The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-10-02

4 AMI - 4 Az ~ ] VIZ AfA4 ~ -
, Of the cruiser Brooklyn at the Brooklyn
navy yard.
The cruiser was christcnel by Miss Ida
Nay schieren, whose father was Brook
lvus mayor and very gracefully dl4 sne
perform Che pleasant task.
Mr.. II. w. Cramp escorted Miss Schie-
rem 10 the christening stand and stood
beside her To tell her when 90 break the
goid-netted bottle on the ships bow. Al
though she was the seu.er ot all eyes,
/ the young lady took the affair very cool
iy. Miss Schicren wore an electric blue
briIhantine dress. wiki plaid vest and lace
collar. Her hat was Of blue and green
velvet, and at her belt was pinned a
bunch Of pink carnations.
When the sole piece was sawed away,
ana the ship began to move. at just seven
minutes after ] o'clock. q cry of "Ihere
sho g0es. went up from q thousand
Threats. Miss Schieren raised the bottle
OF wine, and, with O. well directed blow,
shattered 1t on the ships PROV, saying,
as she did so: Il christen the Brooklyn"
As the vessel glided down the ways she
gathered speed. ana when she struck the
water stern foremost there was mighty
splash. q few seconds more and she was
proudly riding on the waters OF the Del
aware sporting toward the Jersey shore.
Two large anchors were dropped from
her bow and the ship was brought TO a
stop gradually.
The Letter christening viii have an
advantage over previous ceremonies OF
this kinf at Newport News on account
OF the great wealth and enormous social
prestige of the family. both at home and
abroad. Ever since the appointment OF
Miss Letter the first of September prep
aratiOns have been under way. Storage
rooms in hotels have been cleaned out
TO increase the sleeping capacity and
private families have thrown oueu their
doors as never before.
But Newport News is a small place
after am and limited in Cts facilities, so
| on Tuesday there VIII he special trains
from Norfolk, Portsmouth Fortress Mon
roe. Richmond and other surrounding
places. Miss Letter and her family are
expected 10 arrive the day before as the
christening is 90 take place in the morn
ins.
1t IS hoped tllt Admiral Bunce viii
be present ana Secretary OF the Navy
Long, as well as "A large distinguished
party from Washington who age prom
iscd bya special steamer.
The spectacle OF the christening az
| batteship SIS @ brilliant one Ashore and
a00at there Is "a great profusi0n OF flags
floating over the heads OF q crowd OF
people. The guests OF honor are taken
aboard the new lattleship and. after the
christening. a banquet ls served in their
honor at which the ships silver is used
! for the first timg
Many OF the -ay people who come down
/ from Washington wlil make q prolonged
holiday OF the aaair and naval men at
Newport News viii enjoy a rare round
OF dances.
The actual ceremony of the christen-
| FMS is a very br.f one. So brief THAI %
would be disappointing were it not for
| IT'S elab0ratoness The great infant lies
, there upon the ways ready 20 have its
/ mornings cut, so that a. can slide Gown
| into the water The wOrkmen stand with
/ axes ready 10 chop the ropes and blocks
! that hold her. Aboard the vessel, and sur
rounded by the chief dignitaries of the
! country. stands the young woman who IS
1 10 perform the ceremony Of christening.
| Ey her side is the ships builder. who
! posts her when the ship begins Co slide.
| a. the ship cannot reply the ceremony
/ consists of but one sentence and the
] breaking az the bottle, after which wild
I cheering takes place, and the bells it
| bells there be- toll on land and sea. on
/ the ship there Is salute of gums
When Mrs Cleveland christcncd her
/ batteshp she Was urged by different
/ temperance societies 20 SET a beautiful
example by chri .ening the ship with
water She made lifelong enemies OF
many members OF The vs.. T.. r.. II. by
/ her refusal 10 do SO. Instead or aqua
! pura she used genuine champagne and
! She cracked the bottle with right good
VIII upon the side Of the boat
The w. O.. T. r.. had for weeks been
| trying 90 persuade her 10 DO away with
Che use 0f anything stronger than water.
"WOuld the great cruiser float in cham-
| pasno2' they wrote her Would &c be
/ dyed with wine? 80, Then why sully IL
/ with the wicked fluid? Confaminate 10
| with nothing stronger than water
| But Mrs. Cleveland decided 20 contain
! inate Il with wine.
Mrs. c. Oliver Iselin did the same when
| she chrlstencd the Defender. The W. C..
r. L. made an attempt again TO secure
/ a water bath FOR the boat. This time ID
: made the plea that yachting was a sport
and & should be kept free from rioting.
How DO this better then, than by setting
the example OF using water. Mrs. Iseiin,
/ however. preferred champagne.
IS soon as Miss Letter Was appointed
the local ". c. H. r. as.tated the ques-
ton OF water. Mrs. Helen ". Barker, OF
Dakota. ana Katherine Len Stephenson.
/ corresponding secretary 81 The W. c. T..
T., appealed 20 Miss Letter Mss Letter
/ replied with rare good taste. she SAID
thai, as she was appointed b. the Gov
ernOr she would leave the matter or ma
tcriai IN his hands. and would act &C
cording to the dictates of his judgment
Governor Tanner says wine.