Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1895-10-20
left behind in the land he might never

1n the SJeeTdSe the strangers or yes terday become the friends of to-day even though dozen dialects divide them, the universal sign language serving as general interpreter. But in this instance there were also on board several members of the great tribe of globe-trotters-w talk every language under the sun, or think they do-and these served as so many links to unite their less gifted fellow trav elers. Chief in this function was young German, an expert jeweler by trade, who used his skill merely for means to take him from one place to another. He had half a dozen lan- guages at the tip of his tongue, and he chattered away as though talk was the chief end of man. He was hero, however, in the eyes of his hearers, who never tired asking him questions of the habits and customs of the dwellers in the great country towards which they were speeding. This com radeship was chiefly noticeable dur ing the daytime; as night came on, men and women of the same national ity insensibly drew together in small groups about the deck, and sang the folk-song of their native land in low toned voice, as though they were too sacred for the ears of the common herd.
 Every evening, when the water was favorable, informal concerts were given by the steerage passengers, at which there was always plenty of volunteer talent. Recitations, serious and humorous, ballads, sentimental and comic, were given, and the woes of Ireland and the triumphs of Ger many were prominent themes of song l and story. The music was furnished mainly by Italians, who played the guitar and harmoniea skillfully; but 1 a Scotchman with violin and a negro minstrel who had failed to create a furore aboard with his banjo were features of the improvised orchestra. On Sunday night sacred concert was given, at which hymn after hymn was sung, several of the ships crew join ing their voices with the others. The effect at times was so weird and sol emn that sad-faced men and women walked away into the shadows of the small boats at the vessels sides to hide the emotions which they could not control.
 In the single mems compartment the time was whiled away in storytelling, card-playing and swapping matches, in which pocketl1nives, bits of iewelry and even articles of wearing apparel would change ownership dozen times | during the day. There was much fun over watch which cute young Irish man from Duluth sold to q fellow coun- l tryman from Galway for twelve shil- lings. The purchaser thought he had been cheated when he could find no lzeyhole in the watch, and his suspicious were only partly allayed when it was explained to him that the time-piece was a stemwinder. 4 whole day passed before he attempted to wind it, and then he wound it so tightly that the main spring broke. He was glad to sell the watch for five shillings to an inquisitiye Scotchman, who had heard the Dublin man say that the watch contained three hundred and forty-two pieces. He took the works apart, but could not put them together again, and parted with the outfit for half the sum he paid; and eventually the watch was bought back for a shilling by the original owner, who soon had it ticking as steadily as when it started on it's roundabout trip.
 The card playing made the time pass stupidly for those who participated in < ment for several foolish young fellows, who lost the little money they had brought along to help start them in the new land to which they looked with such high hopes. Angry disputes and bitter quarrels also marked the prog ress of the card games-a species of amusement which the steamship au- thorities should frown upon and pre- vent as far as possible in the steerage. When the bangs of seasicl<ness had been assuaged the women and children thoroughly enjoyed life on the upper deck, where, wrapped in heavy cloalzs or blankets, they lay about the deck, or on the hatchings, watching the sea and the sky and the feeting clouds that scudded by overhead. The fresh breeze and the salt-laden air were grate- ful to them after the nights confne- ment in the poisoned atmosphere of their sleeping apartments. When the sun sank below the far western horizon and the night came on they were loath to go below, and still fingered on deck to watch the myriad stars that twinkled in the Armament or to gaze upon the phosphorescent glow that gleamed in the dark waters.
 It was early on the seventh day of the voyage when the announcement was made that the shores of America would soon be in sight-and i'll mo- ment the greatest excitement prevailed in the steerage. Some bruised them selves getting traps together as though they were going ashore at once, while