The Big Stone post. (Big Stone Gap, Va.) 1890-1892, 1891-01-16

times making it in seve I, while the grey
hounds of the other mentioned lines ire
auentIy accomplish the distance in SIX.
The Inman cracks, the City of New York,
City of Paris, LaBourgogno and LaBre-
tacnc. of the Trausatlantique, have their
warm supporters, but OF these two lines !
am unable to speak as yet from personal
The tables on the French
men is highly praised by some, but gen.
eral feeling seems to prevail that the
Gauls are not rs reliable seamen, nor to
be as thoroughly depended upon in an
emergency IS their Anglo-Sa1on and Teu-
tonic rivals.
Personally, l believe the White Star
ships, Teutonic and Majestic, to be the
most desirable They are colossal YES
sells, the latest built and with all known
devices united in them to secure safety and
speed with comfort and space.
Despite their great sizes (thcy arc but {"
few feet shorter. than the Great Eastern),
they carry but three hundred cabin pass
engers, or less than half the complement
Of the Umbria and Etruria, although lar
ger boats, comment on the matter OF COM
fort thus secured is needless. The saloon
tables seat this entire number. Space on
deck is immense, affording abundant room
for all chairs and ample promenading
space beside.
The service and fares exceptionally
good and state-rooms large and cores
pondingly expensive, but this is place
where few dollars is, l believe, false
economy.
If strict economy is necessary some of
the less popular and slower lines, to which
have not referred, are, of course,
cheaper.
Having made your choice of
steamer, purchase your ticket. See that
with this the agent supplies you with
gummed labels, bearing the name Of your
ship and the word (" hold or " cabin" ac-
cording to which your baggage is des-
tined-for one or the other place.
Then proceed to your bankers and take
out "lettcr of credit for larger sum
than you intend to use, thus securing
Yourself against emergencies.
Provide supply of English gold and
silver, and familarizc yourself with reck-
oning in pounds, shilings and pence, also
with the relative values Of the two
monies.
Passports are desirable; they are pro-
cured from Washington. signed by the
Secretary of State. a notary public will
attend to this for you for small sum.
They are not needed in England, but
when passing from France into Germany
via Alsace Lorraine or southwark into
Spain, or when travelling in Russia, Aus
tria and the Orient, they are essential.
In the matter OF feeling at the end of
the voyages, 4 fair and average amount is
as follows: Ten shillings to your table
steward, the same to your room steward.
unless YOU have been i'll during the voy-
age and required constant attention, when
a pound is customary. In regard to the
deck steward, leeway is observed. If YOU
prove good sailor and require no atten-
ton of course no fee is necessary. In the
case of ladies or invalids taking their
meals on deck constantly, from ten shill-
to a pound is proper.
Going on board. any letters or kilograms
sent yon to the steamer will be found on
one of the tables in the saloon. Your
cabin baggage, ii you have sent any on
ahead, will lie found in the statc-room if
properly labeled, as previously referred
to, while that for the "hold has Doubt
less been similarly disposed Of.
An early application to the purser. after
leaving the dock, for your seat at table is
advisable You can often make your own
selection if the particular place is not al
ready pre-empted by a still earlier appli-
cant.
\ tug accompanies the steamer down
the harbor and an hour or so is vouch-
safcd YOU in which to write last adieus to
the dear ones. The little craft drops
astern and YOU are fairly off.
4 steamer trunk is most desirable; these
may be any length and width. but should
he under fourteen inches in height, in or
der to slide under the berth and be out
of the way
Provide yourself with thick, rough
suit, which salt spray will not injure, two
or three close-titting caps of cloth or eft
leather. These are We. prone to he
blown overheard hence it is as well to be
supplied With duplicate shoes, with rubber
.ss5;iIes for pacing the deck. q long ulster
and heavy shawl or rug. if you have
brought q steamer chair and expect to sit
much on deck.
Don't deceive yourself. i'll regard to
weather. With the thermometer in the
nineties on shore. YOU will probably,
within twenty-four hours, need all your
wraps. The days when one can sit on
deck without an outer garment are few
and far between.
Concerning choice Of rooms, the ont
side ones are of course preferable Oh ac-
count of light and ventilation. Avoid
those near the machinery or ash chutes,
as the noise is most distracting, particu-
larly if one he i'll. Likewise shun those
rooms where the windows look out upon
the stecrngc and its occupants. The
noise of all hours of the day or night
is fatal to quiet or slumber. Those rooms
nearest the saloon and milships are the
most desirable, the motion then of course
being at minimum. The captains. Off,
GERS, purser's and chief engineers rooms
may generally be secured by the payment
of considerable premium. If you have
any tendency to mai de mer, make point
of eating a plain biscuit or something
similar on awaking. and prior to
getting up or making any cxertion
in an upright position; then dress
quickly and get ON deck into the fresh
air for few turns before breakfast, thus
serving the triple purpose of exercise,
freshening your lungs and pulling Yourself
together generally, and procuring an APP
petite. OF course if you find after few
attempts that eating. or attempting to eat
your meals in tho saloon is fatal to your
peace of mind and stomach take them on
deck Again, whether in your cabin or
chair if feeling at all squeamish, avoid
looking at swinging articles about the