The Iola register., 1891-07-24

| ing National airs, parades the decks
and files past the state rooms, "cele-
bratingn in the good old noisy Amer
lean way. 1t has been great day
and we go to bed, happy in the con-
sciousness that we are nearly as tired
and sleepy as We would have been If
we had spent the day on land.
***
NINTH DAY.
AS far as weather is concerned this
day is very much like last Sunday.
But as far as people are concerned
there is almost infinite difference. Last
Sunday there was not a passenger on
the boat who was not willing to de-
clare with my little waiter that he
was "full up Of it," and who would
not have been willing to affirm on his
honor that there could never be any
thing pleasant or comely or interesting
on ship board. This Sunday it has
not been uncommon to hear express
sions of actual regret that the journey
lis so soon to be over. Thus are our
views of life influenced by the condi-
tions of our stomachs.
| We are to touch at Queenstown to-
morrow and everybody is busy getting
home letters ready to be mailed there,
so there have been no incidents worthy
of record except the appearance of a
whale about noon, the first one seen
thus far. After spouting several times
he "turned tail"-a dozen feet of it,
and disappeared, absolutely declining
to repeat the entertainment, though
enthusiastically encored.
This letter has been written day by
day and has endeavored to give as
clear picture as possible of life on
ship-board aud the impressions that
are made upon one who goes to sea
for the first time. The record may be
made somewhat more complete, per-
haps, by few general observations.
), The color of the sea depends entirely
upon the condition of the sky. When
the sky is clear the sea is intensely
: blue, bluer than I had ever imagined
lit. But when clouds come the blue
disappears and the water becomes al
ugly and desolate gray, like liquid
cast iron. 1t is indescribably fascinat
ing and beautiful when it is blue; Il
is lonely and terrifying when 1t il
gray.
The sailors in their off.watch games
are vastly amusing. They prepar'
for the merriment by tricking them
3 selves out in the most fantastic fash
|, ion, blacking their faces, or painting
:, them like Indians, putting OIL women'
!, clothing, and all sorts of curious tog
t gerry. A favorite device is to sew Ions
!. strips of gunny-bag onto their shor
pea jackets, grotesque caricature of th'
: fashionable "swallow tail" Thei
e games are the very toughest of hors'
8 play, but they are carried out with in
: variable good humor and seem to af
: ford the participants as much enter
o tainment as they do the spectators.
1 have not been the least sea sick
}. so 1 have no personal grudge agains
4 the ocean. But don't think I shoulC
e ever be able to fall i'm love with it. L
d interests me and fascinates me ant
= fills ME with awe, but it does no
d charm me. AS look out over it da.
g after day, see its ceaseless, unrestin'
e motion, and hear the constant murmu
Q of its many voices, can think of
g only as a great beast, quiet now, bu
e sullen and complaining and likely a
e any moment to rise i'm wrath tha
d would be uncomfortable and all-de
e stroyiug. 1t doesn't seem a thing t
b lay my hand OH and love and make
home.
d One who travels Oh a modern steam
l. er doesn't see much of sailing as fin
= lart. All these steamers carry sails, t
h be sure, but they are set and furled b.
d steam, aud one listens i'm vain for tn
picturesque, poetic sea-slang of Coope
e and Marryat. Once in while sin
gle sailor may be seen aloft, and oc "a
.ionally the musical "yo-he-yo-ho
lo-o!n may be heard as the stragglin
d end of some sail is secured. But fo
+ the most part nothing is heard but tn
:, ceaseless throb of the great engines.
o Socially, the ship is a little world
n in which the great world is repeate,
It aud epitomized. Ten days ago nearl.
d all of us were strangers. Already W
% are as well acquainted as if we ha'
s been i'm the same community on LAM
for nearly that many years. Alread.
ID we are gossiping about each other ant
l. criticising and scandalizing. Alread.
s lasting enmities have been incurred
il and already one engagement is an
e nounced and at least one other i
$ momentarily expected. We live rapid
e ly OH ship board.
v TENTH DAY.
t After all hour OH deck this morning
: I am almost conscience stricken owe
the hard words said yesterday abou
the sea. The sun is shining, there i
a fresh wind fair astern, and the blu
e waves, with their crown of white com,
Q leaping and following after as if Joy