The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1892-04-16
BLISSFUL IGNORANCE.
The Story of Two Clever Sea
Captains.


storm on the ocean, so there was every
chance that she would reach Liverpoo
before the next one was due.
Capt Rice had little social problem
70 solve at the outset, but he smootheC
that out with the tact which is charac
teristic of him. Two Washington
ladies-official ladics--were on board
and the captain, old British sea dos
as he was, always had trouble in the
matter of precedence with Washington
ladies. Captain Rice never had any
bother with British aristocracy, be
cause precedence is all set down in the
bulky volume of "Burke's Peerage,
which the captain kept in his cabin
and so there was no difficulty. But a
republican country is supposed not to
meddle with precedence. 1t wouldn't,
either, if it weren't for the women.
So it happened that Mrs. Assistant
Attorney-to-the -theSenate Browning came
to the steward and said that, ranking
oil others on board, she must sit at the
right hand of the captain. Afterwards
Mrs. Second Adjutant- to-.the- War De-
partment Digby came to the same
perpleXed official and said she must
sit at the captains right hand be-
cause in Washington she took prece-
dence over everyone else on board. The
bewildered steward confided his woes
to the captain, and the captain said he
would attend to the matter. So he
put Mrs. War Department on his right
hand and then walked down the deck
with Mrs Assistant Attorney and said
to her.
Il want to ask favor, Mrs. Brown
rig. Unfortunately l am little deaf
in the right ear, caused, l presume, by
listening so much with that ear to the
fog horn year in and year out Now. l
always place the lady whose conversa-
ton | wish most to enjoy at my left
hand at table. Would you oblige me
by taking that seat this voyage? have
heard OF you, you see, Mrs. Browning,
lalthough you have never crossed with
me before"
Why, certainly, captain" replied
Mrs. Browning; Il feel especially com
plimented."
And / assure, you, madam" said
the polite captain, that ! would not
for the world miss "a single word that"
etc.
And thus it was all amicably ar
ranged between the two ladies. All
this has nothing whatever to do with
the story. 1t is merely an incident
given to show what a born diplomat
Capt. Rice was and is to this day. |
don't know any captain more popular
with the ladies than he, and besides he
is as good sailor as crosses the ocean.
As day by day went on and the good
ship plowed her way toward the east the
passengers were unanimous in SAYING
that they never had a pleasanter voL
age for that time of the year. 1t was
SO warm on deck that many steamer
chairs were out, and below it was so
mild that a person might think he was
journeying in the tropics. Yet they had
lett New York in snowstorm with
the thermometer away below zero.
Such said young Spinner. who
knew everything, such is the influence
of the gulf stream"
Nevertheless when Capt Rice came
down to lunch the fourth day out his
face was haggard and his look furtive
and anxious.
why, captain" cried Mrs Assistant
Attorney, you look as if you hadn't
slept wink last night"
II slept very we'll, thank you,
madam" replied the captain II al
ways do"
"Well, l hope your room was more
comfortable than mine. 1t seemed to
me too hot for anything. Didn't you
find it so, Mrs. Digby?"
Il thought it very nice" replied the
lady at the captains right, who gen
orally found it necessary to take an op-
posite view from the lady at the left.
You see," said the captain, 1--WE
have many delicate women and chill
dren on board, and it is necessary to
keep up the temperature. Still, per-
haps the man who attends to the steam
ruther overdoes it. I viii speak to
him
Then the captain pushed from him
his untasted food and went up on the
brioge, casting his eye aloft at the
signal waving from the masthead, ST.
lcntly calling for help to all the empty
horizon.
Nothing in sight, Johuson?" said
the captain.
Not speck, sir"
The captain swept the circular line
of sea and sky with his glasses, then
laid them down with sigh.
I'VE ought TO raise something this
afternoon, sir" said Johnson; 1--WE are
right in their track, sir. The Tulda
ought to be somewhere about"
We are too far north for the Fulda,
] am afraid answered the captain.
well, sir, we should see the Vulcan
before night, sin She's had good
weather from Queenstown"
Yes. Keep sharp lookout, John
son"
'Yes, sir.
The captain moodily paced the bridge
with his head down.
II ought to have turned back to New
York" he said TO himself
Then he went down to his own room,
avoiding The passengers as much as he
could. and had the steward bring him |
some beef tea. Even captain cannot
live on anxiety.
Steamer off the port bow, sir" rang .
out the voice OF the lookout at the PROV
The man had sharp eyes, for lands |
nan could have seen nothing.
run and tell tho captain" cried |