The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-07-18
Puts in Most of the Time Eating
and " Gambling"
LITTLE GERMAN BAND.
Have Music From Sunrise Until
Lights Are Out.
Julia Marlowe Is the Star Pas.
senger of the 500.
But She Keeps in Her State
Room in Kimonas.

Steamship Deutschland. July 3, 1906.
This is one Of the fast ships of the
Atlantic. It has made the trip across
the ocean in less than five and a half
days 1t does the stunt regularly inside
Of six days. 1t is sos feet long and 6S
feet wide. 1t is eight stories high. FIVE
above the water line and three below.
So you see it is long and narrow and it
goes straight through the waves rather
than over them If you haven't seen a
fast ocean steamer just imagine a ship
a block long. about as wide as Sher-
man street, with five stories above the
water, four smoke stacks, three masts
and a lot Of rigging sticking up on top.
1t would make an impressive sight tear
ing down Cow creek and it doesn't
seem SO small even on the ocean.
Seventeen hundred people live in this
structure for a week, sleep, eat, drink
and exercise. There is only one prom
enade deck, the fourth story being open
for 10 to 20 foot space all around the
top story coming out like gambrel
roof over it, making the open air living
space for the paSsengerSzW the 400
people of the crew. get fresh air 1 do
not know. There are few bigger ships
than the Deutschland wider and with
more room, but slower. The rivalry be-
tween this German ship and the fast
has resulted in several races across. The
last was won by the French liner which
reached the other side aheau but the
Germans say it was done by sharp
practice in sailing and shorter course.
Racing is not considered proper form.
so the present voyage, when both boats
left New York the same forenoon is
not contest-not at all. But I am
told that the Deutschland officers
picked the best of steam coal and
secured the bottom of the boat until it
would make no unnecessary friction, and
acted just as they would if there had
often race scheduled. The Deutschland
averages "A miles an hour and as it
doesn't stop for six days and never has
to take a sidetrack or wait for connec-
tons, it is really as fast run as you
can get for your money on a railroad
journey of that duration.
The German flag flies above us. Last
year we crossed on an English boat.
There is lots of difference between Ger
mans and Englishmen and it sticks out
in boats as well as elsewhere. Wherever
the German goes ne has plenty to eat
and drink and smoke. The principal
occupation of a lot of stewards is wad-
ding food into the passengers at every
opportunity. We begin with a hearty
breakfast in the morning. then have
soup at II o'clock, an elaborate lunch at
10 o'clock, tea at 4 o'clock, dinner at
o'clock, sandwiches and coffee between
times and all kinds of German drinks
flowing in floods.
On an English boat the women new
er invaded the sacred smoking room.
On the Deutschland they come in for
their beer or their coffee and play
bridge and pinochle It is the same
way as in the different countries. An
Englishman leaves his wife and daugh-
ters outside while he goes into the
public" and gets a drink. The Ger
man takes his whole family to the
open air garden and all drink beer to-
gether.
And then the band plays! A Ger
man band never wearies in well doing
provided it is supplied with plenty of
refresh ments. Our band begins with
a 10 o'clock in the morning concert,
plays at meal times and in the after
noon and evening. Sunday morning it
woke US up with the strains of a ger
man hymn. Every time there is the
slightest excuse for music the band is
there. and it does everything from
Wagner to cake walk with equal ability
and evident enjoyment