The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1891-06-27
MAX GINsBURGER IN EUROPE.
His Experience on the Stormy Atlantic,
The City Of Havre.

STEAMER LA BRETAGNE, June 7, 1891.
Dear Sentinel. Having promised you
an occasional letter as to my travels, I
set about redeeming my promise by
sending you a short letter.
On the 30th of May I boarded the
above steamer, and at 1880, amid the
booming Of cannon, and the shouts of
friends on shore Of bon voyage y
''Happy return" God bless you, and
thousand good wishes, the steamer left
her mooring, enroute for Havre.
We had on board about 500 passen-
gers, mostly tourists. The first day was
calm and pleasant, and we were con-
graduating ourselves on the prospect
OF "a fine voyage; but the next day, and
throughout our entire trip, the sea
was rough and the weather stormy.
The ship rocked and tossed up and
down, and more than three fOurths OF
the passengers were taken down with
sea-sickness. had the good fortune
not to be sick for single moment, and
had great deal of fun at the expense
Of my friends who were less fortunate,
and who were envi0us of my good luck.
On the fourth day we discovered two
whales, ut q distance Of about half a
mile, and could see them splashing the
water in every direction with their i'm
mense tails.
When we came near the coast OF
Newfoundland a dense fog set in, and
the ship commenced blowing what is
called a 'fog horn," which makes as
doleful sound as you ever heard, re-
minding one very much Of Il dog howl
ing. This she continued for about II
hours. 1t being my first voyage across
the briny deep, you may be sure l 1elt
a little shaky, and wished for my old
Mississippi home; for, on the ocean,
even old sea captains fear the fog more
than any other danger.
On Sunday, the 7th of June, about
6. 80 o'clock, the cry Of 1--WE are in sight
of Havre" was heard. Many q strong
heart beat for Joy, aud the ladies' shed
tears and hugged each other at tho
thought of being on terra firma once
more.
The tide being down we were COM
PEELED to lie in mid-ocean for about two
hours, and were landed at Havre at 8
O'Clock Sunday night. Having a few
hours to remain in Havre, I concluded
to see how the city looked. and, in com
pany with several gentlemen, | left the
Bretagne at 10 o'clock at night for a
short stroll, as we were compelled to be
back at 12 o'clock for the night.
Havre is city Of about 81. 900 inhab-
itants. Its streets and walks are so
narrow thss II IL surprising how men
and horses navigate them at all, but
they do.
It being Sunday night, the theaters,
saloons and restaurants were in full
blast, (which is French custom, and
drunken sailors and citizens could be
counted by the score. These saloons
and restaurants, commonly called cafes,
are presided over by women. and the
walters are all women, and they al
wear white caps. There was as much
life in Havre at u o'clock Sunday
night as we have on our biggest Fair
day. Every few minutes you meet a
French soldier, who asks in French,
Are YOU a stranger? What can we
do for you? What are you looking
for?" and hundred other questions.
Then there comes the beggar who cries
"Glve me a penny, if you please. | am
SO hungry" Give it to him, and ne
rushes off to the first wine shop and
buys a drink: o =.
Havre, but having only q few hours !
could not get as much information as
desired. In u few hours I will be on
NV way to Paris, and will continue to
write and tell you something about the
various countries through which I may
travel. Send me the SENTINEL, care OF
National Hotel, Carlsbad, Austria.
Regards to all. Your friend,
MAX.