Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1893-08-05
CORRESPONDENCE.


10 the MINING JOURNAL.
One of party of two, bound for
Europe to test the qualities of its
famous highways with bicycles, and
TO see and enjoy everything that lies
along the line of travel, which traverses
Germany, Holland, France, Switzer-
land and England, takes time to write
one of his promised letters to the
JOURNAL.
We have perfected all the details of
our tour and. with u feeling of free
dom, are prepared to enjoy European
life to the utmost.
| had carefully directed my Grated
wheel to IS. Darmstadt, Baltimore.
Nd, given it oyer to the tender mer-
cjes Of the {. S. Express company and,
burdened only with small handbag.
| left the delightful town of Frostburg
on the noon train for Cumberland,
where soon found myself shaking
hands with my chum, Charles Holtzshu.
Il have made up my mind not to be
seasick,' said Holtzshu. Il have
never been to sea, but everybody says
seasickness is almost entirely mental
disease. | have strong will and don't
intend to lose my head or lose my
dinner
gazed at him with admiration and
envy.
We expect to spend the Fourth in
Baltimore. SO we take No. and are
awakened next morning by the report
Of frecracker. The 18th is spent with
the boys taking in the bicycle races
and theatre at night.
Next morning was spent buying
small articles for our trip.
"Holtzshu, | suppose you know the
steamer leaves at = o'clock this after
nOOn.'
eyes"
A light dinner is taken and, with
several of our friends, we take a car
for pier 9, where the IS. Darmstadt
was found sending forth masses of
smoke from her big smokestack and
devouring the huge piles of baggage
as though they were sugar plums.
An animated scene it was. The
crowds Of people hurrying to and fro,
each full Of the Importance of coming
voyage; the rumbling of the iron
trucks as they were driven up the in
clined planes loaded with trunks of
every size and shape; the rattle of the
hosting chains; the cries of the
stevedores: the CABIN steward, ladened
with hand baggage, rushing about and
designating the staterooms calling
for the passengers tickets.
Shortly after , o'clock the whistle
gave a dull moan, and away we went
amid shouts and cries. All this and
more presented to eye and ear IL
picture of life entirely new in my ex-
perience. 1t was past midnight when
| followed little German steward to
my appointed stateroom, where | found
Holtzshu sleeping the sleep of the
tired. With as little noise as possible
| crawled into the box that was to be
my resting place for the next twelve
days. A nj ght OF dreams, in which
strange voices and still stranger sounds
played prominent parts, and | awoke
to the music of the whirling shaft that
far below was doing its best to take us
to sunny Germany.
Come, get up" cried Holtzshu as
soon as he saw that | was awake
''Fine day. no motion, and land is still
in sight. I've had bath-nothing
like bath every morning to keep in
good trim. We breakfast at s. The
steward has assigned us seats together
at the side table. I'm going on deck
now to promenade: that's the correct
thing-walk a mile before breakfast.
Eight times around the deck is a mile
See you later" And he vanished into
the corridor.
Looking around, / found my quarters
most cOmforta The ventilation
was admirable, and to my joy my
stomach seemed satfied with its new
experience and made no complaint.
A beautiful morning it was-that 9th
of July. The sun glistened on the
dancing waves and the sea breeze
blew soft and low over the quarter-rail.
Everybody was on deck; everybody
was happy, and when the breakfast
bell sounded few there were who fail
ed to respond to its cheerful summons.
The dinlng-r0om on this boat, as |
presume on other tirst-class trans A t
lantlc steamers, is very fine, and as
one looks over the handsome apart
ment and its happy occupants, it was
hard to realize that all this was many
miles from land. A most satisfactory
meal was served by the best walters |
| have ever seen.
I've got an appetite | would not
take 500 for" said Charles. II was a
bit run down and brother said | had
better try this trip and see if | could
not pick up little. At this rate they
wont know me when get back"
Eyes, this is fine" said |, "but we
| cant eat all tEa time WHATS oOior