St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1893-02-09
OUR FLORIDA LETTER.


'93-"All ashore those going
ashore" This was the cry that rang
out over the Clyde steamer Seminole
as she was leaving her New York
moorings en- route for the Sunny
South" A dcafening accompani-
ment was played on gong by
smiling darkey who for one was
glad ode ship was going, Miss"
Parting friends jostled and quickly
elbowed their way to the shore; the
gang-plank was taken up and the
steamer turned her prov seward.
Your correspondent joined the rest
in waving her bandana to those on
shore, yet it was not to the stran-
gers below, but away over their
heads to the friends in st. Johnsbury
that we had left behind.
We take our books to the upper
saloon, but not to look at the words,
but rather to read character story
from each others faces and see how
many eyes are sparkling with bright
thoughts, and who are to give us the
most social pleasure on the trip.
There is an old superstition among
sailors that if there is a minister on
board there will be head winds all
the way, and the better the minister
the harder will be the gales. There
were two ministers and their wives
on this trip, and as one was resident
in Philadelphia and the other in
New York, we made up our minds
that Old Neptune would laugh loud
and long and swing his trident at
full arms length. One of the wives
thoughtfully went to her stateroom
in less than an hour to appropriate
ly do penance for bringing this mis-
fortune upon the rest of us.
The question is often asked me,
What do you do on shipboard ?"
SO let me tell you. Soon the gong
rings and every one goes below to
get his seat ticket at the table,
which will give him a regular place.
Then follows an elaborate dinner
ending in shcrberts, ices and fruit,
while everyone is merry and ac-
knowledges he has no idea of be-
ing sick After the first dinner all
seem to be old friends and on this even
ing we gathered around the shaded
lamps as in our own parlors. The
conversation, led by our two minis
tiers, a lawyer and a teacher of SCI
ence, from New York school, at
once drifted into the question OF
what would would be the future OF
America if immigration was not les
sened. Boston today, it was stated,
had foreign population of rs per
cent, New York even 90 per cent,
while Philadelphia can boast of one
square mile of territory in which are
$4,000 Italians living like pigs.
We were not wrong in our first
survey OF the passengers in thinking
there were bright ideas in those
faces, and so passed the first evening
TIL we were warned that we mus
hasten to our staterooms before tn,
- hali-past ten electrics should leav,
us in darkness.
= The next morning nearly every on,
was at breakfast with commendabl
promptness, and all hasten out OF
deck for deep breaths of warm, milo
sea air. There were six ladies onl,
on board and after an earnest con
sultation that meant either mischie
or politics, we sent word ahea,
' that the six would like invitations t,
e go calling. We wanted to climl
those golden stairs" to the pilo
! house, then of course go and see tn
< captain in his own snug cabin.
. cordial invitation came by specia
j messenger, and as we passed tn
Y smoking-room six heads ventured t
e peep in at the dreadful place to see
e the men did not look lonesome an
e dismal in their bachelor apartment,
Il Our invitation also included a yisi
n to the different kitchens and steerag
rooms. All at once lady was mis-.
l. ing; when last seen she had a YER
t white face and remarked she woul
o be back in moment, but she cam
o not. Was she lost? Let me sa
l. that this poor unfortunate, weary {
h life, was afterwards found quietl
e resting in an easy chair on decl
II perfectly unconscious that she ha
n given us any anxiety.
d DO you ever wish you were like IL
e sea gulls, to fly and fly and new,
II weary? For hours we sat in ii
coy hooks OF the Seminole an
It watched the movements of the.
n BIRDS as they followed close to IL
Ie snip. After passing Cape Hattera
81 the Florida steamers sail along onI
U about twelve miles from shore an
a Soundlngs are made every few mi,
l. utes, II one has craze tor souveni,
J. he can easily obtain one from Il
o bottom of the ocean. The lea
IS which is dropped for sounding
re hollow at its lower end and 6lle
d with soap, so that whatever
is touches below it brings up, shown