The Portland daily press., 1900-06-16

Naturally we saw 1.-THE Pride of Jenni-
CO., which owes its charm far more to
the bewitching Bertha Galland as "Ot-
tile" than TO the conventional work of
Hackett as the hero. sherlock Holmes"
exists to the life in William Gillette's i'm
personation. While improbable, indeed
exasperatingly so, it is exciting from
start to finish, though in the play the
great detective ends his career, most
prosaically, in matrimony.
Through all our business and pleasure
we were pursued by the cloud Of our
coming departure. This cloud con-
densed Saturday morning, May 10th, in
the most tremendous downpour of rain
we ever experienced. When we reached
our Ark, the Maasdam, we knew thor
oughly what the biblical deluge meant,
for were we not having the amount of
forty nights and forty days Of rain preci
pitated in one. Every nook and corner
of our ship was filled with passengers,
and friends to say "bon-voyage. Never
before had such n crowd gathered. Dis
consolately we held our dripping umbrel-
las and watched in the language of Man
feline, 1.-THE moist unpleasant bodies
were cleared the ropes swung Oft and the
Maasdam began the ten days voyage
across the Atlantic. Hurriedly we made
our way to our musty state rooms, and
tried to bring some order out OF the
CHI aos OF our belongings. Beside the
many gifts of books, flowers and confec
tionery sent by thoughtful friends, was
one which is proving so useful we chroni-
Gle it for the benefit of future travellers.
1t is a strong pocket made of Soft brown
channels with warranted clasps. 1t fast
ems securely round the waist beneath the
d ress skirt, and is large enough to hold
all papers and valuables. For unique
charm the place of honor among our pos
sessi ons Is accorded an unpretentious
pasteboard box-but what treasure
store of delightful surprises IL contains.
Within are ten most alluring packages,
daintily ribbon tied, and marked to be
opened on ten consecutive dates. Each
little bundle furnishes twenty times Its
allotted amount of entertainment, for as
many times each day we weigh, shake
and In Yankee fashion guess" then
with long drawn sigh Of delightful an
cipation-conscientio lay one side
till the opening date. We earnestly
recommend all, having friends contem-
plating an ocean trip, TO go and do like
wise-for them.
Our weather for the first four days
consisted Of mixture OF pouring rain,
y
showers accompanied by thunder and
lightning. Naturally no we II regulated
ship would move, under such conditions,
except in violent lurches and rollings |
We were not sick, but abnormally quiet, |
somewhat inclined to melanch oily but |
on the fifth day the sun came out glori- |
ously, the sea was calm, the ship admira- |
bly, steady, life was worth living, and we |
began to take notice of our fellow passen-
gers. We certainly have all Municipalities |
save Asiatic, with a strong preponderance |
of Dutch, which includes the aristooracy |
in the person of two barons The service |
Is excellent, and the attendants filled |
with the strongest desire to do all in their |
power We gave the bedroom stewa I'd |
our damp boots to wrestle with, as We |
came from the deck-wet and clammy- |
ard as he took them he earnestly assured |
we should have dry back" Query-Did |
he refer to boots or bodys
Oh the delicious do nothing Of days at |
sea, when, as now, the ocean has scarcely |
more of ripple than Casco Bay at its |
best. This morning we leaned over the |
railing and watched for an hour "little |
ships go sailing" by. They were tiny |
fish of some unknown species and fioated |
rapidly on top of the water, their pale |
blue sails outspread. soon understanding |
the ship. They were neither nautilus !
nor Portuguese linen -of-war." We saw |
almost dozen. The instant they are |
taken from the water their inflated sails |
droop and they die.
One Of the difficult things to do on ship |
board Is to make discriminating choice |
Of companions, for your ten days pleas |
tire, like success in life, depends largely |
on associates and right beginning. We !
are sure pow our guardian spirit is
named John. He does not look spirltuelle |
ON the contrary Enthusiastically Dutch; !