The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-06-22
BRIGHT LETTER
FROM LONDON
Shirley JoceIyn on His Trip
to the Little Isle.
EXPERIENCE ON A SHIP
Funny Frenchman, the Actress
and the SIeepIeSS Gamblers.

Four weeks ago Shirley Jocelyn Of this
city, the fastest typewritist in the west.
started for England as the private secre-
tary of President stilwen of the Orient
road.
He is as charming writer as he is
rapid. He is now in London. where he
will take in the coronation. Before he
returns to America he viii visit the con-
tinental countries.
From London he writes a rambling
diary of his experiences, which follow:
''On board! Water all around, and lots
of it, The many-natured mighty old At
lantic. sublime in its strength, locked be-
tween shores,
we cast off from the dock about 10
O'Clock Thursday morning. May %. and
steamed out straight across the bay,
then the Prov Of the vessel swung around
and we headed down toward Coney Is
land. As 1 looked back to the right was
Brooklyn bridge, hanging in mid air,
seemingly stretched from one mass of
buildings to another on the opposite side.
Fleets of vessels Of all kinds. conditions
and character covered the harbor, from
puffy little tugboats. drawing mud-scows.
to large stately three-masted sailers and
three-funneled ocean steamers.
Down the bay we passed the statue Of
Liberty on the left, a dingy looking fig
ure. Following a line of buoys, past some
pretty doleful sounding bell buoys, we
went out Of the New York harbor,
through the Narrows, past Coney Island
on the left and proving grounds at Sandy
Hook, which place entirely deserves its
name. Numerous pavilions dotted Coney
Island, whilst the big Ferris wheel could
be seen in the distance.
las we steamed along by Sandy Hook
a heavy gun was fired which shook the
ship. and far out at sea a huge column of
dirty white water heaved into the air.
This was the AIS well salute.
I'VE passed the llghtships about thirty
five miles out. and the outlines of New
York City grew more and more indistinct
and misty, and at last sank away into
the sea. On every side was only water,
water curved and water sloped up to
far horizon. One cannot help imagining
how Columbus must have felt when he
could sight no land. and you are meta
morphosed into a Columbus to discover
what?
1.-The Furst Bismarck, our steamer, is
500 feet long and So feet wide There are
about a thousand passengers on board
and $50 men of the crew. The first mate
tells me that 5000 persons wouldn't be
too many for the Bismarck to carry.
sea sick I haven't had a tremor Of
it and am told that I have passed the
critical period. I can look from my port
hole and see the waves just a few feet
below my eyes and OCCASIONALLY spray
covers the window when a wave pounds
the vessels side. 1t makes one feel how
petty men are, after all: and yet we
strive among ourselves and against Gods |
forces with such an assurance of might! |
THE sea is so blue that it is almost |
black; rich deepest, blue, except when a
wave breaks-curls over in a huge swell |
and combs into a foamy spray. Then, |
through the curving wall, you can see a |
most beautiful green. But the color can
not be described. A much Travelled con- |
verser says it is identically that of the
Mediterranean. Anyhow. to look away
~Na-N~
mass of water. wind-whipped into whiten- |
ing caps. swelling and breaking, heaving, |
never still. and rounding up to a curving |
sky line, is to experience a sensation new |
to me, at any rate. and it would be bet |
ter TO let it go ar that
Sea weed in quantities. and black Pc
trels and Mother Cary chickens fitting |
back and forth around the ship. follow |
ing the up and down swell of the ocean.
1 saw one gull alight on the water, walk |
fifteen or twenty feet. and there. like |
duck. settle down in q hollow Of the |
waves. 1t stayed there minute or more. /
bobbing about with the undulations and /
then resumed its flying. That is the way /
they rest.
I'VE have a Frenchman on board who. |
whenever we sight anything out of The 4
usual. always runs ike mad FOR his /
sketching materials. ard for about an
hour furnishes whole lot Of amusement /
with his ludicrous attitudes. gestures and
ordinations. Among our varied COM
pany we also have a yeilow-haired. paint /
ed little actress. who Shippers and trips
along in affected daintiness. We have
With Us. too good looking young baron
ess. Amy Won Gerichten. resident Of |
San Diego, Cal, who Is very bright, /
speaks several languages and IS very nat
ural and a good fellow so called. She
IS on her way to Germany to be mar
ried
Then there Is a set OF profane gam
biers. who do nothing but sit ia the foul
IT,
furniture. including old-fashioned hexa-
zonaily shared lanterns. and gamble day
after day on the run OF shs ship and
talk Of losing their clothes and them
selves. And what q jarscnl
Most CT the passengers are German. a
few are English. and stnI fewer are
American. Last night a young Swede.
going home. was conversing with a Dane.
1oth leaving America on German vessel
Indeed. mingled with nationalities. an &C
,apati5zs. al hopes. ambitions. fears and
hstreds are here a. everywhere. a part
x the world clipped OF b human affairs
from the great puising crowd and hurry
ng from shore 70 shore.
I'VE landed AZ Plymouth. England.
about O'Clock q the evening OF June 3.
IA the beautiful rocS-bou11 harhor city.
In the bay were several warships and
NO hlack. wicked looking tory sdo boats
While tugs and sailing ersft with brown
'aIs. rode on TIE deep nTus-green q the
lcsan- Everything there Is rock. old be-
rona recollection. and covered With she
newest OF green's
we Eot iato or little street car q q
train. 81 tha SIDE. after We Rad run TIE
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