The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1900-06-14
TN ROUTE TO PARIS EXPOSITION.
From our Regular Correspondent
MID OCEAN, May 20 1000.

Tn order to reach the Paris Exposi-
,ion, we Americans must embark.
There is no dry road thither. En-
barkation on a great liner is an act on
a great stage with comic, melodrama-
tic and even tragic scenes. The huge
vessel looms alongside the pier. The
hour for sailing is all, but three hours
earlier the passengers begin to arrive
with bag and baggage, scrip and scrip
page, some with family, grip and an
umbrella. Some in liveried carriages
others on the street car. Messengers
arrive with flowers, the gifts of friends.
Some OF the bouquets are. magnifcent
and expensive. They are now, three
days out, displayed in the steamer
salon, making it look like a florists
bazaaI One huge bouquet of rare
roses and orchids am told cost at
least one hundred dollars.
For an hour or more before the
time for sailing the decks and public
rooms of the great vessel are crowded,
but for the most part by relatives and
friends of those who have come to see
the passengers off. The hour for sail.
ing is near, the crews of the steamer
are turning, but merely for practice,
getting their hand in before they strike
the long wet streak across the At
lantic. The ships band breaks upon
the babble of tongues with a lively
promenade. Many, supposing the
hour has come, rush down the plank
lest they be taken to Europe unpre-
pared; but the more experienced
await the final signal, for the band
will, with intermissions, play several
more airs. The time for parting has
come. Those who sail on the Ham
burg. American Line are largely Ger
man Americans, and they either feel
more or pretend to feel more, or re-
strain their feelings less than we un-
demonstrative un hyphenated Ameri-
cans. They kiss, embrace and weep,
and then, after a breathing spell, rush
at each other and do it again. Men
kiss men, and women kiss women, el
rice SeySa al HbifNm, all the while
looking at each other with such looks
of longing, despairing fondness as we
are accustomed to see only when the
ooa,o Ia clOeae for Tho loct t;p,a
Finally there is signal tor friends to
leave the boat and after last repeti.
tion of narrowing partlngs, the imense
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 wealth
er, but fine weather will not prevent
sea sickness in the predisposed, fol
we were not out of sight of the God
dess of Liberty in New York Harbor
before some of the passengers were
reclining on steamer chairs and suck
ing 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. 1t is prompt
intelligent and cheerful without OBJ
sequiousness, and without the perpet
ual suggestion of tips or extra pay
although no doubt they know that
will come. But | prefer these boat:
mainly on account of the feeling o.
greater security, which one always ex
periences in the presence of perfect
order and rigid discipline. In the
crews which man the great passenger
ships of the German liners the Ger
man Empire has educated a race o
seamen that is second numerically tc
that of England alone, and perhap:
not second in the skill, courage anC
seaworthiness Of the individual sailor
1t must be remembered that these
trained men of the merchant marine
belong to the reserve force of the Ger
man navy and can be called on at any
moment to man the war ships tina
the German Kaiser is so industriousl,
building. 1t should be remembered
by our countrymen and our States
men that within the last year thu
United States has sent an army o
seventy thousand men over SCI
route of 1000 miles and that England
has traversed the same distance witt
more than 200, 1000 and $4,000 horses
We are no longer the isolated peopl
sea glrt as by fire we once were anC
we have not an overwhelming nav
like that of England to protect us
Count Won Moltke said he had draw
dozen successful plans for the in
vasion of England, but had neve
DEAFNESS CANNOT RE CIIRED b.