Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-05-21

been polishing the wood work and brass IN
Tie dining room, another shift has been
engaged in the pantry polishing silver
Under the direction OF the pantry steward
the helpers. including the bell boys. have.
Deen washing and polishing glassware, ard
dishes and storing them away in great
racks, there to remain until the FIRST meal
OF the voyage is served. No meals are serv-
ed in the first cabin saloon while The, shin
Is IN port, except 10 the captain and his
official staff.
The cleaning Of the stecrage is much
simpler process. but none the less thorough.
The furnishings are primitive in their sim
plicity. During the voyage each steerage
passenger has been provided with a mat
tress of course. but stout burlap. stuffed
with n peculiar variety of dried seagrass.
a pair OF blankets and pillow with .
cover or slip of blue and white checked
and forks.
The steerage steward has only six helpers.
but as no carpets are 10 be cleaned and
the finish the Steeragc over is of p3iD-s5
iron wood the amount Of polishing re
CURED is infinitely lighter than is required
In either the first or second cabin The
first thing done Is to Send blankets away
10 be cleaned and ship the pillow cases TO
the laundry. New mattresses are proyld-
ed for each trip
When everything that could be injured
throwing a mighty stream of water is
brought into play. 1t is a sight worth
watching; those six hrawny men. bare
legged, strong-armed. flashing the water in
and out, from crcvice to Granny, until the
paint CLEANS and slstens even on "a GaE
day. Later the walls ana ironwork are
gone over 10y hand. but that first sluicing
is by all odds the most picturesque feature
of the great house-cleauing
To give an idea OF the strict discipline
which reigns on board the ship during the
house-cleaning period. the same force Of
men scrub both the paSSaEeway between
the galley and the pantry. and the galley
and pantry themselves When they are
cleaning the paSsageway they may. and do
remove their shoes and stockings, swinging
their great brooms in perfect rhythm and
singing in time to the movement. But W hen
they enter either the pantry or the kitchen
they must put on their shoes before they
| scour the floor.
=
The seamen and deck crews scrub not
! only the decks but the outer walls Of the
| cabins The brushes used for this purpose
have long handles with soft, hairy bristles
crowded into back not more than four
| inches square. Strong soap suds are used
| for washing down the white paint and the
| men work in gangs of six or ten, swinging
| their brushes with regular not ungraCe
| full movement and covering the great
stretches of woodwork I'm remarkably quick
| time
| This much of the housekeeping the privi-
| legged guest may see-provided. of course.
| that he dons rainproof coat and old
| hat. for the hard-preSsed force proves no
| respecter of persons. Great floods of water
are directed In the most unexpected fashion
| down companionways and through the
| steerage. Towels are brandished in every
| direction. Brooms, long handled brushes
| and dust pans intercept footsteps, go whore
| you will. And on every side is that con-
| centTated energy which bespeaks the fact
that the great boat must be ready on time
| for inspection.
! Other parts of the ship, unseen but not
| unheard, are undergoing a terrific clean
| ing. Burly men are working in the hold,
| clearing il out for fresh consignments OF
baggage and freight. And in the depths of
| the ship. a trife below the water line, the
| mighty engines, now silent and pulseless,
| are being overhauled, polished. oiled and
| coaXed into good humor for another record
| breaking trip across the Atlantic. Here the
| chief engineer presides over his large staff
! of assistants, including two hundred and
eighty stokers and coal passers. While
| they are in port their duties are compare
| lively light, but not one of these men ldles'
| for the engine and boiler rooms. on which
| the boats fame rests are cleaned as care
fully, nay, as delcately as Miladi Dainty's
| boudoir.
| Yet. with all this routine of labor. it must
| not be thought that the stewards and sea
! men are dissatisfied with their lot. The
| larger proportion of employees aboard the
boat who were interviewed on this occa-
sion seemed rather bewildered by the ques-
ton. Would you not like to spend your
| time ashore
| The invariable reply was Tonight. after
| G. l go and see some friends.
Their boat is their home. Land repre-
| sents little to them and their sentiment
seems to crystalline on their floating home.
| Many of them have held the same position
ever since the ocean greyhound has been
| in commission. a word OF admiration for
their work or for the condition IN when
| their department is found inspires their
! confidence and interest. whereas the slight
| est expression OF commiseration arouses
| their SUSPICION.