The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-10-25
DEMOCRACY OF The SEA
ALL MEN ARE EQUAL ON THE GREAT
OCEAN STEAMSHIPS.
Social Ranks Dissolve on the Decks of
the Liners I'm a Way Not Likely
to Happen on Land.

Washington Post.
To sit at table and listen to talk from
Andrew Carnegie, to play Switchboard with
Thomas Bailey Aldrich. TO walk the deck
with members of the family of Secretary
Root, to take afternoon tea with Sir Thomas
Upton, to discuss American affairs with
the Earl of Denbigh on his way to Boston
in company with the Honorable Artillery
Company OF London-certainly acquaint-
ances of this kind. continuance Of which
after the voyage is by no means obliga-
tory. are nowhere to be made with such
ease and naturalness as on the sea- Prob
ably there is no place in the world where
more democratic conditions prevail than on
board an ocean liner, despite the fact that
the luxury OF the appointments Of sea
travel has increased tremendously within
the past decade. and that nowadays 1T is
possible for a voyagcr TO obtain on ship
board any degree of magnificance for which
he is willing to pay. As any Western
traveller will bear witness, there is less
close distinction, less of those invidious
contrasts that differences of wealth are
too apt to create. aboard the great steam
ers than in almost any place ashore that
one can mention.
To be sure, there is a great range in the
amounts individual voyagers pay as pas
sage money and in extent of space occupied
by the passenger in what may be called
his private apartments. In the giant flyer
Oceanic, for example-perhaps the most
perfect in appointment and general equip
ment of any vessel in the Atlantic service
to-day-ths range varies all the way from
the man who pays 500 for a berth in a
others, to the self-indulgent person who
writes check for s., 500 in exchange for the
privilege of occupying princely suite OF
five six rooms on the promenade deck.
But the one man enjoys no more extensive
privileges in the smoking-room, in the IL
brary, or on deck than the other. Each
gets exactly the same fare at table, and
the weather. man may happen to occupy
a seat in the saloon that is in some respects
less desirable. In fact. in what may be
termed the public parts of the big steam
ship no such thing exists as privileges or
distinction. and the least we'l-to-do among
the first cabin passengers may place his
chair in the most attractive nook on deck
IL he applies for the location in time.
MR.. MORGAN'S WAY.
Now. the desire to know details Of the
appears to be a very normal, or, at least,
a very widespread craving. Anybody who
has crossed the Atlantic in the same ship
with remarkable or titled or multi-mil-
lioned man is quite certain to be piled
with questions to how the famous one
dressed, what his manner was toward his
fellow-passengers. and. in general, how he
comported himself. Of course, the story
should. seemingly, be soon told. for the
reason that the difference between those
who are reckoned famous and those who
are less conspicuous is by no means so
great in any walk OF life as Ii Is COM
recEOped
on shipboard than elsewhere; but ii is
story that bears frequent repetition. Peo-
pie like to hear of great men who mingle
freely with their fellows.
For instance, to take an Illustration, the
man whose name is perhaps more frequent
ly and prominently before the American