Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1900-06-25

| is of course more convenient to do so
and will add greatly to the pleasure
and education of travel. Our Ian
guage is spoken in all the important
hotels and shops of Europe. Even
| the French, SO impervious TO any thing
that has not originated in Paris, have
begun in the last ten years to learn
English and are able now to caiole
and cheat us in our vernacular.
These reflections come to me at sea
on my fourth trip to Europe and
my second trip to a Paris Worlds
Fair. In 1878, twenty two years ago
in this month of May, I sailed on q
steamer, the Swevia, of this same
Hamburg American line. The Swevia
was boat of about 5000 tons. This
boat is 10000 tons. 1t took us then
twelve days to cross; we expect now
to make the passage in less than seven
days. These improvements are sug-
| gestive of recent progress in ship and
engine building. I have crossed in
four ships of this line. I have a pref
erence for these German manned
! boats. Their martinez discipline
which is seen in the crew and in the
attendants, whether on deck, in cabin
or in the dining saloon affords a sense
of security and protection that one
does not feel with the lax, go-as-you-
please management of some other
lines. 1t may be that if we should
collide with something and our boat
should start in a vertical bee line for
the nearest land at the bottom, these
machine like Germans would initiate
the French sailors in the recent
wreck of the Bourgogne, jump in the
boat themselves and beat off the first
class passengers with the oars. But
men and sailors have been known in
deadly peril to think of others before
themselves and I believe there is
something of this Berkinhead spirit in
the seamen who man the Hamburg
boats. The danger Of sinking has
been reduced until it is no longer
possible except from collision or fire,
and the dangers from these sources
have been minified almost out Of sight
by the selection Of safe ocean routes
and by fire proof construction.
The three distinct achievements of
the twin screw system are increased
speed, regularity in the arrival of yes
sells, and, most i'm ortant of ALL high
degree of safety at sea. By this sys
tenn the vessel is divided into two
parts entirely separated from each
other by strong steel wall or bulk
head running the whole length of the
ship. Two non communicating parts
having thus been established each one
is equipped with an engine shaft and
wholly unaffected by the movements
of the other. The advantage gained
by this principle is obvious, for
arrangement OF the engine on one
side i'll no way affects the other which
will continue its work with little loss
of speed Each half Of the ship is
further divided by transverse bulk
heads into numerous water tight COM
partments and double bottom insures
from injury from below. Another
advantage of the twin screw is the
control held over the direction of the
ship. In case of accident to the rud-
der the vessel can be accurately
steered by driving one screw ahead
and reversing the other.
In spite of a placid sea, about one
third of the passengers are seasick IN
their cabins, Or with saffron skins are
lolling on deck chairs or on each
other. A number of mothers on deck
with babies wrapped in blankets man
age to live and even to sleep. Aston
ishing vitality has our race of "sickest
beasts alive.'
I saw the pretty girl from New
York this morning on a reclining
chair clad in carriage robe, eyes
closed, mouth open, lips blue, and
face the color of khaki. Pretty? I
can we'll believe the story that on
their wedding tour to Europe the
seasick husband, glancing at his sea-
sick bride, said to the passing deck
steward: 'Please spread this shawl
over my wife. I can't bear the sight
of her."
hope to be in Paris in day Or two
after this letter is mailed, then little