The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1901-04-18
Journey to Persia.

started, and l could not resist the
temptation to use my camera
again. We were now standing ON
deck taking our last glimpses of
America; and as the boat passed
the Estate of Liberty" we felt
especially its significance, realiz-
ing that we were going to coun-
try which has no statue of liberty.
After the last speck of land had
faded from our view, we began to
look around US and to inquire who
our fellow passengers were. The
company of missionaries fer Per-
sia consisted of twelve persons,
fiveofvhom were Pennsylvanians.
There were, also, on board two
missionaries of the United Pres
byterian church returning to In
dia.
Cards bearing the names of the
one hundred and twenty passen-
gers on board were distributed.
There was nothing noteworthy
about this list of names, except
that the name "Smith" occurred
only twice.
We began our voyage in high
spirits, praising the beauty of the
day, the smoothness Of the water,
the steadiness of the boat, and
our ability as sailors. We soon
realized that we composed a little
world of our own, separated from
the noise and the news of the out
side world; and we sought to get
acquainted and to make our voy-
age as pleasant as possible. The
following days were spent in con-
versation, reading, music, or
games, according to the tastes
and inclinations of the passengers.
The monotony of the ocean was
broken by the occasional sight of
a whale spouting water into the
air, or porpoises following the
boat in leap-frog fashion, or fly,
ing fish skimming the surface.
We, also, had the privilege of
viewing a storm at sea which gra-
ciously kept at a comfortable dis
tance. AT night the phosphores-
cence was beautiful. 1t resem-
bled ipnumerable tiny electric
lights floating about upon the
surface of the water,
On the Tuesday morning follow
ing our departure, awoke with
an entirely new and indescribable
sensation which l was not long in
diagnosing as "sea-sickness." Il
had purchased medicine for sea-
sickness in New York, and had
taken it with fidelity, but l will
say for the benefit Of those who
may take sea voyage that /
learned from fellow passengers
that one can get just as sea sick
without the medicine, so you may
dispense with that luxury. l felt
like lying still; but that being
impossible under the circum-
stances, followed the advice of
kind and experienced friends at
home and prepared to go on
deck. | arose with some degree
of uncertainty as to my inclima-
tions, but suddenly rushed at the
man in the opposite berth as
though he were my best friend
whom / had not seen for de-
cade.
A sea voyage is helpful in bring
ing you into contact with human
ity. / discovered that all my
former confidence in my "sea
legs" had been misplaced, when
the boat gave pitch or a roll, 1
had learned to guide my foot
steps with some degree Of ac-
curacy; but when it pitched and
rolled at the same time, l was
unable to calculate which direc-
ton | would go next. AS soon as
| arrived on deck, | dropped into
a chair in order to avoid showing
unintentional affection for any
other of my fellow passengers. |
cannot tell you what the bill of
fare for breakfast or luncheon
was for l did not open my eyes
TO see.
1t may be pleasant to sing about
being "rocked in the cradle of the
deem - huf the actual axnarianca