The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1899-12-28
MARU.
How Christmas at Sea
Was Celebrated.
Meets the Gaelic - Sports and Fun
End with a Splendid Dinner
Ball at Night.

The observance OF Christmas was a
notable event on the steamer America
Maru, which arrived yesterday after
noon from San Francisco. Capt.
Going's popularity among the passen-
gers had already become we'll estab-
lished, and his plans for the occasion
were heartily entered into by all the
sixty-one cabin passengers. The frs
noteworthy event of the day, however,
was the passing of the steamer Gaelic,
TWO days out from Honolulu, bound for
san Francisco. When directly opposite
the Gaelic, and about half a mile dis
tant, the siren of the America Maru
sounded a long salute, which was req
pended to by blasts from the Gaelic's
deep whistle. Both vessels signalled
their names. 1t was the first sight OF
a vessel of any description seen by
those on the America Maru since leav-
ing San Francisco four days previous.
The first feature of the Christmas
programme was candy-pull in the
saloon, in the afternoon, nearly all the
passengers participating. Old and
young alike enjoyed the old-fashioned
fun.
The principal event, of course, was
the dinner at Z o'clock and the magnif-
cence of the spread was a subject OF
general remark Globe trOtters de-
clared that they had never seen the
equal of the dinner on shipboard any
where. The menu was elaborate, the
turkey, goose, quail on toast, terrapin
and plum pudding constituting but
small part of the fine dinner. Cnam-
pagne was served in generous style,
besides sherry, claret and other wines.
At each plate were bon-bOnS, fancy
Christmas cards and artistically print
| ed menu cards, a separate sheet con
| tanning the programme of dances ion
| the ball. which took place later, on me
| starboard side of the promenade deck
| Near the end of the dinner, Hon
| Arthur Sewall arose and proposed
| toast 10 the commander of the America
Maru. Capt. Going. The captain re
sponded happily. A toast, proposed by
| chief officer Rehberg, was also drums
to the ladies, on sea and land, ant
| one bv DR.. De Pue Hickey to the CUES
of honor at the captains table, Miss
Gertrude Schallenberger, of San Fran
| cisco, a Df1uG-SlSCIs WIZ 40 iva NNNH
to Manila to become the wife or Capt
Fitzhugh of the Thirty-siXth infantry
| A toast TO the officers Of the steame
| was also given.
At 9 O'Clock in the evening IN
whistles and bells on the steamer Wlti
a great din announced the arrival 0
NEPTUNE and his wife, Aphrodlte, I'm
personated by Chief Officer Rehber
and DR.. Rickie, respectively, who wer
dressed in weird costume, anu cause
great merriment as they went abou
the gaily-decorated decks deliverln
messages from the mermaids ana sea
elfs. Before the couple left, the pa
had opened, music being furnished o
DIR. Anderson on the piano. Virgin
reel was one of the most enJoyaoi
numbers. Later, T. NJ. Starkey san
oneratic airs. and the evening passe
with great hilarity, winding up with
late supper.
The affair was in all respects yer
we'll planned, and thoroughly enjoyed
The passengers expressed their apprs
> citation of Capt. Going's efforts IN
memorial, which was placed on ID
table Yesterday at the luncheon hou