New-York tribune., 1900-05-06

romance. hold, then. that misery is essential to
romance? Is 1t essential 70 romantic interest
at that because of the Smallness of the ships,
their lack of healthful food their clumsiness OF
build and snaillike progress. men should suffer
horribly and die miseraelyE truly IL THESE
things are necessary in order that romance shall
flourish. we may find them still among US both
at sea and on land. though. happily. in ever
lessening proportion 10 an improved order OF
things.
But sober consideration Will surely convince
us that as far as true romance Is concerned the
modern ironclad warship. for instance. need
abate no JOt or her claim TO the three decker OF
last century the Great Harry Of our infant
navy. The sight of fifteen thousand ton bat
tleship cleared for action and silently dividing
the ancient sea in her swift rush meet the
fee, not visible anywhere about her, but
al grim, adamantlne, and awe lnspIrlnS-ln
what is she less romantic than the Victory under
all canvas breaking the line at Trafalgar? AS
an incentive to the exercise of the imagination
the roncad certainly claims first place Like
some fire breathing dragon Of ancient fable she
comes, apparently by her own volitiOn. armed
with powers of destruction overlapping all the
efforts of ancient storytellers. Yet 10 the init-
ated she is more wonderful more terror striking
than 10 the unknoWins observer. For the former
pierce with the eye Of knowledge her black walls
of steel. and within them hundreds of quiet,
self-p possessed men standing calmly by gun
breech, ammunition hoist, frehOSe and hospital.
Deep under the waterlne are scores of ferCely
toilng slaves to the gigantic force that actuates
the whole mass Hardly recognizable as human
sealed up in stOkehOleS under pressure of sew
erad atmospheres. the clang of their weapons
never ceases as they feed the long row Of cav
ernS glowing white with fervent heat. All around
them and beneath them and above. clearly to be
diScerned through all the diabOlical Clamor of
engines and roaring of furnaces. is that sense Of
invisible forces subdued by the hand of man,
yet ferociously striving against restraint. sense
that makes the head of the newcomer thrOb and
Seat in sympathy until it seems if the brain
must burst its containing bone.
Just abaft these chambers of accommodating
energy are the giants being fed thereby. I'm
happy the man who romance in the
engine room. Nothing exalting. soul stirring in
the rhythmical race of weariless pistOns no
storm song in their magnificent voices as they
dash round the shaft at ninety revolutions a
minute. Standing amid these modern genii 10
which those of The Thousand and One Nights"
are but puny weaklings, the sight the senses are
held captive. fascinated by splendid mani
feStatOn of the combination of skill and
strength. And when unwillingly the gazer turns
away. there are the men; the grmy greasy
sweat stained men. Watchful, patient catlike
Ready at the first hint either from the racing
TitanS themselves or from the soaring bridge
away up yOnder in the night to manipulate
lever. throttle valve and auxiliarieS as swiftly
deftly and certainly the great surgeon handles
his tools in contact with the silent living form
under his hands.
What lesson on faith is herei Faith in the
workmanship of the complicated monsters they
control, faith In one another TO do the right
thing at the right moment, when a mistake
would mean annihilation, faith in the watcher
above who is guiding the whole enormous mass
amid dangers seen and unseent This too Is no
blind faith. no mere credulity. 1t is born of
knowledge. and the consequences of Its being