Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-04-16

Parents and children are separat-
ing, old associations and children
make mems and women's hearts
bigger than can be measured. All
this separation is clouded by the
slight fear that they will never see
each other again,-the ship may
go down, death might send his
cruel messenger in some night of
sadness.
The writer minus friend or foe,
stood aside and watched the scene.
1t is said to be pleasant to stand
securely on the shore and watch
the billowy ocean tempest tossed,
to watch the sailors fight against
the fury of the sea, and to watch
the ship stem the bursting storm.
1t is said to give pleasure to stand
on some safe point and watch an
raging battle, to see the fury of
human action, to see the deadly
strife Of men IN surgIng, seething
moving wreck. But it is likely
that the sight of these troubled
scenes gives more pain than pleas
ure, for though a man be without
friend or foe, he cannot stand aloof
from his fellows. But the captain
shouts the last "all aboard" and
the ship slowly moves out of the
harbor to the waving Of handker-
chiefs. Parting tears are dried,
while those whose hopes lie on the
other side cheer up and the voyage
is begun in earnest. The land
fades from sight, and nothing but
water and sky can be seen. 0 for
a home far away from the bound
less deep! Now, a part Of this
voyage was like the mellow sun
shine of content among quiet
lovely flowers, but the other part
was like the restless spirit Of mod
ern surgery let loose-very danger
Gus.
One suspicious omen arose. The
wind blew from the south for 48
hours continually. 1t was a
beautiful warm wind and as it
gently and softly foated by re-
minded one Of the balmy air Of
June. But quickly following this
the furies of the sea seemed to be
let loose. The wind changed its
course and became violent. The
great vessel creaked, lurched,
rolled and dipped. Waves three
feet thick would dash over the
upper deck. Sometimes persons
would happen to be standing
where the wave rushed along and
!, they would be swept with the wave
against the deck railing.
Ocean steamers are built very
long and narrow so as to secure
the greatest speed with the least
friction. When such narrow
steamers meet a rough stormy sea
they roll terribly. In a real blast
they roll SO much that one wond-
ers whether they will ever Alright
themselves. In this voyage the
rolling was so severe that it was at
times difficult enough to stand
on deck with both hands for a
support grasping the railing Two
days of high winds carried US
through the worst. During the
highest fury of wind and wave
mother Cary's chicken or the
stormy Paetral seemed to almost
go wild with happiness. This
curious little bird few around the
ship in eCstatic delight and the
higher rose the storm and wave,
the more joyously he Wiggled his
tail and the more his eye cleaned
with pure fun. AS he rose and fell
on the waves this Stormy Paetral
sang a simple song of content.
His pride seemed to rise with every
troubled storm, and he was always
out trying his wings, like boy
trying a new pair of boots. He is
a very small bird, not unlike in
appearance and size very small
diving duck. He flies with great
swiftness. He followed us all the
way across the sea.
But what about the 700 or 500
passengers, a motley crowd of all
nations from Dan to Beer Sheba,
showing phases of all life from
battle cock to shuttle door. What
means this large migration from
New York back to Europe? Seven
years ago I noticed that this same
kind of ship, about the same time
of year would not carry more than
800 passengers from New York. |
Careful inquiries brought out the
facts from many young men, who
were returning to their old home
again, because, they said that they
could not obtain work, and that
they could do almost as we'll in
their old homes. Of course these
represented dissatisfied people, but
yet it shows also that old country
people are not so much over
pleased with the active competition I
of the states as in years gone by. |
The competition Of the states. will