The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1895-04-30
: Where Ignorance is Bliss. .
BY ROBERT BARR.

b1 ltobFbtI DAMN
The splendid steamship "Adamant,'
of the celebrated Cross Bow Line, left
New York on her February trip under
favorable auspices. There had just
been a storm on the ocean, so there
was every chance that sho would reach
Liverpool before the next one was
duo.
Captain Rice had u little social prob
lem to solve at the outset, but he
smoothed that out with the tact which
is characteristics OF him. Two Washing
ton ladios-Oillcial ladics--were on
board, and the captain, old British
sea.dog that he was. always had
trouble in the matter OF precedence
with Washington ladies'. Captain
Rice mover had any bother with tho
British aristocrncy, because prece-
dence is all set down in the bulky
volume of Burkc's Peerage," which
the captain kept in his cabin, and SO
there was no difficulty. But Re-
publican country is supposed not to
meddle with precedence. 1T wouldn't,
either, II it weren't for the women.
SO 1t happened that Mrs. Assistant
Attorney-to- tho Senate Browning came
to tho steward and said that, ranking
all others on board, she must sit at the
right hand Uf the captain. Afterwards,
Mrs. Second Adj jutant- to- the -War-D De-
partment Digby came to tho same per-
picked official and said she must sit ut
the captains right hand, because in
Washington she took precedence over
every one else on board. The be-
Wildered steward cOntided his woes to
the captain, and the captain said he
would attend TO the matter, SO he
put Mrs. War Department on his right
hanl ar Il tlnn Iy.llxn1 1nUn tho 6nnk
with Mrs. Assistant Attorney and said
to her:
81 want to ask u favor, Mrs. Brown
rig. Unfortunately, j am little deaf
In the right ear, caused, presume, by
listening SO much with that ear to the
fog horn year in and year out. Now,
/ always place the lady whose conver-
sation wish most to enjoy on my left
hand ut table. Would you oblige me
by taking that seat this voyage? |
have heard OF you. you see, Mrs,
Browning, although you have never
crossed with me beforo."
Why, certainly, captain replied
Mrs. Browning; feel especially
cOmplimented."
!, And | assure you, madam" said
the polite captain, that | would not
or the world miss single word that"
etc.
Andsthus it was amicably arranged
between the two ladies. All this has
nothing whatever to do with the story.
tits merely an incident given TO show
what q born diplomat Captain Rice
was, and is To this day. don't know
any captain more popular with the
ladies than he, and besides he is as
good u sailor as crosses the ocean.
Day by day the good ship ploughed
hn, 20, u,l hn aud thn
sengers were unanimous in saying
that they never had pleasanter
voyage for that time OF the year. 1t
was SD warm on deck that mnny
steamer chairs were out, and below 1t
was SO mild that a person might think
ne was journeying in the tropics.
Yet they had loft New York in u snow
storm with thethermometer away be-
low zero. W@.
"such," said young Spinner, who
knew everything, such Is the IL.
nuence 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 Assis-
tant-Attorney, "yon look as If you
hadn't slept q wink last night"
~ slept very well. thank you,
madam, replied the captain. II
always do"
"Weli, / hope your room was more
comfortable than mine. 1T seemed to
me too hot for anything. Didn't you
find IL so, Mrs. Digby?"
II thought it very NICE" replied
the lady at the captains right, who
generally found It necessary TO take
an opposite view from the lady at the
left.
"You see," said the captain, "we
have many delicate women and child
ren ON board and IL Is necessary to
keep up the temperature. Still, per-
haps the man who attends to the
steam rather overdOes 1t. | will speak
to him."
Then the captain pushed from him
his untasted food and went up on the
bridge, casting his eye aioft, at The
signal waving from the masterhead,
silently calling for help to all the
empty horizon. -, :,
"Notlling In sight, JohnsOn?" said
the captain.
Not a speck, SIR"
The captain swept the circular line
of sea and sky with his glasses, then
laid them down with a sigh.
I'VE ought to raise something this
afternoon, SIR" said Johnson we are
right in their track, sir. The 'F'ulda,
ought to he somewhere about"
1--WE are too far north for the
'Fulda,' / am afraid" answered the
captain.
''Well. sir, we should see the 'Vul
can before night. sir. She's had good
weather from Queentown."
Yes. Keep a sharp lookout, John
SON."
"Ycs, sir"l
The captain moodily paced the
bridge with his head down.
II .,ht so have turned back u
New ork !" he said to himself
Then he went down TO Ills owr
room, avoiding the passengers as muci
as hc could, and had the steward brins
ham some beef tea. Evan IN captall
cannot live On anxiety.
"Steamer oil the port bow, sir,
rapg o,it tho voice OF the lookout %
the Prov The man had sharp eyes
for q iandsman could have seen moth
lug.
Run aud tell the captain," crie'
Johnson 10 the sailor at his elbow
but as the sailor turned, tho captain
head appeared up the stairway H