Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1904-03-23

i present. Oh how like the sea witt
f its blue black foam tipped waves
!, how beautiful when at rest, how
e grand when storms disturb ano
) mountains high they dash on,
, another, lashing the ship that fall,
in their way.
February 9th. We were on decl
for a last view of this island city
While waiting to hear the signal fel
: starting we could but notice til,
dark cloud that overhung the cit,
like black wall before us, was i,
ominous? Suddenly rift in the
blackness, and the orb that centuries
ago answered, Let there be light
appeared in all its brilliancy, dis.
persing clouds and forebodings; tc
me it was good omen suggesting
that in due season we should an
Choir in safe waters. The usual
commotion of again setting sail
was enacted, crowds waving hand
kerchiefs, swinging of hats, smiles
tears, flowers, adieus, and we were
lockers on. Again the last whistle;
the ship moves-we are at sea.
Sometime in the forenoon we pass
the island of Kanai; it appeared very
fertile, chief industry the cultivation
ofsugar cane, sugar mills are in
sight and little villages, houses all
of one pattern, homes of the work
men. Nice homes appear amid trees
and foliage.
One thing strikes me as singular
and unnecessary, so many people
keep their rooms so late in the
morning, must have their coffee be-
fore leaving their beds or can think
of dressing. AS for us, we are up
and out on deck one and one-half
hours before breakfast, which is
served at $50. Thus you see old
habits cling to us no matter what
the environments may be.
Coffee and toast are served at Z
a. m. or before, and really meals
are served daily, of course the mid
time course is light as we'll as the
9 o'clock p. m. lunc. A great varl-
ETY. of food is served at the three
regular meals and many of the dish
es relish very we'll. There is quite
a library and it is we'll patronized.
A voyage without mascot would
not be considered, but we are doub-
ly in lick with ours, two little war
riors, one is two months old going
to the Philippines, the other is four
months old and is on the way to
Pekin.
Wednesday the 10th. Sea rough
more or less all day and many are
sick enough to keep their beds,
and others are truly i'll We had
only slight symptoms, how glad we
are to escape, | can scarcely under
stand it. At night the sea was not
calm, but we slept well for all the
sea rolls, and the vessel creaks,
faith in the ship and Captain and
trust in the Most High that stilled
the tempest centuries ago.
The rough weather continued two
days and nights; but nothing to
what we saw in the Atlantic.
We are feeling well, and although
the voyage continues six days, before
touching at Yokohoma where this
well be mailed) we are not tired of
it.
The 18th of the month by my
Almanac was dropped, lost as we
approached the lS0th meridian, and
in place OF Saturday, Sunday was
observed. Services were held in
Social Hall.
The 18th day brought good
weather and a tournament, sort Of
climax tothe deck games very inter
esting to those caring for such
sports. One feature was, "The tug
Of war" by ladies, an illustration of
an-out-of-place-game, for several are
half sick by reason of it.
February 10Th. EARLY on deck,
and the first sound that greeted us
was what appeared to be the firing of
100 guns at sunrise, but no, nothing
as American as that, it proved to be
the Chinese New Years morning and
the Joy of the Celestials were made
known through the medium of noise
from many fire crackers. and why
should they not celebrate one of their
national events though far from
home, that they love SO well. Leav-
ing that, we witnessed the grandest
sight since sailing. A morning
rainbow, one that could not be sur
passed on land or sea, such vivid
coloring over the dark waters with
the gentlest showers about us, and
this leads me to say. just now it
seems as though the ship was the
center of creation, around which all
things must revolye.
AS the morning wore away the
halls seemed thick with mysteries,
an air of obscurity was taking root;
was it the mutterings Of war, did it
precede mutiny? Noon time passed
and 10! a small car load of white
goods found their way in the midst
Of an amazed people. Then from
all quarters came matron and maid
en- and busy fingers piled scores of
needles, and the forms those goods
assumed were to be later develop
ments. After sunset, and when
bright the lamps shone from pro-
menade to hurricane deck, white
robed figures fitted quietly from
room and passage way to upper
heights and there were also glimps-
es Of scarlet, and flowers and gay
sashes' Soon music arose and the
audience gathered and spell bound,
listened and watched for now the
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