The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1892-04-27
LIFE ON AN OCEAN LINER.
A WEEK SPENT ON A GREAT AT.
LANTIC STEAMER.
The Life of the Passenger is One Con.
tinual Round of Rest and Pleas
ure-Entertainment on Board.

btA AfbHNua
tn ESCRIBING trip on big At
lantic liner, the Philadelphia
Times says; Directly the ship
| e leaves the dock ut New York
the search begins for those who have
resolved to go to England free, and they
are generally discovered and routed out
in time to go off with the pilot.
Before the first meal is served the
seats at table must be secured, and
long line forms to await the selection
made for them by the chief steward. On
most vessels there are two or three long
tables running lcngthwise in the saloon,
and seven or eight smaller ones along
the sides. The captain presides at one
of the smaller ones, as do also the pur-
ser and surgeons at two others. 1t is
generally regarded an honor to be at the
captains table, but in reality it does not
make one bit of difference.
Very few acquaintances are made the
first day ,and if they were they would all
have to bs made over again, as the next
morning every one appears in their sea
togs, and 1t is very difficult to recog-
nize the bowling swell of the day before
in the miserable individual clad in a
huge ulster, nearly all cape, and steamer
cap drawn down closely over his eyes.
If the voyage is pleasant and the invalids
are few, then you see life at It's best, but
under any circumstances there is nothing
in the world so enjoyable as a week at
sea, fot NAL de mer rarely last more than
day or two, and when you once get
your sea legs on the novelty of the situa-
tion, the bracing air and the grand rush
through the water fills every vein with a
joyous appreciation of life, and life on
the ocean in particular.
1t seems perfectly marvellous that
people, active and pushing on shore,
could absolutely dawdle through a week
and wonder at its end where the time
has flown, but such is the case, and
though you are supplied with reading
matter enough to last you through each
minute, it is doubtful if you read one
volume to the end, so much of outside
interest is continually occurring to dis
tract your attention, and eat-it seems
improbable that four good meals day,
with many bite between them, could
leave you still hungry, so that beef
broth, sandwiches or cold chicken will
taste good at eleven when at nine you
consumed a breakfast of four or five
courses and intend to do likewise at
luncheon, but an hour and a half later.
In the afternoon tea, crackers, lemon.
ade and ginger ale are always on tap and
the steward makes enough taffy to feed
q regiment, but finds 1t insufficient. Be-
fore retiring you enjoy hearty supper
of grilled bones, sardines on toast and
welsh rarebit, and your dI cams are not dis
turbed by visions of your maternal an
cestor.
For amusement cards largely figure on
the bills. The smoking-room, of course,
has its game of poker, which begins at
Sandy Hook and ends at Fastnet Light,
beside the pools on the run of the ship,
and other little amusements which arc
apt to prove dangerous to the unwary,
as in keeping with so large ship there
are always sharks in her wake. Ladies
and gentlemen who are not engrossed
in the mysteries of the smoking room
play euchre, cribbage or a quiet game
of whist. Shuttle. board and ring-t toss
are largely patronized by the children,
and let it be said right here that nowhere
do children enjoy themselves so much as
on the grand deck of an ocean steamer.
1t seems as though it were just made
for delightful games of tag and hide and
seek. The steamer chairs, with their
mummy occupants, are such splendid
places for idling away the hours in de-
sultory conversation, with Just a dash of
sentiment engendered probably by some
glowing sunset or soft, low hanging,
luminous moon. The evening promen-
ade is an established institution, and if
il be mild many sweet voice is heard IN
plaintlve love songs or old plantation
melodies to the accompaniment of the
sentimental mandolin, or the strumming
of the banjo.
Sometimes a paper filled with bright
jokes aud personal mention is published
and sold for the benefit of the Seamans
Orphanage in Liverpool, and for the same
excellent charity u concert is always
held. What voyage would be complete
without concertf Sometimes really ex-
cellent talent is heard, and then again
no professionals being on board, anna
teurs come to the front, aud though per-
haps not so great success, the entertain
ment always affords much enjoyment.
A tug-of. war, a potato race and en-
tertainments by the sailors fiji the days
to repletion with pleasant thought and
laughabe incident, while the ever
changing marine life about us shown in
the appearance and fading away of a sail
on the horizon, the glimpse of an ice
berg, the spouting of a whale or trio
of Mother Cary's chickens, dissipates
time and ennui, until it seems impossible
to believe that according to the papers
brought on board at Queenstown
we have actually been living out of the
| world for an entire week.
On Sunday the Church Of England SER
vice is conducted in the saloon by the
captain, and TO this the second cabin
passengers are invited. The pleasure
and comfort TO be derived from a trip
such as this NAV be materially enhanced
by the judicious feeling of all those who
serve you in any capacity. They expect
II, and unless they receive it you will find
yourself made uncomfortable in many
/ little ways and in such manner that you
have no redress.
This bit Of advice to the uuinitiated
may seem entirely unnecessary, but to
one who contempates a trip abroad an
immediate adoption of the plan of feeling
may as well be commenced on shipboaTd,
for it will pursue him through each town