The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1899-07-19
OCEAN TRAVELLERS.
N atural Characteristics Seem to be Brought
Out by the Sea Air.
Ne,c York Press.

one or tne Dig ocean 1lueTs 9no o0nSA
day, ssthere ism ANY other business
that can give one in twenty years the
experience in reading character that a
man can get in six months as officer
Of one Of the popular transatlantic
boats, aud he won't have to neglect
his duties to get it, either, for there
is something about the sea that re-
lakes people and lets their true natures
shine out.
II have carried more freaks across
Che ocean than one could find in all
ihe dime museums of the country put
ogethel It seems to me that there
is no type Of civilized cres cure that
doesn't some time or other Snd its
way on board boat for Liverpool,
from the thin-legged dude with the
sloping forehead, who always wears
gloves on deck and changes his clothes
four times a day, to the little earnest
faced girl missionary who is going to
waste her youth and sweetness IN
trying to convert Hottentots in some
outlandish place in Africa.
Ealing in love, however, is sub
iect on which sea captain can give
points to most anybody. There is
something about the sea that beats
spring all hollow in making a young
man''s fancy, lightly turn to thoughts
of love. Iscan tell from the droop of
young fellow eyelid which particu-
lar girl he is going to fall in love with
for the voyage. On one trip I had a
bet withth mate that on the first day
/ could pair OFF half a dozen couples
who would be promenading the hurri-
cane deck in the moonlight on the
fourth night out, and I struck it right
in every case but one, and that par
ticulars girl vas so seasick that she
couldn't come on deck. In finding
out hidder afinities seaman can give
cards and spades TO any matrimonial
agent ADORE ground. There are sew
eral happy families shat invite me to
dipner with them nearly every time |
am in New York on the strength Of
their match having been made on
board my ship.
ssThough the seaman always has a
soft spot in his heart for lovers, they
are not nearly as interesting to the
student Of human character as some
Of the other types Of ocean travelling.
The captains bette noir is the man
with the weather-beaten face, who
seems to he crossing the sea with the
sole purpose Of watching the log and
giving the captain advice as to the
best way Of sailing the ship. If the
log posted up at noon on the main
companionway shows ten miles less
than schedule time the self-appointed
adviser seeks out the captain and sug-
gests hauling up the sheets. Snub-
sbing has no effect on him. BE haunts
the foot Of the stairs leading to the
bridge as if pining to get his hands on
the wheel.
sAnother ubiquitous type is the
man who prides himself on the fact
that he is never seasick.. He is ag-
gressively and provokingly we'll when
everybody else on board is i'll and
helpless, and he expatiates eloquently
on his theory Of eating as much as
possible on all occasions as a never
failing preventive. Heis particularly
vivid wher picturing the joys Of beef
steak and onions TO pale and squeam-
ish ladies who have managed to drag
themselves on deck after days Of
misery below stairs.
Con eyesy ship thereis sure to be
one girl whose special vanity is pair
of beautiful feet. She is generally
rather plain otherwise; but the happy
combination of rather short skirt
and a windy deck gives hers,a chance
to display her good points. She wears
the finest of shoes with the highest OF
French heels, and lis wonder that
she doesn't fall and break her neck;
but she manages somehow to glide
over the most slippery deck and take
her favorite position, with one dainty
foot slightly elevated on the lowest
rail and the breeze blowing her skirt
away from the other trim little ankle.
The prettiest girl on the ship isn't in
it with this girl as far as the young
men are concerned.
IsIn marked contrast to the girl with
the feet is the amateur palmist. She
is generally pretty girl, With melt
ing, soulful eyes and white hands.
Her nails are always manicured to the
queens taste. She generally begins