The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1895-09-14
TEN DAYS AT SEA.

BY a Gentleman Whose Friends
Here are Legion.
MIR. YICKERS IN DUTCH LAND. -
A Former West Yirginian Goes to Eu-
rope to Pursue His Studies-He
Writes TO His Home Paper and the
New Dominion" ReprOduces his
Letter so that His Morgantown
Friends may See live Hope to Hear
from Him Directly in the Future.
LEIBNITZ- sTRAssE 3, DEUTSCHLAND
August %, 1S95,-A conviction that
promises, though rashly made,
should be kept, induces me at this
first opportunity to attempt brief
description of some incidents of my
ocean voyage But no one may ex-
pect picture that is faithfully ae-
curate and vivid even in the holder
outlines; much less may he expect it
to attain perfection of detail. For,
even when they are most skillfully
used, words convey full and accurate
ideas only to those who are already
conyersant with the subject depict
ed.
Precisely at noon, July II, the
good ship "Noordland, of the Red
Star Line, amid the futter Of hun
dreds Of handkerchiefs on the dock
and on board, left her pier in New
York and turned her prov towards
the East. For almost eleven DAYS
she steadily held her course, blowing
through vast expanse of waters
light green at first, then darker
green, then very dark blue. then
lighter blue, and finally reversing
this order of colors-tiIl about $3.50
a. m. Sunday, July IS, she drew
alongside her pier at Antwerp, Bel
GUM. Over 3,400 miles had been
trayersed. Several hundred passen
gers gratefully and joyously filed
down the gangway from the great
ships hulk and once more set foot
on terra trina.
A voyage over the ocean is a
unique experience. Perhaps it is not
now regarded with so much peculiar
interest as when it required months,
and when its perils were increased
by total dependence on the tickle
god of the winds. Still there 5 a
CHAIRMAN intermingling of fear and
delight-in the thought of commit
ting ones safety for days and week 8
shall one say possibly months =
to the keeping Of ship, which,
though to the eye majestic, may be
come mere puppet on angry waves,
and to her hardy erew-such charm
as is never associated with any Jour
ney by land Will the skies be soft
and clear? VIII the great bosom of
the deep be unresentingly chafed by
iron keels2 Or will storms come and
fretful mountain waves make hazard
Gus sport of the most splendid me.
chanieal triumph of MANI Worst of
ali, will dense fogs so closely veil the
deep that perils will be invisible till
the shock of fatal collision is feltY
If none of these, will some part of
the complicated machinery snap and
leave us to drift helplessly on seem
ingly boundless waters, thus sudden
ly transforming the most pleasant
into the most frightful prospect?
These are few of the many oues-
tions which occur to the mind, and
the charm of the voyage is heighten.
ed-strange paradox-as it is sea
soned by a sense of danger
For hours before che time appoint
ed for transatlantic ship to sail,
there is extraordinary activity and
hustle about her pier, Aside from
the ordinary preparations by passen-
gers and crew for the voyage, there
are multitudes of friends present to
give their partings and God speed
to loved voyagers Some are to be
gone only brief time; but that in
stinctive dread of the great treacher
Gus deep makes even their partinos
with friends unusually impressive.
Others are to be gone for years, and
it is affecting to see how reluctantly
and atfectionately they say farewell
Then, too, there are numerous evi-
dences of absent, but thoughtful
friends to engage attention. Tele-
grams, flowers, fruits, packages, let
ters-"to be read" 1.-The first" "the
fifth, 1.-The seventh day out" or
when seasick, . or "when homesiek, ="
but usually all are laid by till after
sailing unless otherwise directed
have been sent to the several state
rooms. For the unfortunate ones
who have no such evidences of friend
ship 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
the parts of the good ship.
which has already endeared itself to
them because of their sense of de.
pendence on it, or, finally, they NAV
suck a few grains of comfort from
observing the manifestations of
friendship to more fortunate persons
AT last the hour of sailing is come.
are still within hearing dis
tance-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 engines begin to
pulsate and friends still further to
separate. Hundreds of handkerchiefs
flutter as the huge ship, assisted by
a tug, moves slowly away from her
pier. Friends eyes fondIy cling to
at last they are strained to
get last glance; then only con
fused multitude, still frantically wav-
ing handkerchiefs, 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 a re-
lapse after several hours of intense
excitement. They have time to think,
to observe the gentle, restful roll of
The great ship, soon to grow, alas,
into perhaps nauseating, then ma
iestic swell. Those who are most
susceptible to these influences soon
seek in silence the little comfort of
a chair, or, more likely, their berths.
The more enthusiastic of the remain
der draw extravagantly on their fund
Of adjectives to describe their sensa-
lions. The more judicious few who
fear to talk too much enjoy in quiet
nnndit ntinr, tho non. n,nl ,.ea..1: