Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1893-05-06
FRIENDSHIPS MADE ON STEAMERS.
Just How Far the AcqnaintanceshipM Made
Ocean Liners Goes.

oh oSeuh LihFFs 6oeha
Among the steerage passengers on
steamer which arrived here recently was
young man, apparently twenty seven TO
thirty years old, who had plainly enough
seen better days.
As he leaned over the side Of the steamer,
about the moment the gangplank was be-
ing pushed aboard, lie pecred intently along
the line of openings in the shed, as IL hop
ing yet fearing that somebody would rec
ognize him.
There WAS just enough leisure after the
tide OF wealth, fame and fashion, which
came first class, had made its exit from
customs corral, for "A reporter to bespeak
as interview with the Young man
lie proved reticent at first, hut thawed
out after an exprrssu'fn had removed the
valise, which seemed 80 constitute his sole
worldly possessions and cares.
This is not the first time have been In
San Francisco" =" he said.
III you have been here longer than four
years and have ever boarded a Panama
steamer we have surely met
II am the victim Of that Illusion which
Is disease, as homesickness il n disease
The doctors call homesick ness nostalgia
and prescribe for il. But my disease il
the result of what every traveller ought To
know-a steamer friendship
Let me explain, Five years ago came
here by sea from New York city with about
VI, 500 or e, go in my purse.
"Of course made friends on board
Before we reached the Hatteras, three
days out, had got into the good graees Of
two or three gentlemen. who kindly taught
me To play poker and generously allowed
me 10 pay for the drinks.
Then obtained the easiest kind OF an
Introduction To young lady, who pro-
fessed great interest IN the first glimpse of
the Southern cross as we passed down
through the Bahamas amid balmy breezcs
and tranquil nights following sunsets that
l love To think Of now.
81 met, too, "a California semimllon-
aire, who professed the greatest interest in
me, and who paid for wine about once In
twenty times when it was passed around
"A lady of doubtful age talked Neo-
platonism and transcendental philosophy
to me, and asked II knew Boston.
Really felt quite "a warm frienaship
spriDging up in my heart for all these peo-
pie, and a. usually happens, believe, the
friendship became tropical with the eli
mate. On the way up on this side | sub
mitted with the best grace 10 the whims
and capriees OF the young lady, who in
sisted on landing AT every port, and of
course | had To foot the bills.
Everything was perfectly respectable.
"When we reached this city had
pockeifnl of addresses Of my steamer
friends
at is true that their acquaintance had
cost me about 500 up to date. and that
had been compelled to plead poverty to
save further demands.
IL suppose ! had $1,000 still on hand
when went around TO pay respects TO my
steamer friends.
Perhaps they did not know it or might
have been differently treated.
The cold shoulder il mild term.
got the cold, cruel shake. Mind you, had
not been a fool, a pure unadulterated fool,
for ! had Travelled a bit before But when
l went over to Australia | consoled myself
with the reflection that among all my
steamer friends left not one to regret.
''Since then have Travelled largely over
southern seas, aud IL has always been the
same
"There is nothing so ephemeral as a
steamer friendship.
Even in the steerage-and came that
way for chHnge-it is the same. am
not rich a. | was but like San Fran
cisco better than any place | have seen in
four years Of constant travel.
But If man talks friendship to you ON
q steamer, don't be deceived. lie may
mean no harm, and you may not suffer In
purse rs have done.
"As for women, | believe they form
steamer friendships to pass away the
time. San Francisco Call.