Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1896-09-03
THE PARSON ABROAD.
Rev. ID. l.. Yale Write. of His Ocean
NONare.

Kew. ID. l.. Naie W rites OF Ills ocean
Voyage.
:. 5. MOHAWK, ENGLISH CHANNEL,
August u, 1896.
To the Editor Of the american:
As we approach London l recall my
promise to THE AMERICAN. Your first
thought probably Is: Have you been
seasick?" And my answer is, no; not one
minute OF any kind OF sickness. Twelve
days on the ocean, a splendid appetite.
with nothing to check its qualification.
sleep enough stored up to last month.
Think we were fortunate In choosing
this steamer for our passage; she is
freight steamer with excellent accommo-
dations dships on the promenade deck
for seventy first-class passengers. A
new, twin screw, dou bic keeled, electric
lighted, s,oO0-ton ship, she is one of the
| steadiest that cross the ocean, and the
large port-hole in each state-room
furnishes plenty of light and pure air.
Though she Is loaded nearly to the water
line twenty feet), she has made
from 215 to 315 miles per day. Owing to
the slower speed at which the engines are
driven. there is less vibration from the
machinery than on the fast boats. In
short, for comfort at sea, we could not
have chosen q better line.
The days have passed swiftly; we have
met many steamers and sailing craft; dol
phins and porpoises have repeatedly raced
with Us, aud have always won. When or@
the Banks We saw numerous fishing
schooners at anchor, with their boats out
running the lines. MIR. ". was sure that
all the best look ing OF these craft sailed
from Bucksport or Lsmoine, aud my 10y
atty to Hancock county easily persuaded
me to agree with him.
The first Sunday out two Episcopal
clergymen held services; one from Wash
ington, ID. C, preached the sermon. Last
sunday young clergyman from North
Carolina read the service and | preached.
1t was a unique experience. The sea WAS
someW hat rough. and while he was read
ing the service it occurred to me that it
would be EN- barassing II seas sickness were
TO attack me in the middle OF the sermon.
The anticipation WAS not II pleasing oa.e,
but fortunately II WAS not realized.
l have been in many peculiar pulpits,
but never before in one that would Tot
tep still. l gave out my text While my
pulpit bore me aIoft; before had finish
ed the first sentence il had lowered me to
the depths. There wns no help FOR It, 30
With feet well apart and one hand gra~l
ing ha table, | preached, turning maj
uscript and gesturing with the free hand.
In the evening We sang hymns Tor an
I hour, end it fe4l TO my lot 10 preside ii;
the piano. The sta was stlu running
high and the piano proved a difficult sub
jet to manage, FOR the piano aud tie
stool executed q very graceful and SLOW
moving waltz together. the waves Of the
ocean beating the time
This morning We entered the Eusti>h
channel. Absence from sight OF land for
ten days made me hungry for it, so ar
ranged with the Waterman to wake me a.
We passed Sicily Island light He did.
1t was 3 o'clock a. m. Mr.. W. wouldn't
stir and did not blame him. Il was
dark and damp and cold on deck; the
! light house turned its fierce eye on me,
and turned two sleepy eyes on the light
house. Then the light house shut is eye,
and went below and shut both OF mine,
until we reached Lizard Head. where
our steamer exchanged signals with the
London office.
To-day has been the pleasantest OF The
trip; the channel has been covered with
sailing and steam craft Of all kinds,
which have made panorama Of much in
terest. We passed near he Eddystone
light, then -kirted the picturesque coast
OF Devonshice, witt lis high, jagged cliffs
OF gray and " bite. Tonight, while | am
writing, We are passing the Isle OF Wight,
and its bright revolving light is only a
few miles distant.
Tomorrow morning at 3.i5 We take a
pilot and pass through the straits Of
Dover. The Waterman Is to call me at
$50. Alas, me. Don't think have de-
veloped passion for early rising. The
old saying bout early rising is huge lie,
and | respect Mr.. W. for refusing to get
up at $50 for all the pilots in the channel,
with the straits OF Dover thrown in.
But also for the unexplainable perver-
sity OF my own inclination, am doomed
to rise early, and report what | see at
breakfast. So let me say good might.
d. l.. Y.