Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1892-05-06
IGNORANCE Is BLISS"

The splendid steamship Adaruant,
of the celebrated Cross Bow Line, left
New York on her February trip under
favorable auspices. There had just
been storm on the ocean, so there
was every chance that she would
reach Liverpool before the Cext one
was due.
Captain Rice had little cialprob
lem to solve at the outset, but he
smoothed that ont with the tact
which is characteristic Of him. Two
Washington ladies-ofiicial ladies'
were on board, and the captain, old
British sea dog as he was always had
trouble in the matter Of precedence
with Washington ladies.
SO it happened that Mrs. Assistant
Attorney to the Senate Browning
came to the steward and said that,
ranking all others on board she must
sit at the right hand Of the captain.
Afterwards Mrs. Second-Adlutant-to-
the -War-Department Digby came to
the same perpleXed official and said
she must sit at the captains right
hand, because in Washington she
took precedence 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-D
partment 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 | am little deaf
in the right ear, caused, l presume,
bv listening so much with that ear TO
the fog horn year in and year out.
Now | always place the lady whose
conversation | wish most to enjoy at
nv left hand at the table. Would
YOU oblige me by taking that seat
this voyage l have heard of you,
YOU see. Mrs. Brownrig, although you
have never crossed with me before?'
why, certainly, captain, replied
Mrs. Browning; Il feel especially
complimented.
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 born diplomat
CAPTAIN Rice was and is to this day.
| don't know any captain more popu-
lar with the ladies than he, and be-
sides he is as good a sailor a. 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 pleas
anter voyage for that time of the
wear. 1t was so warm on deck that
many steamer chairs were out, and
below it was so mild that person
might think he was journeying in the
tropics. Yet they had left New York
in a snow storm with the thermome-
ter away below zero.
Such" said young Spinner, who
knew everything, such is the infiu-
ence Of the Gulf Stream
Nevertheless when Captain Rice
came down to lunch the fourth day
out his face was haggard and his look
furtive and anxious.
why, captain cried Mrs. Assist
ant-Attorney, you look as if you
hadn slept wink last night
Il slept very well, thank you,
madam, replied the captain. i al
WAYS do"
We'll, hope your room was more
coInforta able 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 on the captains right, who
generally found it necessary to take
an opposite view from the lady at the
left.
You see.r said the captain, I'VE
have many delicate women and child
rem on board, and it is necessary to
keep up the temperature. Still, per
haps the man who attends 10 the
steam rather overdoes it. | will speak
TO him
Then the captain pushed from him
his untasted food and went up on the
bridge, casting his eye aloft at the sig
nal waving from the masthead, 81
lently calling for help from all the
empty horison.
Nothing in sight, Johnson said
the captain.
Not a speck, sir.
Keep sharp lookout, Johnson
Yes, sir.
The captain moodily paced the
bridge with his head down.
Il ought TO have turned back TO
New York" he said to himself.
Then he went down 10 his own
room, avoiding the passengers as
much as he could. aud had the stew
ard bring him some beef tea. Even
captain cannot live OH anxiety.
Steamer off the port bow, sir,
rang out the voice of the lookout at
the Prov. The man had sharp eyes,
for a landsman could have seen moth
Ing.