Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1895-08-29
LETTER FROM GERMANY.
LEIBNITz-sTRAssE 3,
DEUTSCHLAND,
AUGUST 10, 1895.

promises, though rashly made should be
kept, induces me at this first opportuni-
ty to attempt brief description of some
incidents of my ocean voyage. But no
one may expect picture that is faith
fully accurate and vivid even in the
holder outl nes; much less may he ex-
pect it to attain perfection of detail.
For, even when they are most skilfully
used, words convey full and accurate
ideas only to those who are already con-
versant with the subject depicted
Precisely at noon, July II, the good
ship "Noordand, " of the Red Star Line,
amid the flutter of hundreds of hand
kerchiefs on the dock and on board, left
her pier in New York and turned her
PROV towards the East. For almost elev-
en- days she steadily held her course,
blowing through vast expanSe of wa
ters-light green at first, then darker
green, then very dark blue, then lighter
blue, and finally reversing this order of
colors-till about $50 a. m. Sunday, July
%, she drew alongside her pier at Ant
werp, Belgium. Over 3,4OO miles had
been traversed Several hundred pas
sengers gratefully and jOyOusly filed
down the gangway from the great ships
hulk and once more set foot on terra
frnfa.
A voyage over the ocean is unique
experience Perhaps it is not now re-.
garded with so much peculiar interest
as when it required months, and when
its perils were increased by a total de-
pendence on the tickle god of the winds.
Still there is a CHAIRMAN intermingling
of fear and delight-in the thought of
committing ones safety for days and
weeks-Shall one say possibly months
to the keeping of ship, which, though
to the eye majestic, may become a mere
puppet on angry waves, and to her hardy
crew-Such charm as is never aSSocl-
ated with any journey by land. VIII
the skies be soft and clear? Will the
great bosom of the deep be unresenting-
ly chafed by iron keels? Or will storms
come and fretful mountain waves make
hazardous sport of the most splendid
mechanical triumph of man? Worst OF
all, will dense fogs SO closely veil the
deep that perils will be invisible till the
shock of fatal collision is felt? II
none of these, will some part of the com
plicated machinery snap and leave us to
drift helplessly on seemingly boundleSs
waters. thus suddenly transforming the
most pleasant into the most frightful
prospect? These are few of the many
questions which occur to the mind, and
the charm of the voyage is heightened
strange paradoX--as it is seasoned by
a sense of danger.
For hours before the time appointed
for transatlantic ship to sail, there is
extraordinary activity and hustle about
herpier. Aside from the ordinary prep
arationS by passengers and crew for the
voyage, there are multitudes of friends
present to give their parting greetings
and God speed to loved voyagers. Some
are to be gone only a brief time; but
that instructive dread of the great,
treacherous deep makes even their part
ings with friends unusually impressive.
Others are to be gone for years and it is
affecting to see how reluctantly and at.
fectionately they say farewell. Then,
too, there are numerous evidences of alb
sent, but thoughtful, friends to engage
attention. kilograms, flowers, fruits,
packages, letters-''to be read 1.-The
first" 1.-The fifth, ''the seventh day
out" or when seasick, or when
homesick, but usually all are laid by
till after sailing unless otherwise direct
ed-have been sent to the several state
rooms. For the unfortunate ones who
have no such evidences of friendship to
engage them, there is still occupation.
Letters and kilograms are to be sent,
foreign money bought, baggage looked
after, and, when nothing else remains,
they inspect infinitely the parts of the
good ship, which has already endeared
itself to them because of their sense of
dependence on it. or, finally, they may
suck n few grains of comfort from OBJ
serving the manifestations of friendship
to more fortunate persons.
At last the hour of sailing is come.
Friends are still within hearing distance
--voyagers leaning over the deck rails
gazing at the upturned faces of friends
on the pier. The ropes are loosed, the
gangway drawn up, now the mighty en-
| CINE begins to pulsate and friends still
fnrther to separate. Hundreds of hand
kerchiefs flutter as the huge ship, assist
ed by tug moves slowly away from her
pier Friends eyes fondly cling to
friends; at last they are strained to get
a last glance: then only a confused null
titude, still frantically waving handker-
chiefs, is seen. 1t is only left now to
watch the shores of dear native land
dearer perhaps than ever before-grow
dim on the sight, then lose themselves
in the distant haze-will it be forever?
The voyagers now experience relapse
after several hours of intense excite
ment. They have time to think, to OBJ
serve the gentle, restful roll of the great
ship, soon to grow, alas, into a perhaps
nauseating, then majestic, swell. Those
who are most susceptible to these in
fuences soon seek in silence the little
comfort of chair, or, more likely, their
berths. The more enthusiastic of the
remainder draw eXtravagantly on their
fund of adiectives to describe their SEN
sations. The more judicious few who
| foor 70 toll too much aniOV in O1ipt