The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1889-12-07

" both regularly, freely, with nc
beating about the bush. At our
table on my right is young man
and his wife who are missionaries to
India, from Scotland. They keep
together apparently afraid of the
world in general, and convinced that
their only safety lies in being to-
gether. The young man is chiefly
interesting for two things; timidity;
and for the fact that he writes most
of the alphabet after his name. 1t
runs like this John NJ. Alexander,
A. M. b. Sc. B. D. b. NJ. C. NJ. 1t
has been matter of speculation
among some of us why the remain
ing letters of the alphabet were ex-
cluded, and how soon they will fol-
low the suit Of the more favored of
their number. The opposite side
from where my friend sits is occu-
pied by an old lady whose forehead
is so smooth and polished that it al
most reflects the light My friend
wondered if she used pumice stone
and emery in bringing it to such
state of perfection. Her eyes, for a
long time defied description, but
finally we came across sentence in
one of Charles Kingsley's novels in
which he spoke of woman with pig
eyes. My friend clapped his hands
and said that is it. "Pig eyes"
She drinks two bottles of ale each
day and talks of little else except
the number of voyages she has made
to India, and as she gets warmed up
on her favorite topic her month
makes a noise not unlike that of a
swapping turtle. At the third table
is an Irish girl whose genuine good
nature, impulsive warm heartedness
sharp repartee have made the saloon
ring with merriment more than once
At the same table are a major and a
captain in the Indian army, both
fairly good fellows, except that the
major effects good deal of con-
tempt for anything not military.
Besides these already referred to
there are number of other passen-
gers of a more or less nondescript
character. But / have spoken of the
ones of chief interest, unless it be a
bright, athletic, accomplished blonde
who sits at the captains table and
who is now on her way to the Holy
Land. But as she seems to be en-
gagged to the effeminate Englishman
above described, l take little interest
in her.
1t may be interesting to readers
to know how we pass the time on
ship board. l may say in general
we manage to consume the biggest
part of it in eating and sleeping.
Even then the remainder seems to
drag heavily. We eat breakfast at
9. ''Tefire' (lunch) at p. m. and
Dinner $50. Then at p. m. we
have tea, and at a. IN. a dusky
oriental, in his bare feet glides into
our cabins bearing a cup of tea, and
two crackers, and with gentle
touch to awaken us, calls out in a
minor key Tea sir" and departs as
silently as he came. After that we
lie down again to sleep until the
breakfast bell rings. During the
day we occupy ourselves with books,
games or with walking up and down
the upper deck. In the evening we
have music if any one will play.
Once week so far we have regular
concerts given by any of the passen-
gers who are fortunate enough to
lay claim to any musical talent.
1t was my purpose to speak of
Gibralter, and other points Of inter
est on the way. But this letter is
already too long So l will have to
pass in silence the strongest fortress
in the world lying like lion crouch
ed ready to spring on any daring adj
venturer who shall invade her rocky
domain. England has shown her
tact and foresight in Selling and
holding with an iron grip, this key
to the Mediterranean. After leav-
ing Gibralter we saw the mountain
GUS coast of Africa in the distance
lifting her head among the clouds.
On the Spanish side we saw the
Sierra Nevadas whose Jagged peaks
seemed to vie with each other In
presenting the most picturesque
scene. Its lofty SUBMITS capped
with eternal SHOWS glittering in the
slanting rays of the afternoon sun,
presented spectacle truly sublime.
/ should like to speak of the Ocean
sunsets, of moonlight on the sea, of
balmy days, and smooth seas, of the
Island of Malta made famous through
all time by the ship wreck of the
"Great apostle to the Gentiles" as
he went on that sad journey to Rome
to meet his final doom, of many
other things, but will not now. Our
ship is just now off the mouth of the
Nile. Tomorrow at IL a. m. we
land at Port Said in Egypt to take
ON supplies. This is our first stop
ping place since leaving England.
Very Respectfully L. A. CORE,
Steam Ship Anchoria Nov. s 1889.