The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1897-09-04
WRITTEN AT SEA
Advertisers Special COrrGSpOn-
dent Tells Of the Trip.
MANY. PLEASURES OF VOYAGE
characteristics of the
Passengers.
Steamer Passed Close by Bird
Island - Stemming the
Black Stream.
Especial Correspondence
On Board S. S. Doric,
Cnu ArnJrct IA 1907

At Sea, August IA, 1897.
EDITOR p. c. A.:-The good ship
Doric is not making a record for her
self on this voyage She is too deeply
laden for fast sailing. Three thousand
tons of flour for Hong Kong bring her
near to the Plimsoll mark, but the
consumption of coal lightens the vessel
each day; yet for pleasantness and
comfort, I doubt if the record for this
voyage can be surpassed. Cool breeZes,
smooth seas and sunny skies make life
on shipboard as agreeable as the un-
stable support and narrow quarters of
our floating home will admit.
We have but few passengers, only %
in all, all but seven for Yokohama. l
presume that the ships officers would
be glad to dispense with the company
of even that small number on the re-
mainder of the voyage from Japan to
China At this season of the year the
heat is said~to be almost unindurable.
Pajamas are the only style for ordin-
ary wear The Captain talks of swing
ing hammocks on the upper decks to
make the most comfortable arrange
ment possible for the night. The ships
officers are fine, companionable men.
The monotony of life on shipboard,
where there is no morning newspaper,
no change of scene and life is one un-
steady roll and surge, is alleviated by
80
afternoon after leaving Honolulu and
it's social hustle and hustle, the Cap
tain called all the passengers into the
gentlemen's saloon, and suggested the
for indoor entertainments, the other for
outdoor amusements. The committees
were duly appointed, and have evolved
out of abyssmal nothingness a series of
amusements. Nothing helps digestion
so much as a hearty laugh that shakes
the whole physical organism.
We have not an extraordinary |
amount of talent among the passen- |
gers, but we are ready to utilize what |
ever is available. The cuisine is ad- |
mirable; in fact, so good that we are |
tempted, as our first parents were or
iginally, to eat too much. Then comes
the penalty, tossing to and fro on the |
narrow couch at night, folded hands |
and woe-begone faces during the day |
time But brisk walk after break |
fast, jolly game of cricket after lunch |
and lot of fun in enjoying the varied
afternoon and evening entertainments |
prevent the fit of blue from taking un-
challenged possession of the voyagef |
over this wide expanse of blue ocean. |
I never have travelled on any steamer |
where the officers have done so much |
to make the voyage agreeable as have |
the officers of the Doric.'
The average Englishman carries |
with him all over the world a hearty |
love of sport. In all the ports Of the |
Orient there are athletic clubs, cricket |
and tennis tournaments. In the Eng |
lish illustrated papers, of which are |
hand files in the ships library, it is no
ticeable how much space is given to /
sports and fighting. Yet when one |
visits the great picture galleries of Eu-
rope, one cannot but notice the differ
ence between France and England. |
Battle-scenes by the hundreds fill the |
art galleries in France. In England.
there are few or none-home joys are
most commonly depicted by the great |
English artists. and speak of the Eng
lish desire for home comfort, in con-
trast with the French passion for mill
tary glory.
The Doric is a first-class steamer in
every respect. There is ample room
for whatever needs to be done. wheth-
pr in the social hall, the dining room.
the library. promenade deck, or state
room You can have a bath in warm
water in a marble basin, or take a