The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-07-20

her task an easv one as pitted against NOR
tai women,
To philosophic observer the manoeuyr-
ing for deck positions among the .dowaRers
is the comedy Of the day. The overture is
played every evening at bedtime. Now,
sailor" says Mrs. Fatandforty-women
never have individual names for the sturdy
fellows who SO patiently do
their bidding-"now, sailor, be sure you
put my chair in good place the first thing
lin the morning. as early as you can tell
which is going to be the best side for the
day"
pairing sweep of his hand across his fore
head-let it here be recorded that he does
mot hitch up his trousers, which have not
that painful habit of threatening to come
loft so prevalent among nautical trousers on
the stage-for have not two hundred and
three women already put to him the same
command in the same words, and does he
mot know that there are not more than fifty
absolutely improbable positions, and will
mot the one hundred and fifty three who
lind themselves exposed to whiffs of cook
ling from the galleys or to cinders from the
or to fits of giddiness from
|sltting near the rail or to gusts from sit
Ting almost anywhere, will they not one
land all rise in their .dowagerhood and de-
clare that never again will they trust the
word Of seaman? Truly it is not the
tailed for deck duty in the touring season,
flor there are not women only to deal with,
hut also women's husbands and brothers
and sons who are reused from their maps
before the decks are fairly swabbed down
and sent out to carry the war into Africa
folding and comfortably establishing those
of the women of their own kin. The holder
female spirits are themselves stirring be-
times, and 80 we'll is the purpose of their
activity oomprehended that it is impossible
for an innocent person to show herself
being aocosted in somewhat apprehensive
tone, want your chair placed, mum?" or
TITS all right. mum; as soon as the first
officer passes the word we're going to
stretch that awning"
Forty eight hours out from Sandy Hook
the days that were before We left New York
|are not, and the days that will be after we
pass the Fastnet are not, and we are in q
little island of time. Is this why the tongue
J of the dowager who wears diamonds and
canno4 speak passably correct English is
loosened and she pirates monotonously and
INCREASINGLY from under her many wrap
pings of her horses, her city and country
Is this why long after her seasickness has
vanished she taxes the patience of the deck
steward by orderingd dinners of seven courses
brought on deck, until, wearying of trans
porting soups and fish and entries and
FONTS and salads and sweets and fruits and
nuts and coffee, all waseed down with cham.
payne, he contemplates ruefully his piles Of
dishes and mutters under his breath: Folks
that can eat all that stuff oughter go down
after it like Christians to thesssaloon."
In this floating village of 1000 souls it is
pleasantest on the hurricane deck with the
younger people, in the shadow of the ships
boats, where one contemplates the festoons
- al, khoSP vvo1o he
how fine it would be to sit at second table,
DO to speak, at shipwreck and hang on by
that fringe after the boat had all the pas
sengers it would carry inside. In the long,
azy day one has ample time to choose a
middle loop and mark it reserved" with a
pit of ribbon that the sharks may take first
hose unlucky mortals who cling nearest
brow and stern.
It is ON the hurricane deck that the duch-
,ss holds her court. So the lawyer and &C
or have christened her. New York knows
he duchess. It worships her dimples. The
duchess is gotten up nautically in blue,
braided and embroidered gorgeously with
ed. She wears a yachting cap, and whom
ne breezes blow she shows very small rms.
las steamer chair and her mother has an
the, but the mother gets little benefit from
ownership for possession is claimed
uccessively by the lawyer, the actor. the
'ubs from the military school, the young
ngineer from Harvard, the ships doctor
ghy is the ships doctor always the ladies'
nan among the officers?-and even by the
aptain. The doctor tells her his best sto-
y; it concerns an Englishman who got both
lis legs broken in fall and reviled the
ervant who sent for a surgeon, protesting
o the end that the doctor might set one
eg but that he would himself see to the
ther, and that if the DOCTORS leg got well
rst he would pay the bill for both legs
but that If his leg were the first to recover
he doctor should go without q farthinp
IF course such picturesque tale has it,
roper conclusion in the rout of the
MUSICIAN and the triumph of domestic
ureery, but it avails its teller nothing
uchess' young affections, he wraps her boz
f bears fur about her, he holds the f1yine
fleets while her marquise ring glitters in
he sun, as she writes letter home, he
teadies her tottering footsteps on thos<
ouis Quinze heels, he-yes, he puts in q
airpin when she fastens up those unruly
elbow curls.
The lawyer is more fortunate in his sec
nd venture. He promenades with shy,
ark girl in tartan plaid, q shirt front and
four-in-hand tie. ''Take care" says thu
ctor at lunch time, call the Johnnies vii
gave her, if you claim a monopoly and then
ou'll be stuck for the rest of the VOYAGE
ne lawyer prOmenadeS for the afternoon
t dinner he is radiant. ''There's going t
. moon." he SAYS, land then two soul.
nth but single thought one rug thai
srves for two. Let's be happy before we
ct that northeast gale.''
Little Brooklyn" too, has q masculine
Importer on either side. Brooklyn-this
gain, is what the actor calls her-is plum
nd peachy checked, ard il she wouldn'
arken her long lashes and look ON tn,
owder pun when it is pinky she would be
ext the duchess, the prettiest girl on board
little brooklyn sings and she il going 4
'aris for lessons, and she hopes to max
Or herself a name. Little Brooklyn ia
espite the lash pencil and the powder pan
very sweet and innocent that We all sigl
hen the actor says she has chosen th,
ardest Of all possible careers, and that i
be we're his sister be voald urge her 4
i've mp her hopes and % hons. Littl,
isookiyn b afraid shs i soing - b home