The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1905-04-29
DIPLOMACY ON
AN OCEAN LINER

MT takes a diplomat to hold that
II mans position" remarked the
first cabin agent for prominent
steamship line, nodding his head in
the direction of portly chap who was
Just leaving the Office. He is the chief
steward of one of our fastest steamers,
and upon him and the purser devolveS
the task of dealing directly with ex-
acting passengers during the voyage.
The captain is saved this annoyance
because he can always plead his duties
on the bridge, and no one may approach
his cabin without making an appoint
ment through his steward. But the
chief stewards office is always open to
visitors and complaints.
The inexperienced woman traveller
in particular makes ii lively for the
chief steward. He is her confidant and
the open page on which she writes all
her worries. For instance, last trip,
just after the boat had passed Sundy
Hook lighthouse, a nervous elderly
woman entered the chief stewards
room with her itinerary in hand.
Are you the chief steward? Yes.
Well, can you tell me whether We will
land at Cherbourg in time for me to
catch the l o'clock train into Paris:'
Just for a second our man was
Knocked out. But he pulled himself to-
gether. With grave face he drew
from his desk a book printed in Ger
man, which might have been taken for
huge railway guide and time card.
He ran his finger down a list of figures
which looked like hours and minutes,
and then, turning to the caller he re-
marked politely:
1 can hardly answer for our meet
ing the o'clock train, but find there
is another train for Paris at 8. We
VIII surely make connections with that
oh, thank you, steward the wom-
an murmured sweetly and went back
10 her friends on the deck with the
cheering information that the chief
steward was just the incest man.
NOW, as you and 1 both know, the
purser should answer all such ques-
tions. But If the steward had told the
woman 10 run along and see the purser
she would have been offended As IL
was, ne pulled down the price list of a
wholesale grocer and exporter in Ham
purS and Berlin and guessed at that
o'clock train. Could they make a GER
tain train with 5000 miles of ocean
and all its uncertainties rolling ahead
vi them. wouldn't that jar you?
few trips back, when one of our
Dig poats was taking its full compile
ment of passengers on the Mediterra-
mean TRIP, an Austrian boarded the boat
among the first passengers and laid n
Crisp Dill on the chief stewards desk
py way of greeting. After a few gem
eraI remarks he led up to the an
houncement that he had come aboard
s.riy IN order to get good seat in the
dining saloon. What l want. steward
Is seat at table where there are
plenty OF ladies, good travellers. Won nm
oerstand- The sort who won't be seasick.
Good travellers, pleasant companvt no
L make myself clear?'
. Inc steward understood He knew
the man he was dealing with-the sort
VINO could make himself extremely OBJ
hoxlous TO nice American girls. He
made mental note and handed hack
tne crisp bill with politely worded
explanation that 1t was against the
ruIes Tor him 10 accept fees.
Ihat night when the Austrian came
uown 10 dinner he found himself seat
ed next TO the ships doctor. while inst
oppOsite were two maiden ladies who
would never see As again, and on his
thSn. whlte haired woman whose hus-
Dahd name is not unknown in New
forks biggest wholesale marts. Good
sailors? Well, you can lust wager
lnoSe women were. They had crossed
with that particular steward not Iess
IMAM four times, and they were never
known TO miss meal. What could
the man do? Nothing! If he said a
WORD ned give away his little game.
and, You see, he had not stipulated that
the ladies be young
Perhaps you imagine that was not
diplomacy on the stewards part hut
you must bear in mind that we cater
particularly to the American traffic
we Ike women to feel that thew are
sa1e In travelling singly or in parties on
our boats, and it was the one Austrian
against the feminine field"