The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-12-18

bundles and packages marked mot to
be opened until Dec 25.'' Some of these
are smuggled on board unknown to
those who are to receive them; others
are delivered into the hands of depart
ing travellers with solemn injunctions
mot to look beforehand" Even the
great vessels themselves, as they lie
at the docks take on the festive air OF
the holiday season while preparations
go busily on for the entertainment OF
those who from necessity or choice,
are likely to spend Christmas day at
sea.
1t is not at all desolate experience,
that of spending Dec. % on board ship,
for it is hard to find a spot to which
St Nicholas cannot make his way, and
the pleasant spirit of the day makes
itself felt even more strongly at sea
than on land. 1t is wonderful how the
Drejudices and animosities of other
seasons melt away on Christmas day
aboard a liner. Even Spaniard and
a Yankee can fraterniZe under such
circumstances. Nor are the crew for
gotten in the general good feeling. One
New York woman well known for her
charitable work makes q habit every
year Of, remembering the sailors on
board the American line ships. When
the Paris sails on her next trip she
will carry a. consignment of warm muf-
fiers which this woman has provided
as her yearly gift to the crew OF the
doughty vessel that has done such good
work in war and peace during the past
year.
1.-The man who spends his life on
board big passenger ship sees about
as many different kinds of Christ
masses as anybody, 1 guess, said Cap
tain Richard Nierich of the North Ger
man Lloyd steamship Adler, as he Set
in his cabin the other day preparing for
a holiday voyage TO the Mediterranean.
Some Christmas days I have spent
on the North Atlantic others while in
the China trade, still others in the
South Pacific and the Mediterranean.
The fact is that have spent only one
Christmas day at home since 1 was
married-and I haven't been
bachelor for a good many years. Now
we sail from New York very soon, and
will touch at Gibraltar, Genoa, and
other ports; and before We reach here
again Christmas win have been passed
eWhen your ship is running on a
voyage to the Mediterranean, with a
crowd OF jolly passengers aboard who
are off on a trip to enjoy themselves,
Christmas is day to be remembered.
Friends and relatives send gifts on
ahead, so that they may be handed to
passengers at the right time; and of
course this personal remembrance from
bration which is always prepared on
board the ship itself. The oath of
December passes about as do other
DAYS until dinner time arrives, and
then The chefs and stewards Quito
themselves in providing an elaborate
menu, and in table decorations. If the
weather is fine, as II is likely to be,
the passengers are in high spirits, for
the Christmas feeling is infectious, no
matter where you go. Toward the end
of the dinner speeches are made. songs
are rendered, stories are told, and
toasts are given; and when this is
completed all go to the main saloon
and the Christmas tree is revealed:
standing there in the middle, under the
big skylight. 1t is a big tree, too; just
as big as can be obtained and put in
place, and on it are hung gifts from the
ship for every passenger; not costly, at
all but rernembrances that are likely
to be long preserved as souvenirs of a
pleasant occasion. Then if the sea is
not high, the candles are lighted and
the tree bursts into beautiful illumina-
ton.
THE SHIPS CHRISTMAS TREE.
This suggestion of a. tree covered
with hundreds Of lighted candles, on a
big steamship may sound rather dan
gerous to a landsman, but il IS safe
enough in reality. Men are stationed
close at hand, although out OF sight,
with buckets Of water, fire extinguish-
ers. axes, and so on; and if it were
necessary other men above. on deck,
stand ready to snatch tree, candles,
gifts and all right through the sky
light at an instant's warning; and
three seconds later a blazing tree
would be over the side in salt water
But while such extraordinary 9recaU-
tons are taken. they are not needed
for ordinary foresight would determine
whether it were safe to light the
candles.
s CHRISTMAS BALL ON DECK.
After the distribution of gifts from
the tree, a concert is given, if the
weather is bad; but whenever Christ
mas exc is pleasant and the latitude is
suitable. the passengers go on deck,
which they find to be shielded from the
wind by canvas brilliantly lighted
and decorated with flags and bunting.
And, tell you, on a moonlight night,
with a calm sea and soft, pleasant air.
in the Mediterranean. for example,
Christmas eve ball aboard great ship
is something for most passengers to re-
member. I'm sure | can't imagine any,
thing more charming for those who