Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1903-07-20

same way. The Mediterranean pirates
demanded money from our govern
ment. with the threat that otherwise
they would modest our shipping. The
United States government finally not
only refused to pay. but sent over
armed vessels TO maintain the honor
and power Of its flag by the mouths Of
their cannon. Had not Abraham Lin
coin and William III. Seward been
brave enough to defy popular clamor
aud surrender the Confederate COM
missioners. Messrs. Slidell and Mason,
who had been taken fOrcibly from an
English ship by an American man-of-
war. they would certainly have in
volved this country in a war with Eng
land which would have destroyed the
unity OF our government. A civilized
nation always claims an imperial do
main over the ships deck above which
hutters its flag.
Now, my brother, as a human vessel
TO what overruling power have you
rendered your allegiance? To what
'Oh," you answer, II claim the pro-
lection of the English or the American
flag. / am a native of London or of
New York" All, my friend, that is
not enough. AS human vessel, you
are going to meet dangers from which
no earthly government can protect you.
Your voyage of life not only goes over
the sea of time, but also of eternity.
Everywhere are the satanic pirates
of temptation ready to run up their
black flags. Have you been registered
in the Lambs Book of Life? Have
you today the protection of that Christ
who once trod upon the rolling pillows
of Lake Galilee and saved the sinking
boat of the disciples, when he said to
the angry winds, Peace, be still"
A Valuable Cargo.
Each human vessel always carries q
very valuable cargo. Have you stopped
to consider why a great Cunard or
White Star transatlantic steamer
spends as much time by her dock as In
travelling the high seas? IT'S true some
of that time must be given to clean
ing up the ship. but most of it is spent
in loading and unloading the cargoes.
The massive walls of building rest
upon deep foundations. The huge
masts and upper decks of a great
steamer must have deep hull. This
hull must be filled with ballast, or else
the ship would soon topple over. This
ballast is composed Of boxes filled with
merchandise or hundreds of bags Of
mail, of steel from Birmingham works
and linens from the Irish mills, silks
from France and wines from Italy, art
treasures as well as expensive furni-
ture and clothes.
Then food must be provided for the
passengers and the crew and huge car
goes of coal to keep the engines in mo-
ton. One is amazed at the thousands
of tons of coal which a ship like the
Kaiser Wilhelm II. carries at the be-
| ginning of its passage across the At
lantic. The great stomachs of the fur
races seem to be Unsuitable. Their hun
ger is never satisfied. Relays of dust
begrimed stokers are shoveling the coal
day in and day out. But what about
the enormous mass of food which must
be provided for the hungry human pas
sengers and crew? Those who live
above and below a great ships deck
are not to be numbered by the scores,
but by the hundreds. On the last voy-
age l made from England there were
nearly 1000 human beings aboard.
Then there may be millions of dol .ars'
worth of bullion aboard. The clearing
houses of the two continents are con-
tinually adjusting claims. Money from
America going to Europe. Gold and sill
yer from Europe coming to America
The average steamer plying the Allan.
tic is not to be despised. Its successful
voyage means life to hundreds. Its de-
struction may mean death alike to pas
sengers and crew and destruction to
all the freight.
Safeguards of the Voyage.
Does not each human craft carry q
valuable cargo? What about the
money which is intrusted to a mans
care? If the cashier of a bank alb
seconds and the bank has to close its
door who suffers? Is it not the poor
widow and orphan. the old man who
has trustfully placed in the bank the
savings of a lifetime so that he car
have something in his old age ant
money enough to buy him a casket ant
a grave when he is dead? What hap
pens when a human craft founders ant
sinks into the great sea of sin? Doe:
II not nearly always destroy many hu
man lives which are dependent upoI
fits existence? What became Of nearly
all the ships crews and passenger.
which were sunken at sea? What be
came of those who set sail from
Charleston. S. c., in the boat whicl
carried the beautiful daughter O
Aaron Burr, who was never heard O
again? Those ships not only wen
down, but they took most of their pas
sengers and crews with them. Oh,
know lifeboats and life preservers ar
', provided by law on every boat t
: guard against accidents. But. as
rule, they do but little good. BY tn