New-York tribune., 1901-08-11
oNE 1EsSoN oF rHE CELTIC.

The arrival of the steamship Celtic in this port
has greatly piqued curiosity and aroused mucn
discussion on many topics. There are those VINO
remember the advent, and the failure, or the
Great Eastern and the cocksure assumption
that there would be no more building of so vast
vessels Again. only a few years back, when
the "hg Cunarders' were put aflOat, the sapient
oracles declared that so large vessels did not
pay and that no more of them would be con-
structed Since then, however, still larger
steamships have been built. and now here is the
largest of them ALL the largest ever built in the
world. For that fact the Celtic is noteworthy,
but not for that only fact 1t is of at least
equal significance and Importance that this lat
est and greatest achievement in shipbuilding is
by no means a greyhound of the Atlantic" but
is a comparatively slow ship. and was purposely
made slow in order to gain at the expense OF
speed other qualities, such as that of comfort,
In higher degree than they are supposed by
some to exist in the extremely swift ships.
We are not going to discuss the question or
speed in ships, nor whether the highest speed,
the greatest comfort and the largest profits are
compatible and can all prevail in the same ship.
1t may be that the very swift liners are just as
pleasant to travel as the slower ones. We
shall not presume to judge The point OF pres
ent nterest-and it is of great interests that
the builders of a great ship. in these days Of
feverish competition in speed deliberately put
the question of speed aside and made other con-
sderations, especially that of comfort para
mount. That was noteworthy thing to do.
and we shall not be surprised if 1t shall prove
TO have been wise one. Best of all will 1t be
if it shall be made precedent and an example,
10 be followed by others in other departments
of activity. and so become radical step of re-
- II
fee all things TO speed. There is room and
auspicious promise for such reaction on and
land.
Beyond doubt there are those, and always
will be, who seek speed in travel above all
else But there are more to whom safety and
comfort appeal more strongly. 1t is fine thing
to cross the Atlantic on a record breaking ship.
But 1t is on the whole better to do so on ship
which has every possible appliance for security,
which moves smoothly and without rolling and
pitching, and which has commodious staterooms
with "all the comforts of home" 1t may be
that the fastest ship has all these latter. The
point is that they are to be looked after first
! and before the mere matter of speed. The same
rule holds good on railroads 1t is a fine thing
to travel at sixty miles an hour. But it is
better thing to travel safely and smoothly with
out the smoke OF soft coal and the dust Of dirt
ballast. AS a matter of fact, some of the fast
est trains do have these latter qualities in the
highest degree All should have them, and
should have them first before the efforts for
extraordinary speed begin. 1t was discovered
long ago by manufacturers Of bicycles that rid
| ers generally preferred wheels of durable and
trustworthy construction and of comfort in rid
ing, rather than those which were merely very
fast and there was sensible reaction against
| extreme lightness and high gear. 1t will not, we
| hope be long before the same rule applies TO
automobile carriages, so that that machine will
be the favorite which is not merely the fastest,
but which is most trustworthy and least liable
to accident, most comfortable and most free
| from noise, smoke and smell.
It is to be wished that the same sane prin-
| ciple might prevail in other quarters, that men
would be at least deliberate enough to be decent
| IN taking passage on streetcars. and that car
conductors and motormen would be the same
in the running of the cars. (By the way, the
| Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of
| this State has recently decided that a proper
amount of time must be granted to passengers
| for getting on and off cars. May IL be enforced
| and the 'step lively abOmination be abatedD
| Well too, if in business there were less mere
haste to get rich-which does not always leave
| a man blameless-and more scrupulous regard
! for integrity ana Idlr deallng. And lC would De
well for our schools and colleges or for many
| of them to cease from the mad race for speed in
| completing courses and comforting diplomas and
pay supreme attention to making instruction
as thorough as possible. 1t is a great fact that
| In education and in business, as well as else
| where the race is not to the swift. The part
| of wisdom is then. TO cultivate those qualities
| which. more than mere speed. make for the
| true winning of the race.