Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-07-01

is sky scraper-afloat. 1t Is even small
city, with streets-Rue de Havre on one
side and Rue de Washington on the other;
and the rooms are numbered like houses.
There are no street railways, but an ascen-
seur plies from the lower to the upper
levels. The passengers gather along the
rails to answer the farewells OF friends who
crowd the dock below and with smiles ana
fnery make 1t look like a great flower gar
den. Smaller they grow and fainter sounds
the babble of voices; soon the roar OF the
city is lost and the shrieking tugs are left
behind But it is like q great holiday ex-
curson. 1t Is only when Coney Island is
passed with contemptuous indifference that
you realize you are in for it. You have SEN
fenced yourself to almost week OF impris-
onment and for the first time In your Ire
there comes sort OF sentimental interest
In the din of orchestrions, the may insan-
ity of merry go-rouuds and the smell or
hot frankfurters. You seek the deck stew
ard, a harried man whose trousers come
only to his shoe tops, to secure the steamer
chair engaged on the dock. But he is busy
to distraction and In no frame of mind to
sympathize with your gentle and reflective
mood. You gaze out where the sun is crink-
ling the water with a shower of tiny mir
rors and your heart comes up in your throat
as you involuntarily begin to hum the dear
old village choirs favorite anthem, Gee,
But This is a Lonesome TOWN."
The existence which follows is one or
tranquil trviality. Trif1es become magn,t1ed.
The deck steward and his assistants be-
nevolent jailers. Scarcely have you become
settled in your steamer chair. reading over
for the first of many many times the daily
newspaper you accidentally carried with
you, before he comes with consomme fol-
lowed by ice cream. An acquaintance-for
there are always acquaintance to be found
on big boat-strolls by on the ceaseless
deck promenade which has already begun
and tenders a piece of paper. on which he
has written:
The days and the nights go drifting by;
Existence is surely sweet,
With nothing to see but the ocean and sky
And nothing to do but eat.
He is a man who loves poetry but not
wise enough to refrain from writing it.
Served Him Right.
sympathetic nature Is always kept
busy. I had selected a corner which was
comparatively remote, but its very remote
ness made 1t a haven for suffering. 1t was
here that people whose stomachs were not
strong came in their distresses The sar
donic citizen seated himself at my elbow
and began to make remarks.
''Seasickness," said he, rs usually due to
q weak mind rather than to a weak stom-
ach. 1t Is a matter Of suggestion. A great
many people accept seasickness as a neces-
sary and formal part of an ocean voyage.
My wife went to bed as soon she came
on board. These people who get sick are
Ike uncultured persons who follow a brass
band, not because they like the music, but
because they can't see procession with
out wanting to be in it, Most of the sea-
sickness is undoubtedly due to the indecent
publicity with which the few who are it's
natural victims exhibit their distresses.''
He went on in this strain for while ana
then became silent and unrestful. He went
away abruptly and when he next appeared
he was limp and pale 1t served him right
In a stationery store just before his de-
parture one of the passengers saw a note
book bound In red leather on which was
printed in gilt letters My Trip" 1t was a
temptation not to be resisted. What could
be more joyous and Juvenile than to keep a
diary recounting all the incidents Of a
voyagei The record was dutifully kept as
follows:
First day-Completely tired Went to bed
at pm.
Second day-Breakfast at g. Light luncn
at TO- Luncheon at 1890 Another light
lunch at 8. Dinner at 6. One eats either
great deal or nothing at all while sailing
Went to bed al S:5
Third day-Went to bed at S:l5
Fourth day-Went to bed at 3 am Curl
Gus custom on shpboard They do not use
round poker chips, but have fiat oblong
pieces of ivory of different sizes This is on
the theory that they are not as likely to
roll away and get lost; but Ii is q fallacy
The remainder of the book entitled My
Trip contained nothing but a few mathe-
NAUTICAL calculations involving minor sums.
Slightest Things Amuse.
This particular voyage added no chap
ter 10 the stories OF high play in the smok-
ing room OF an ocean liner The favorite
pasumes were games of the most innocent
character, such as trying to pitch a disk
of metal into the throat of gaping frog
or propelling small circular bits of wood
by means of an instrument resembling q
noe over series of numbers chalked on the
deck. The custom OF selling pools on the
ships daily run was carried out and
the figures called out in the bids were
sometimes large enough to be startling A
man man who was sure he could guess the dis
lance which would be posted next day as
the ships record would bid valiantly up
into triple figures But the method of sell
ing pools Is complicated one, and includes
a system OF rebates and partnerships which
may make the sum paid In by an individual
less than what would be considered a re-
spectacle contribution to jackpot In
private Congressional debate The mind
does not require much stimulant The
slfg htest things serve to amuse. The ru-
NOR that there Is a whale In the distance
causes unanimous rush. But whales are
ttmid and evasive creatures. Regulated,
in the light OF natural history, by his neigh
bors. the fish. and pursued unto slaughter
by his fellow mammals, the whale has be-
come morose and solitary. He sends
Jet OF water toward the sky, whether in
salutation or defiance there is none to say,
and disappears. AS the ship makes it's way
a little northward along the American coast
In order. SO the mathematician says, to
take advantage OF the earths smaller cir
conference toward the poles as compared
with the equator, 1t grows colder. But one
day there comes a biting January air for
which the higher latitude does not account
The experienced ones know Immediately
that there is an iceberg nearby. Sure
enough. 1t stands against the horizon like
a bit OF white cloud Seen closer. its out
lines grow more distinct. with pinnaeles and
sloping sides. Cruel miraget 1t looks like
q field OF circus tents. 1t Is miles away
but 1t would be worth the walk to sniff the
sawdust and see the clown In half day
1t is mild autumnal weather again: weather
for overcoats. but not for artificial heat
or housing.