The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1897-07-07
Lives ON the Ocean.

her trips in 1893 the Cunard steamship
" Lucana came in here on Friday
without having Mrs. Carson on board,
and it was an event in the history of
the steamer, says the New York Press.
1t did not seem like the same vessel
with this strange boarder absent. Any
one in search of good boarding house
might get some points from Mrs. Car
son-address the North Atlantic Ocean
The old song tells of a Home on the
Rolling Deep" but Mrs. Carson is
probably the only person whose home
is really there. Officers and sailors ego
down to the sea in ships" to do bust
ness on the great Deep" and have their
homes on shore, but Mrs. Carson has
her home on the sea, and only goes
ashore for business or pleasure. Her
present floating home is the Cunard
steamship Lucania," and she is great
ly attached to it.
For just how many years Mrs. Car
son has been making her home on the
North Atlantic nobody seems to know
exactly, but she was going back and
forW ard between New York and Liver
pool for some time before the " Luz
canian set forth for the first time.
When the big Cunarder was launched
Mrs. Carson inspected her and conclud-
ed to take board on her. She selected
roomy cabin, and setting up her Lares
and Penates therein, settled down COM
fortably to enjoy her new home.
The "Lucania" is now in her twenty
sixth round trip; that is, she has cross
ed the ocean fifty-one times. Only
twice before the present trip has Mrs.
Carson been absent from the steamer
when she plunged "the ocean blue"
Therefore she has crossed the ocean
forty-six times on the "Lucania." For
two years the ship has been her floating
home. She has been on deck in the
gentle breezes of summer and the fierce
gales of winter; has seen the beauty OF
the sights of starlight and moonlight,
and the sights of darkness and storm.
Sometimes when the vessel is in port
she goes to hotel for a day or two;
more often she does not leave the ship
for she is steady boarder.
Of the reasons for Mrs. Carson's
choice of a clearinghouse only the
bare outlines are known. She is sup
posed to be widow. She is known to
be woman of means, and to cordially
dislike and distrust the relatives to
whom her property will go upon her
death. She does not want to be where
they can get at her, and she does like
the sea. So, instead of going TO some
out-of-the way place on the continent to
live, where she would be lonesome, she
chooses the Atlantic ocean as her home
and the "Lucania as her boarding
ha hac N nf ho
salt sea air, which may prolong her life
beyond that of her waiting relatives.
She has the luxury of salt water baths
all the year round, good attendance and
bountiful table. She also has plenty
of company, and forms pleasant &C
quaintances among the passengers who
come and 60 across the ocean ferry.
Mrs. Carson is about forty-five years
old, and is slight in person. She is o
woman of education and refinement,
and seems 10 enjoy thoroughly hei
strange life. Nobody knows how many
times she has crossed the ocean since
she took up her home on the bound
ing billow," but her long experience
has made her good sailor, and she
knows all about the ship aid the hand.
ling of her in storm and calm. Why
Mrs. Carson did not make the present
trip on the " Lucania" the people or
the ship do not know, and are making
surmises regarding the usual occur
renee.
1t is supposed that some importan
business connected with her property
caused this break in her life. 1t il
confidently expected that she will b'
aboard next trip, for she has shown nc
inclination to change her boarding
house. 1t is possible that Mrs. Carson
has gone TO inspect some other ship
with an idea of moving, but til,
Lueania's" people do not think i
probable. Mrs. Carson spends he
money literally, and, it is said, has an
nounced her intention of getting rid o
all she conveniently can, 30 that tn,
heirs she 30 much dislikes will not hav,
30 much to enjoy after death. She il
an Englisbwoman, it should be said, ant
her property is in England. One of tn,
"Lucania's people said yesterday
81 do not know why Mrs. Carson dit
not come this trip, am sure. 1t mus
hav been something very important t,
keep her ashore. Only twice befor,
has she missed trip since the shil
was launched, and we miss her yer,
much"