longings.)
Ifhe cannot afford to take whole cabin
he tries to get as agreeable a chum as
possible to sleep in the same cabin.
Most of the mail boats have only two
berths in cabin, formerly there were
two, four and six, then if you got only
one disagreeable person it was not a
paradise, the same as one bad sailor
very often spoils good crew.
You make a start, and, like all pass
engers, wish to have the last look of
the land you are leaving. Of course if
one's native land the more sad is the
parting; going very often away from
all those who are dear to carve ones
own way in this weary world.
If weather is fine you see England
end with the Isle of Wight; next day
France is in sight; then comes the
much-dreaded Bay of Biscay-not so
bad as it is painted, for sometimes tits
smooth enough there; but give dog
bad name and it will stick to him.
A distance of 800 miles from France
you have crossed the Bay of Bisoay and
see Spain near the rocky coast of Cape
Finisterre. You keep about sixty
miles off the land until you c1me near
Cape Roca, close to Lisbon, and if day
light it is sight well worth seeing,
with its numerous villages of white
sQuare-looking houses. Then at dis
tence of 100 miles you come to the Gel
ebrated Cape St. Vincent, with its nun
merry and lighthouse on one of the bare
edges of steep cliff; and if the At
lantic swell is rolling heavy, the air,
forced into the caves by the sea, comes
out like steam and sounds like heavy
cannon in the distance. At night you
can Imagine you feel the conclusion.
From here to Cape Trafalgar, cele-
brated as where Nelson was killed, also
by song, as "In Trafalgar bay the
Frenchmen lay" You see little land.
1t cannot be approached very closely on
account of shoals. When you see Ira
fslgar you also are in sight for the first
time of the African land, and you pro-