The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-12-24

time, but after drinking enough beef
tea to float d ship, I've rebelled and
will wait until luncheon. never did
like beef tea anyway, but everyone
insists it is good for me, so I've been
taking a cup every day at eleven. It's
still summer weather, and were still
wearing white shoes and light clothes,
but were expecting colder weather
every day, as were going north to-
ward Japan. Wen sure be happy
crowd when we get there, for we've
been on board over two weeks al
ready, and are good and sick and tired
Of each other. However, I've got more
or less used to it now, and have stopped
fussing. The only thing I expect to
miss from the ship is being waited on.
How I'm going to get along without
my bell, don't know. Right by my
berth in the ship is an electric bell.
The most fun I've had on board is
pushing that bell, having the boy
appear, and giving my orders Hav-
ing been called a princess all my life,
perhaps 1 take to it naturally any
way I have father beaten a hundred
times over on this being waited on
business. I not only have better
room than he has, but I get twice the
attention he does And father buys
the ticketsi After all, I'VE Women"
do get ahead of the men once in
while. 1t took me a little time to
get used to having someone else an
ucipate all my wants In the morn
everyone takes a hot salt bath The
first morning I pushed my button, up
came a boy. ordered my bath and
waited. In a few minutes the bath
boy knocked and announced that my
bath was ready. It's only a few steps
from my room to the bath but the
boy waited while 1 got into my XII
mona, and slipper, and preceded me
in state down the hall, across the main
part of the toilet room, and into one
of the compartments where the bath
stood ready.
Being new, and hearing much about
Orientals, for one horrible, awful mo-
ment I thought he was going to insist
upon staying and rubbing my back.
but he was merely unlocking the door
for me, and I was left in peace to take
my bath alone Now he comes every
morning without my ringing, to an
nounce that the bath is ready, and to
conduct me there. After my bath
climb back into bed and the steward
eSS brings me plate of ice fruit and
tea and toast, if 1 want it. Then Fa-
Their wanders in with some more fruit
that was sent US from Honolulu, and
we have a little visit. Then when the
first gong rings, half an hour before
breakfast, he goes out and I get dress
ed. At eight we wander down into the
dining room for something more sub
stantial than fruit, and then we write
and read, and gossip and loaf the day
through.
The only excitement on board is get
ting in an argument with one of the
Englishmen over the United States and
England. But as a rule were even too
lazy to do that much. The newspaper
some of the men have gotten up has
aroused a lot of interest. It comes out
tomorrow.
No money is used on board ship
Everything is paid for by signing what
they call ch1ts. Its SO easy to sign
them. and get what you want, that
I'm scared to death We will sign so
many that when we get to Hong Kong
We'll be bankrupt. and nave to stay
there all our lives. Moreover, while.
it's been very lovely to be waited on
I ina CINE by the time the tips are all
given, it may not be quite so lovely
Ny steWardess is more than kind to
me, coming in to open my bed at
night, to bring me fruit or tea if I lie
down in the afternoon, offering all
kinds of assistance at all hours, and
making herself altogether useful Fa-
Their says I NAV think it's because she
loves me, but he knows better. Any
way, it's pretty nice, and I don't DO
the tipping after all
Father also thinks it's fndeiicate the
way the Chinese boys bob in and out
while we're dressing. But modesty, like
vanity. seems to be left on shore. And
a Chinaman is only a Ehinaman and
there we settle the matter. I learned
how to act from woman who lived
in Japan seven years. I rOomed with
am alone, but I've got to look on the
boys allie samee bed posts or some
thing equally unObserving.
As for vanity after you've had your
hair blown every which way every
day for twelve hours a. day, and after
the mirror. you cease to be vain. At