Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1896-07-21
GOING ACROSS.
SCENES AT THE PIER WHEN THE
STEAMER STARTS.

summer days Ia the departure Of = great
ocean liner. Those who have not wit
messed the crowds, the excitement, the
necessary hustle and drive Of such an
occasion, have missed an entertaining
episode.
The morning Of the sailing presents
as lively picture Of human activity as
could we'll be imagined.
At first sight, everything appears to
be i'm state of chaos; men seem to fall
over each other and To accomplish alb
solutely nothing. A close examination,
however, discloses the fact that each
man Is at his own particular duty, over
seen by competent inspectors or bosses,
and II he falters at his work he Is quick
ly brought to realization Of his short
coming In language by no means yelled,
but, on the contrary, very much TO the
point.
Stevedores, sailors, stewards, truck
men, longshoremen, go about their
various Jobs with an experience born OF
much practice, assisted by carefully Sc
lected oaths, drawn from large vocab-
ulsry, thoroughly efllcacious for such
occasions.
or course there are many things that
must OF necessity be put aboard nj the
last moment. The meat, In order that II
may be of the freshest; likewise the Ice,
vegetables, cream, and Of course the
trunks, to say nothing Of the passengers.
and, last of all, the mails.
The steady whirl Of the donkey en-
gines keeps up constant racket, the
hoarse cries of the boatswain giving
orders TO the men below, who are stow
ing trunks and belated cargo, add TO the
noises, while energetic policemen are
kept busy directing trucks and cabs and
making a gaugway for the passage OF
vehicles and pedestrians.
Leaving with tidcs, to insure safe
passage across the bar, the departure adj
mits OF no delay, so that 10 O'Clock
means absolutely 10 o'clock, and woe
be,iae the procrastinator, who arrives
but few moments after that time.
An hour or two before sailing, the
dock begins 10 I'LL up with passengers
a string OF cabs aud carriages adds To
the confusion, while expressmen race
down with every sort of trunk that the
ingenuity OF man has ever invented. III
the steamer belongs TO a fashionable
line, flowers now begin to arrive, mes
senger boys laden down with elaborate
and expensive offerings making attractive
spots OF color.
| The people themselves are study
| There are such number, who. accord
ing " all ones preconceived notions
have no right TO be going abroad. III,
humble spectator doomed To stay al
home sees so many To whom he IL alb
solu,ely certain Europe will be a sealed
book.
| Vulgar, ostentatious, pretentiou:
women swarm; deadly, common, ordt
nary men swsgger about, talking loudly
To stewards, making themselves oilen
siyely conspicuous, while mingliDg with
the crowd the nattlly uniformed ship''
officers quietly look after servants OF III,
boat, directing them here and there, anc
generally keep a weather eye open.
The surgeon, fresh of linen, spot!es'
AS TO dress aud we'll groomed, greets
friend or takes note OF attractive womei
passengers as they file up the gang
plank.
Meanwhile, on board ship the bar l.
run nj full speed. with all the valve
thrown wide open.
The gentleman travelling In notioni
and silks Il entertaining a choice lot o.
business friends In his cabin, and though
IL Ia trifle early for the consumption
OF Mrs. Cliquot's vintage or Mr.. Mumm'
graperies, everything goes 10 the socia
circle OF which he Is shining light.
The happy Thespian whose season hsi
permitted his flight To London Is sur
rounded by an admiring set, who "m'
boy" him with great gusto and hearti
ness. while the more exclusive member
of the knickerbocker and Calumet clubs
faultless In attire, short of speech bu
long OF smiles, either crowd about som'
prominent belle and offer homage o
brace up with some friend who Ia bound
10 that haven OF swelldom, London.
la the cabins, women OF uncertain ag'
and others about whose age there Is NJ
uncertainty whatsoever cluster In for
lorn groups or struggle hopelessly Will
children and maids; everywhere trunks
and handbags.
Nov the side rail il crowded by 1
smiling throng Of women with few
men: frantic efforts are made, utterly
unsuccessful OF course, TO talk Will
friends on the dock. The burden OF th'
song thus shrieked over the heads OF thu
people seems To be, well, you'll write
won't your
Farther aft, the second cabin passen
gers, largely foreigners. are very dem
onstrstive, the women weeping and III,
men kissing each other with great ef
I g.. ~ f.fn 7,
passenger bustles about In great trlbu
lation, because OF missing trunk, bu
the steward reassuring her, she sub
sides, and Is dragged aboard by excited
relatives.
Presently bell rings, the first warn
ing for visitors 10 go ashore. Late ar
rivals dash up In cabs, the horses pant
ing, the drivers excited.
The crowd on shore moves toward tho
end OF the pier. A frantic waving OF
hands aud handkerchiefs Is begun, serv
ing no special purpose, and only oc'
casionally seen by those 10 whom II /:
directed; then second bell Is tolled.
"All ashore; last call.
The visitors swarm of. Pulleys are
fastened TO the gang planks.
Everybody stand By call the
petty officers.
Ready at this moment the usuaI
last man is seen, being driven down the
wharf. the horse all foam. Two police
men yank him out two sailors grab hi
trunk, and he Is rushed up To the al
ready detached passageway.
The officer on the bridge now gives
his final order TO ''cast on The engine
bell Is rung, aud slowly the great vessel
glides out into the stream. Farewell
trouble and worry for week; no let
tiers, kilograms, politics or daily papers
welcome fresh, bracing air aud deep
blue sea with limitless horizon; or,
awful thought. the sickness of the
ocean for seven days.
More good byes which no one hears
more hand aud handkerchief waving,
which no one can distinguish, and the
boat fades away in the distance, min
Cling with the other craft In the river.
Back sgain everybody on the dock, to
bad smelling, wretchedly-paved West
Street, settle down TO counting rooms,
offices and houses and toddle along In
the old rut. Europe ia not for this sum