The Newtown bee., 1904-11-11
THE HOME CIRCLE.
ACROSS THE ATLANTIC WITH THE
 "TWO-POUNDERS
BY HORATIO WHITTAKER OF BETHEL.

Crossing the Atlantic is such a com mon experience in these days of travel that some may think the event scarcely worth recording. To have the privi- lege of doing the trip at the rate of six miles a penny, however, with board and lodgings thrown in, is something so unique and unusual, that l venture to give my experience, hoping it may be of interest to many of your readers.
 We left Liverpool by the Royal Mail evening of September '. The vessel is one of the largest and swiftest of the White Star Line, measuring 7O4 feet long, and IT, ,274 tons. The mail bags being brought on and the gangways re- moved, we leave the landing stage with the usual mixed feelings of joy and sorrow, and with waving of hats and handkerchiefs we glide down the river. The first two hours on board is all confusion, passengers seeking their berths and tumbling over each others luggage. New Brighton Tower is soon passed, the monument at West Kirby and the Welsh hills on our left are plainly visible, also Blackspool Tower and Big Wheel on our right. The bell rings up the steerage for tea, the gong the 2nd cabin, whilst the saloon passengers are warned by bugle call. Both musical and class distinctions. We partake of a good tea and hope we shall be able to "Scratch up" at every meal. Here we meet the "Teutonic'' arriving from New York. The first night at sea is novel experience to many, and those who can sleep soundly are not so delicateIy organized and have much to be thankful for. At daybreak we are out on deck and find ourselves in sight of the Irish coast. Generally it is bold and rocky, with here and there farm house or mud cabin dotted on the hillside.
 We reached Queenstown at 6 30 a. m It was beautiful morning, and all the passengers came on deck. Having to wait six hours for the mail we have ample time to view the the beautiful town and harbor. The local traders, with an eye to business, come along, side in small boats, selling fruit, Irish lace, wraps, shawls and blackthorns The town looks splendid from the sea, Spike Island with it's guns command hundred passengers and the mails, anC leave at 12.3O. The Irish who have come on board are good sample o1 their race, fine strapping young mer and women. As they walk up the gangWay from the tender, one is re minded of the song with the refrain:
 Goodbye Mick. and good bye Pat;
 Good bye Kate and Mary;
 The gangway's up, the anchors weighed.
 Pm lavin' Tipperary.
 The stame is blowing off, me boys,
 I've got no more to say;
 I'm off to New York city, me boys.
 Three thousand miles away.
 Our boa t is now packed from sten to stern, every berth being occupied There are 404 saloon passengers, 257 second cabin, llS0 Steerage and crew O. 456, altogether 2297 on board. In the list of saloon passengers we have tht Duchess of Marlborough on board occupying StaterOOm; also Bruce lSmay, chairman of the White Sta Line; so we feel quite safe travelins with such distinguished company Sailing along the Irish coast we pas the Old Head of Kinsale and Fastne Lighthouses about four in the after noon. The latter IS built on desolat, rock, about mile and a half from th mainland, and is called the rearguart of the A tlantic. A strong head wint now meets us, causing the boat t. pitch good deal; 90 per cent of tn passengers at least are sick, and streWl about the deck as if on battlefield, pitiable sight and no help to give them The land is now fast fading from GU view, the distant hills being silhou cited in the skyline: group of thre small rocks off Cape Clear, called tn Bull, Cow and Calf,' being the last t see of Ould Ireland.
 COSMOPOLITAN PASSENGERS.
 The "tWo-pOund aristocrats" 0 board are respectable-loo crowd far above the average third-clas. Most of them are Irish and American returning to the States, and other going on visit. The rest are Englist Welsh, Scotch, Germans, French Swedes, NorWegians, and few Jew