The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1901-09-12
A PREAMBLE.

quiry. Evidently the public generally
are not aware of the advantages offer
ed at Portland to those who wish to
cross the ocean strange countries for to
see. With a harbor that, aside from its
scenic attractions, is at least equal to
any port on the Atlantic coast, it has
excellent steamship service to English
ports. and on the Dominion line you
find the maximum of comfort at a
minimum price. Sensible people OF
more or less moderate means avoid the
ocean fliers which transport the multi
millionaires who blazon their wealth in
diamonds, loud costumes and loud man.
ners, and find more genial companion
ship in the slower, but sure, steamships,
and are benefited by the ocean voyage.
So while not yet .'half seas over" l rec
ommend those going abroad for rest or
recreation, or both, to book at Portland
on the staunch steamers of the Domin.
ion line.
AS Mr.. Elwell truly said in his circu-
lar that tempted five Belfast people
from their homes Down in Maine"
'There is no American city more de-
lightful in the picturesqueness of its
outer harbor than Portland. Once
away from the dock and headed down
the bay the tourist has on either side a
lovely panorama of the suburban re-
sorts which have added to the fame of
Casco Bay. One after another they are
passed in the trip to the ocean proper
which opens out in its vastness as the
famous Portland Head Light is reach
ed"
MI. Frank A. Elwell, the conductor
of the party, is son of E. H. Elwell,
for so many years editor of the Port
land Transcript, and whose graceful pen
had won for him before his untimely
taking-off an enduring place in Maine
literature. Mr.. Frank Elwell has been
engaged in conducting parties on Euro
pean tours for the past fifteen years
and admirably fills the bill as guide,
philosopher and friend"
There is nothing so cheap as advice,
and it is usually taken at its real value,
if taken at all. Mr.. Elwell we accept
ed as an authority, and took his advice
as to clothing, etc, at one hundred cents
on the dollar. He said: Take warm
wooden clothing both for the voyage,
and when on land The English and
Scotch wear much warmer clothing
than Americans on account of the
greater humidity of the atmosphere;
also thick-soled boots and an umbrella.
1t is never very cold in Great Britain
and never very warm. September wealth
er is about the same as it is in Massa-
usually very delightful and
the most comfortable weather possible
for travelling" Then as to footwear
we were told: "Have good thick soles
to your shoes-no man wears 'rubbers'
in England, and they cannot be had in
the shoe shops; so if you like thin shoes
and rubbers for wet weather be sure
and bring your rubbers with you" The
ladies were advised to bring rubbers
to fit their shoes, ''for although they
sell ladies rubbers in England, they
don't fit the American Shoes"
There is also something to learn re-
garding the selection of staterooms,
and for the benefit of the future Eu-
ropean tourists we again quote Mr..
Elwell "tAll deacons are good, but
there's odds in deacons, and it's so with
the first class staterooms on the trans
lines. Being largely in the
centre of the boat they are where there
is the least motion: but if you know it
you don't want room next to the bath
room, for there's always some enthus-
last in bathing who wants bath at 5
O'Clock in the morning, and they have
way of heating the room and the bath
by turning a full head of steam into
the cold water. This makes noise fit
to wake the dead, and makes you so
mad that you are not pleasant COM
panion for the rest of the day. You
also don't want it near the foot of the
companionway, where there is too much
noise and publicity, nor near the buffet,
where you get the odors of the cooking,
ETC." Of course the Belfast party were
placed Just right-staterooms 5, 6 and
s, starboard side.
1. w. Parker and daughter, Miss May
Parker, Charles A. Pilsbury and daugh-
ter Miss Marjorie D. Pilsbury, and
Mr.. Charles F. Swift, all of this city,
left on the 1.30 p. m. train last Friday
for Portland, and sailed from that port
at a. m. Saturday on the steamship
Vancouver of the Dominion line for
a six weeks trip to England, and Scot
land. The return will be by the Domin-
ion line steamship Cambroman. The
party will land in Liverpool, and from
that point their itinerary is as follows:
Sept. 17th-To Melrose Abbey and Abb
bottsford, home of Sir Walter Scott
Sept. 1Sth-Rail to Glasgow, where is be-
ing held the Grand International EXPOSE
ton.
Sept. 18th, Goth, 21st and 22nd-In Glasgow.
Sept. 22nd-To Edinburg, via LOchs Ka-