The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1896-01-02
THE OLD BAY LINE.

the delightful pleasure Of trip on one
of the elegant Bay Line steamers ply
ing between Norfolk and Baltimore,
will appreciate the justice OF the fol-
lowing tribute from the Mannfaetu-
,ers' Record, and endorse what it says:
Baltimore is proud Of her institu-
tiOns, commercial and otherwise, that
have stood the test Of time and splen-
didly expanded with its marvellous in
yentions. The Old Bay Line may
well be called Baltimore institution,
for it has long been famous, and in
IGNORING itself, has made Maryland
more memorable at home and abroad.
In the early days of steamboating the
Old Bay Line had the best craft OBJ
tainable, and from year to year, as art
and science progressed in navigation
and all other things, this company has
advanced with the age and its recurring
wonders. We can RENE nber when the
side-wheel steamer Louisiana was con-
sidered the perfection of marine archi-
lecture for vessels of her class, but she
yielded to the improved Virginia, as
the Virginia was surpassed by the
| Georgia and the Georgia by the Ala
| ba.aa. 1t would be hard to understand
row, in the near future. even the
| Maryland Steel Co. could build better
and frer vessel than the alabama,
but if such should be the case the Old
Bay Line, when the necessity exists,
will add the latest marvel to their fleet.
The modern progress in ship-building
has been in the substitution of iron or
steel for wooden hulls, propellers for
side-wheeis and the concentration of
stean.-power. Steamships are stauncher,
swifter, more commodous and more
comfortably elegant. Electricity comes
into play for illumination and other
purposes, chiefly for message convey
ance. A veteran traveller on the Bay
Line boats, not content with touching
| a lever and lighting his superb state
room, with its soft, springy couch and
spotless linen, suggested TO the presi-
dent that one thing more was needed,
and that was, an electric button to
summon a servant in case Of eXigency.
1t was shrewdly suspected that the
veteran, spoiled by luxury, did not
want to get out Of bed to procure
morning eye-opener, but his request
was complied with.
Always will water transportation for
some kinds of freight be cheaper than
rail carriage, and so the steamship has
''come to stay" especially on such an
Inland sea as the Chesapeake, with its
fertile, productive shores. its varied
interests, its noble rivers and creeks,
where the most famous of fish, oysters,
tecrapin, crabs and aquatic fowl abound.
The Old Bay Line is in demand for
freight-room and in all seasons the
decks Of the big steamers are crowded
with produce of all kinds. Plying be-
tween such metropolis as Baltimore
| and such a growing and important port
as Norfolk, with extensive rail and
marine connections, the Old Bay Line
has won not only the patronage and en-
couragement of the business world, but
| the travelling public. AS feeder to
the Seaboard Air Line and its numer-
! Gus connections, and the Old Domin-
ion Steamship Co., the Old Bay Line
| has peculiar commercial advantages,
| which are we'll understood and con-
stantly availed Of by the mercantile
community.
The modern tendency is to rush hur-
riedly through life in pursuit of gain.
| So many men, no matter at what peril
or discomfort, take all-rail trips to and
! fro. But there are many more who
| value their health, anti have some re-
gard for the calmer sides of life. Such
| persons find delightful change in 60
ing from the cars to the boat, as re-
lief from dusty nervous motion. TIE
very sight of the water at Baltimore
o. Norfolk exalts them. What indie
scribe bliss to be on the swift, power
full, elegant steamer, with superb
stateroom, equipped and garnished with
every luxury, coaxing delicious sleep.
Perhaps in one thing the Old Bay
Line has not improved, because there
could be no positive or possible better
lrent-the table. The paraphernalia,
the environment, the equipment, have
been brought up to the highest art, but
there was no room to surpass the I'M
surpas able viands of Baltimore and
| Norfolk markets nor the methods of
cookery. To maintain what may, in
human speech, be called perfection in
the gastronomic and culinary Depart
ments, was all that the Old Bay Line
could do, and this has been accom-
| plished. 1t is fine thing, always, to
sit at table with admirable appoint
ments, in a room glowing with artific-
ial sunshine or moonlight, and in gen.
teel company. These externals ap-
peal to the emotions, and would create
appetite ssunder the ribs of death,'' not
to speak of robust stomach. The Bay
Line is famous for retaining in its en-
plOy all faithful employees, and SO it
would be difficult to find walters more
respectful, experienced and attentive.
1t is a pleasure to have seen these eX-
cellent colorcd men from year to year,
and painful sense of loss when they
60 the silent majority. A Southern
gentleman said that he found no such
meals from Paris to Augusta, and he
knew what toothsome spread was.
But it is superfuous to speak of the
Old Bay Lines table, which has ex-
ceptional renown, and must always be
memorable. The management will
meet all competition and keep up the
high standard of tue line, progressing
as the age advances, holding fast, how
ever, to what is essentially good or
incapable of betterment. In the COM
ing time of general prosperity there is
no doubt that the Old Bay Line will
be compelled to add to its fleet.
We trust that the Old Bay Line may
be, like the Union, perpetual, and that
it will always remain one of Baltimore 8
best and most famous institutions.
We all know that any tired muscle can be
restored by rest. Your stomach is mus
Gle. Dyspepsia is its manner Of saying II