West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1900-06-07
THE GREAT EXPOSITION.
4 Letter from an Experienced Traveller
I'm Route 20 Paris 10 See the Big
show.
ociaI corrcspondence o. 1'he Argu,


MiD-OcEAN. May 20, 1000.
In order 70 reach the Paris Exposition, we
Americans must embark There is NO dry
road ihitheS Embarl,a,ion on a great liner
is an act on great stage with comic. melo.
dramatic aud even tragic scenes. The huge
vessel looms alongside the pier The hour
for sailing is II O'Clock, but three hours
earlier the passengers begin to arrive with
bag and baggage. scrip and scrippags, some
with family, Wallets and maids, others alone.
Some with siN trunks, others with a grip
and an umbrella. Some in Hveried car
riages, Others on the street car. Messengers
arrive with flowers, the gifts of friends.
Some of the boquets arc maguidcens aud
expensive. They are now, three days ont,
displayed in tbs steamer salon, making IL
look Ike florists bazaar. one huge
bouquet Of rare roses and orchids am told
cost at least one hundred dollars.
For an hour OF more before the time Tor
sailing the decks aud public rooms Of t,e
great vessel are crowded. but for the most
part by relatives and friends Of those who
have come too see the passengers OF. The
hour FOR sailing is near, the screws Of the
steamer are turning, but merely for practice.
getting their hand in before they strike the
long wet streak across the Atlantic. The
ships band breaks upon the babble of
tongues with lively promenade. Many,
supposing the hour has come. rush down
the plank lest they be taken 10 Europe un-
prepared; but the more experienced await
the final signal, for the band viii, with in.
iermissions, play several more airs. The
time for parting has come. Those who sail
on the Hamburg Line are largely
German-Americans, and they either feel
more, or pretend 70 feel more, or restrain
their feelings less than we undemonstratiyc
un-hyphenated Americans. They kiss. en-
brace and weep, and then, after breathing
spell, rush at each other and do it again.
Men kiss men and women kiss women. ~
ftoc 7sysg al h5ifHTg, all the while looking
at each other with such looks OF longing
despairing fondncss as we are accustomed
to see only when the coffin I'D closes for the
last time. Finally there is signal for
friends TO leave the boat and after last
repetition Of narrowing partings, the i'm
mense steel floating hotel moves slowly from
the pier and then with increasing speed sails
down the bay and out TO sea. We had
beautiful starting weather, but fine weather
will not prevent sea sickness in the pre-
disposed, for we were not out of sight of the
Goddess OF Liberty IN New York Harbor
bsfore some of the passengers we're re.
cliping on steamer chairs and sucking
lemons.
After having crossed the Atlantic six
times, ] confess to preference for German
manned boats. The service on deck, in
cabin and at the table is the best have
found. II is prompt, in,ellgen, and cheer
full without obscquiousness, and without the
perpetual suggestion of tips or extra pay,
although no, doubt they know that will
come. Bu, prefer these boats mainly on
account Of a feeling of greater security.
which one always experiences in the pres
ence of perfect order and rigid discipline.
In the crews which man the great passenger
ships of the German Liners the German Fm-
piie has educated a race Of seamen that is
second numerically to that of England alone.
and perhaps not second in the skin, COURAGE
aud seaworihness of the individual sailor
II must be remembered that these trained
men of the merchant marine belong to the
reserve force of the German navy and can be
called on at any moment to man the war
ships that the German Kaiser is so induslri
ously building. 1t should be remembered
by our countrymen and Statesmen that with
in the last year the United States has sent
an army Of seventy thousand men over a
sea route of 1000 miles and that England
has traversed the same distance with more
than 1000 and $1,000 horses. We are
no longer the isolated people sea girt as by
fire we once were and we have not an over.
whclming navy like that Of England 10
protect MS. Count Won Moltke said he had
drawn dozen successful plans for the in
vasion Of England, bat had never been able
to plan successful retreat after he had
landed an overwhelming German army.
Would be find the same difficulty with the
United States lie, OF rather his successor
certainly will If our sea power keeps pace
with our wonderful material development
and our widening interests abroad
We are now in sight Of Cherbourg with
its great walled artificial harbor and colossal
statue Of the Great Napoleon, astridc Tic
bronze stallion, his arm extended pointing
TO the magnificent wall stretching far out in
the sea and inscribed below in excellent
French, though nc spoke an Italian patois.
al will reproduce at Cherbourg the maryels
of Egypt"
snail take the train foe Paris tomorrow
and in my nexi letter wdl tackle ,he ex
position. The subject has already been
much be-wrtien aud would despair of
adding anything worth printing were Il not
for 'h- fact that &c IS physical impossibility
scientifically proved ilia, no two eyes ever
see The same object II this is rue # the
physical sight how profoundly truc tits Of
thc ysical insight
No.r Wen-o.a IL.