Morning journal and courier., 1892-04-19

pef10nder on the Sea-And lt Is
 French Sea-Strange Talk and
 Strange People-Is French Polite'
 ness Decayinga-Advice to voy'
 agers.
 FRAscArrI's, Le Havre, April 4. To the Editor of the JOURNAL AND COURIER.
 So many New Hsveners are considering trip to Europe, and so many of these may be thinking of trying the French line, that information on the subject is to the point, especially from the source which all wise New Haveners have long accepted as infallible, a very fountain head of wise advice and truthful information.
 The French line has its advantages and it's disadvantages. Let the two be taken in order.
 Advantage I. If you want to reach France without going through England the French line must be taken.
 Advantage II. You are in France as soon as the vessel starts. You of course kiss your folks goodbye in your own Ian guage, but as soon as they leave you and you are of you are as much in France az in Paris hotel. From the captain down all pretend to speak English, exactly as in Paris hotel; but an ordinary Frenchman's English is far more incomprehensible than an ordinary American school girls French. So at once you may bring your French into play. In fact you will have to bring it into play. You are at once in France also in respect to the things you have to eat and drink and in respect to the hours of eating and drinking. At seven you can have coffee with bread and batter, 'brioches" and the early French soup which they call 'soupe." From the Amer ican point of view the coffee is e1ecrable, as is most French coffee, in spite of oppo- sing notions held by the ignorant. The butter is made without salt and the bread is French bread. Everybody knows what that is. The "soupe" is the ordinary ''pot-au-feu." After trying it once or twice you will drop the coffee. From nine till eleven is the regular "dejeuner a @ dozen things on the bill of fare. You can take any or all of them, with all the red or white wine you desire. Here (s) is the menu of the last breakfast served just before landing. Everything was tip-top and appetizing. At half-past one there is a luncheon of bouillon, cold meats, fruit, &c., &c. At half past five is the regular "table d'hote," and that ends it. There is tea and "tea fxings" at half past eight, but not half dozen attend. Everything is we'll cooked and we'll served. No fault can be found with any part of the SCI vice.
 Advantage III. The French line is pa tronized by all sorts of queer people whom you never find on other lines. You are therefore afforded novel opportunities for the study of languages and races. There will be wee semi mi-monkeys fromBrazil; every shade of creature from the West Indies; badly put together chaps from Chilli, cov- cred with outrageous tailoring and want ing to fight everybody; Sandwich Island CTS, male and female; many specimens of the genus Jew; priests; nuns; an occasion al bishop; and no end of shady actors and actresses. You may try every language and find how difficult even to understand one with which you thought yourself fla miliar.
 Advantage ". Under the head of dis tinct advantages must be put the wine list The line furnishes better wines and at less prices than are furnished by any other line. Especially excellent are the champagnes, light, delicate, fruitty, free from brandy and other fortifying. You will find brands you never heard of before, but which are we'll known to French epi- cures. "Gustave Gilbert, c. le Poil-Le- nart-De Lossy Holden Ia most delicious wine.) De Venoge (excellent, ten francs) etc., etc." All the other wines are equally good and equally reasonable. For five francs (one dollar) you have a sherry that is 50 superior that you make note of the name for future use.
 Now consider some of the disadvantages
 Disadvantage I. The boats of the line, with the exception of "La Fouraine," are comparatively slow. That is in compari- son with the crack boats of other lines. The best days work done by "La Bre- tagne," and that too under most favorable circumstances, was but 415 miles. Under similar circumstances the Majestic" would have put Q hundred more miles to her credit. You may think that an additional day makes no difference. But it does. For long voyage you need ample accom- modations and plenty of fresh air. To be packed into small and stuffy cabin for eight nights is intolerable. After the sixth your fund of good nature is deple- ted. After the seventh you would give half your possessions to get away from the vessel and its freight of fellow crea- lures. To come up smiling on the eighth morning was only within the powers of the best and bravest of New Haven's jeunesse dire, spurred on to be the first to see the fair country where centuries ago ruled his conquering ancestor. Even he might have been glum had it not been for the sympa- thies of lovely scion of the historic house of Este, whose name has been sadly changed by transfer from the Pc to the Ohio. Ex- cuse me, beauteous one, Ohier.
 Disadvantage II. It is all very we'll being immediately transported to France, but that means being immediately brought into contact with French offcicials who for the time of crossing have power of life and death in their hands, and who there fore may treat you exactly as they happen to feel inclined. There was a time when the French were noted for their politsness, and when they were particularly kind and attentive to Americans. But that time has gone by. The Prussian victories of twenty years ago entirely changed the characteristics, If not the character, of the paouIa Thav ara m lon0ar Y,nlita aYnayt