Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-12-24


- Shalfen? Bonner und
Bitten! bring dem trunks in mighty quick,
Amt it."
he meant something, know. He said it as il
he meant something, and the sudden activity
among the men bringing baggage on board
showed that they knew he meant something.
party of four were on the deck of the
North German Lloyd steamer Kaiser William
II, Just ready to start on the voyage TO Genoa,
Italy, via Gibraltar. There were other people
on the deck also. In fact, there were several
other people, and as the last bell rang there
was the usual wild scramble to get on board
and to get on shore. The Kaiser William is a
thoroughly comfortable boat She is German
from the Jolly and popular commander to the
little Dutch paintings scattered all over her.
The cabins are large and comfortable, and the
convenlences everywhere are frst-class. In her
construction the rolling propensity. so con-
ducive to seasickness has been minimized.
On the trip referred to she carried something
over 100 cabin passengers, with about 200
| steerage passengers.
DEATH AT SEA.
Generally sea voyages bear a very close
family resemblance to each other. the routine
in the main consisting of walking, eating.
drinking and reading. In cases like trips to
Genoa, lasting about eleven days. there is a
social element to be considered. Then again,
some things which are common enough are
always interesting Among this Class is death,
and at a death possesses a peculiar
solemnity. On the first nigh. out a young man,
travelling entirely alone and for his health.
died suddenly, before any aid could be
rendered. The burial at sea, with all itS
horrors for some and solemnitv for all. was to
take place the next day, which was Sunday
and In the afternoon nearly all the passengers
crowded around to witress the ceremony. The
el rl,n rod ,,s
sun rippled its last rays over the vast expanse
OF water, into which body was to be dropped,
so that never could friend or relative saw,
Here he lles." Still it was interesting and the
crowd began really to enjoy their emotions
They were good lot of people, were the pas
sengers of the Kaiser William, but it was with
an undoubted look of blank disappointment
that they received the news that the BODY would
be embalmed and taken to Genoa. The gem
eral feeling artleSsly expressed by one
young lady. who said, Now, isn't that q
shame?"
CENTRAL POINTS.
There are central points OF interest on an
ocean steamer. One of these is the Storage
Generally it would be considered quite an
anomaly for 200 Gble-bodied emigrants to be
sailing away instead of toward America. The
explanation was in the fact that they we're
Italians. The sons Of Italy are becoming noted
Tor their propensity to go To various countries
In big gangs as laborers and after the work is
completed return to their homes With US
were 800 of these Italians VIII 0 had spent various
periods in the United States. and if this same
crowd had not smashed the contract labor law
into 10000 pieces appearances were greatly
against them Appearances were against them
anyway. and they were not the kind of
looking individuals you would care to meet after
dark.
On an ocean steamer the smoking room is the
center for gossip and chat. During the dav
every male passenger who is not seasick strolls
In more or less frequently. while some do all
but sleep there. Here is found the man who
drinks champagne constantly during the voyage
and alongside the man of many voyages who
knows 1t ALL Here during portion of the
evening is found the captain, with his broad
accent and stories of Chinese dinners and of
the Russian admiral who constructed the en-
perors yacht as broad she was long in the
hope OF preventing any rolling. Along the
broad decks passengers are walking briskly up
and down or are lying wrapped up like mum
mics In the steamers chairs.
THE POET.
Further along is the music room. with a piano
and odd little decorations, and here on one of
the sofas is found the poet. We know that
he is poet. for he himself has said il. He
might have said he butcher. a baker or
a candlestick maker and would still have be-
heved him. You would be greatly deceived In
this man. Unless he told you, YOU would
never guess that he was poet. He wears
beard and trousers that sing comic operas. but
then he has the ''poetie languor." lie seldom
leaves the sofas. which he deserts only to read
poem or to sing little lay. He has grta.
deal on his mind has this poet. He is greatly
disturbed about the custom house inspectors.
His main fear is for his library and his sbject
terror lest an unprincipled government should
snatch this priceless treasure from him go
reused our respect and reverence that in awe
struck tones we inquired the size of his library
The poet in dignified RI ythmc tones told us that
he had with him twenty volumes, all written by
one NJ. lola
BLUNT OLD MAN.
The individual with long white beard lust
going down the steps is a very disagreeable old
man. He looks amIable enough as he carries
that young lady's shawls. but he is wearing a
mask. During several days of the trip across
two OF our party were confined to their rooms.
They we're not seasick. but they might last az
we'll have been. The first day after emerging l
met this dsagreeable old man. Said he:
eh?"
''Yes, SIR"
Reminds me of story Once upon a time
four little boys went skating when the ice was
thin. T. 8. They showed COMPOUNDED poor
judgment"
The old man stopped. 1 looked him in the
eye but he never quivered and | waiked away.
He was disagreeable but decidedly athletic
looking old man.
AT GIBRALTAR.
We left New York at O'Clock on
Saturday afternoon, and the Sec
ond Monday morning found us close
to the coast Of Spain. At $50 a. m. the anchor
was dropped off Gibraltar. Many of the pas
sengers went ashore and returned laden
with rank-smelling flowers and wild stories.
The view from the steamers deck was pictur-
esque enough. The towering rock Of Gibraltar.
cut off at the top in sharp lines and curves. and
with the yellow houses nesting along the base.
resembles for all the world a pie@e of stage
scenery not very well propped at the
back. The harbop was crowded with vessels
OF all nationalities, although the stars and
stripes were conspicuous by their absence
Around our ship were a dozen or more small
boats, manned by picturesque Spaniards. who
were selling fruit and cigars to the steerape mas
sengers. At II am. Gibraltar was left behind
and the voyage toward Genoa continued The
sail along the coasts of France and Spain il "a
delightful as possible. With us the bay Was AZ
smooth as a mirror and the bits of scenery and
historical points passed kept up q continued in
terest. The night after leaving Gibraltar WAS
celebrated by dance on deck The Kaiser
William. built originally for tropical VOYAGES.
has her long decks rooted over and with can
vas stretched along the sides, an almost perfect
ball room was formed The ships band plaved
with all the vigor usually found in perambuiat-
ing German bands.
THE GANBLKR's HEAVEN.
On "Wednesday the French coast .r.. sl;-.,