The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1903-07-09
ACROSS OLD OCEAN.
Miss Lila Tucker Writes Charm
inqIy of Her Trip.

he Voyage WITHOUT "iSH5p anu S'A
of PIeasure-Life on a Big Atlantic
Liner Delightfully."- Described - A
Congenial Company, Reminding One
of q Great House Party-Ship's Ofii-
GERS and Servants All Courtesy and
Attention in Contributing to the
Creature Comforts of Passengers
Scenes and Incidents Of the Tip.
DR.. John Hill Tucker has received
a letter from his sister. Miss Lila,
giving an account of her trip across
the Atlantic. While it was intended
only for the eyes of the ''foiks at
home, at request DR.. Tucker has
consented to the publication OF a
part of the letter for the benefit Of
GOLD LEAF readers. And we know
they will thank him therefor. 1t is
written in Il charming and unaffected
style, with no idea of its being print
ed, to be sure, but that, if possible,
only hei9htens the interest and effect
of it. We quote as follows:
ROYAL MAIL STEAMER ''CAPATnIA."
Thursday morning, June live have
been out long enough for me to feel rested
and will begin my letters, which we are
to mail at Queenstown a week from to-
day. Yesterday was still day. The
water was mOtionless and looked like
glass. Today we are nearing the grand
banks of New Foundland and the sea is
choppy, full OF white caps and a stiff,
cold gale blowing. We sit on deck most
of the time well wrapped in winter cloth
ing, with thick wells and wooden gloves
Still, when in my steamer chair the
steward comes to wrap me up mummy
like in my rug. 1t makes one feel fine to
be out on the ocean. The airis so bracing
and the boat is so enormous there is no
roll or rocking at all, and in the library
where am writing can scarcely believe
we are going at fast rate. The people
aboard are very nice. Mrs. Chayasse
and our party sit together most of the
time and Others join us. We sit at the
with the ships doctor, who is a
charming Englishman, but | have seen
very little of him as we have most Of our
meals served out on deck. Whether the
luxury OF it, or squeamlsh feeling have
In the dining-rOOm causes this | don't
know. These English servants are too
grand for anything The deck stewards
are attentive and polite and our stew
ardess is little beauty, so kind, good
and gentle. We all take warm sea baths
before retiring and the way sleep fear
is sin, and then nod all day in my chair
on deck There is nothing like sea trip
and ever hereafter shall advise and beg
my friends to take one. | am delighted,
well and happy and hope all are the
same at home.
SATURDAY. |
before that this boat was steady? Well,
let those that think so say such things,
and many who have been to sea often
insist it is the steadest boat afioat feel
as if was on the back of an immense
elephant that was shivering in every
bone, as if having a chill, would rush up
a steep hill and plunge down the other
side Don't think am i'll for am not
at ALL though early in the morning there
is a very vacant aching all over and at
no time do | feel like skipping and dancing
and eating enormously. Rather spend
most OF my time wrapped in a rug on
deck watching the sea toss our boat
around. The waves have washed up on
promenade deck which is very high |
am trying to get the bells straight, so as
to know the time.
Sunday, June live are having a
beautiful Sunday calm the sky and sea
are perfect, rejecting all colors, blue.
pink, Opalescent and ever black in spots
feel so well and happy. We have just
had service in the saloon by Il Church of
England clergyman. The sailors We're
all marched in by the boatswain and they
took the roof off the room singing For
Those in Peril on the Sea- | realized
fully that we are in old England S bounds,
when Our Sovereign Leige and Lord
King Edward was prayed for
Tuesday, June 16.-What delightful,
bright, still days we are having, The
sea is my constant delight 1t is so beau
tiful, so wonderful, and never looks alike
twice: Some days it is pale grey, then
deep blue, then azure and dotted with
white caps. Today it is a beautiful
green and when it rains the little waves
ali smooth out and it looks like huge
carpet of MORE silk-greenish white
shaded The horizon at sea is so differ
ent from that on land, the sky and sea
do not seem to meet There is curving
of the water and a space between the
sky and it, and when the sun goes down
we can see it shining through this space
| can't describe tit is beautiful, it is
wonderful, it is Gods work. | hope you
all at home are not worrying for my
safety. With the exception of peculiar
feeling off the grand banks have not
been sick one minute and don't see how
anybody could be. | go to meals with
the appetite of a strong man.
There is always singing in the salon at
night There is a ScOtchman who is an
opera singer and he hasa grand baritone
voice, who sings his native ballads to us
more beautiful than anything l ever
dreamed of. There is also an English
actor on board who was in the original
cast of Floradora, who sings I'm the
Shade of the Shetering Palms, divinely
There is a chart kept down stairs which
shows in which part of the ocean we are
and how many miles we make a day
Yesterday we made 347. at that rate we
will reach Queenstown Thursday, Liver
pool 20 hours later. Good night | have
to pinch myself every now and then to
see if is or some beautiful dream | am
having in my room at home