The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-05-24


TNE AfHSs ward and homeward
TjhSsM through the Golden Gate
"a VA in the Panama steamer
w Sacramento. The parting
gun had been fired, the captain, naval
cloak, cap, eyeglass and all, had descended
from his perch Of command on the paddle
box, the engine settled steadily to its
work, Telegraph Hill, Meigg's Wharf,
Black Point, Alcatraz, Lime Point, Fort
Point, one by one receded and crept into
the depressing gloomy fog, the mantle in
which San Francisco loves SO well to
wrap herself The heave Of the Pacific
began to be plainly felt, and with it the
customary misery.
The first two days out are devoted to
Bea and home sickness. Every body is
wretched about something. No sooner
is the steamer mile beyond the Heads
than we, who for years have been await
ing blessed deliverance from Califor-
MIA, are seized with unutterable long
ings to return. All at once we discover
how pleasaNt is the land and its people,
We review its associations, it's life, it's
peculiar excitements and tho warm
friendships We have made there. And
now it is all fading in the fog; the
Cliff House is disappearing, it is going, it
is gone. Heart and stomach are contem-
poraneously wretched; we bury our
selves in our berths; we call upon the
steward and stewardess;" wish ar
IDENTITY that some accident may befall
the ship and oblige her to put back.
Mol Not more memorable, certain and
inevitable is the earth in its revolution,
the moon in its orbit, or ones landlord
when the rent is overdue, than is the
course of the stately vessel south.
South, day after day, she plunges; the
North star links, the sky becomes fairer,
the air milder, the ocean of softer blue;
the sunsets develop the tints of fairy
land: the sunrise mocks all human orna-
mentation in its gorgeousness. Light
coats and muslin dresses blossom OH the
promenade deck; the colored walters de-
Velop white linen suits and faultless
neckties. The sea air on the northern
edge of the tropic zone is balm for
every wound, and forces us into content
against our perverse wills.
We had a medley on board. There
was batch Of sea captains going east,
some with wives, some without. One of
the maritime madams they said could
navigate vessel as well as her husband;
she certainly had sailor balance in
walking the deck in rough weather.
There was tall, Mephistophelic looking
German youth, who daily took up a posi-
ton Oh deck, fortified by novel, a cigaf
and field glass, never spoke word to
any one and was reported to be baron.
There were dOgmatic young English
man with a heavy burr in his voice, who
seemed making business of seeing the
world; stocky young fellow, one of
Morgans men during the war, and an
other who had seen his term of service
on the Federal side; stout lady, dissat-
isfied with everything, sick of travelling,
dragging about with her thin legged
husband well stricken in years, who in
terfered feebly with her tantrums, and
young man who at the commencement
of the trip started out with amazing
CELEBRITY and success in making himself
popular This last was CHEEKY, chip
perry young fellow; his stock in trade
was small. but he knew how to display
1t to the best advantage. 1t gave out IN
about ten days, and everybody voted
him bore. He took seriously to drink
ing brandy ere we arrived in New York.
And then came the rank and file, with
out sufficient individuality as yet devel-
oped TO be even disagreeable.
But there was one other, a well TO do
Duchess county farmer, who had trav-
eled across the continent to see Cali
forny," and concluded to take the
steamer on his way home to observe as
much as he might of Central America; a
man who had served the Empire State
In her legislature; a man mighty IN
reading. Such walking encyclopedia
of facts, figures. history, poetry, meta
physics and philosophy | never met be-
fore. He could quote Seward. Bancroft,
Carl Schurz, Clay and Webster by the
hour. His voice was of the sonorous,
nasal order, with a genuine Yankee
twang. j tried in vain TO spring on him
some subject whereof he should appear
ignorant.
One might as well have endeavored to
show Noah Webster new word III the
English language And all this knowl-
edge during the trip ne ground out In
lots to order. 1t fell from his lips dry
and dusty. 1t lacked soul II smelt
overmuch of histories, biographies and
,-olitical pamphlets. He turned 1t all
out in that mechanical way, as though
it were ground through coffee mill
Even his admiration was dry and life
less. So was his enthusiasm. lie kept
both measured out for occasions. 1t Is
pleasant sail along the Central Amerl~
can coast, to see the shores lined with
forests so green. with palms and cocoa
nuts, ana In the background dark vol
canic cones; and this man, in respect
able black suit. standing collar and a
haaVer hat. would gazs thereon by the