The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1906-01-12
CHRISTMAS on AN OCEAN MNER


The man who spends his life on
bczsd . big passenger ship sees about
as rsSSay different kinds OF Christmases
as ANYBODY. I guess" said the captain
of a Norsh German Lloyd steamship a.
he sat in fas cabin preparing or a hol-
iday voyage 10 the Mediterranean
With a crowd Of jolly passengers
aboard who are of on q trip TO snjoS
themselves Christmas Is q day to be re-
membered. Friends and relatives sead
gifts on ahead. SO that they may be
handed to passengers at the right tins.
and OF course this personal remem-
brance from hime makes more enioya~
bic the celebration which Il always
prepared on board the ship itself. The
other days until dinner time arrives.
and then the chefs n stewards Guido
themselves In providing an elaborate
menu and in table decorations.
IF the weather IL fine. as it Is likely
To be. the passengers are In kig spfr-
It's. for the Christmas feelins is tnfec-
tous. no matter where YOU &c. To-
ward the end OF the dinner speeches
are made. are rendered. stories
are told and toasts are given. and when
this Ii completed all go to the main sa-
loon. and the Christmas tree Is re-
veaied. standing there in the middle.
nde the big skylight. Ii is q big tree.
TOO. just as big as can be obtained and
put In place. n on IL are hung gifts
from the ship for every passenger-not
costly at all. but membranes tina
are likely to be long preserved as SOU
venirs OF a pleasant occasion Then. if
h sea il not high. the candles are
lighted. and the tree bursts into beauti-
full illumination.
After the distribution OF gifts from
the tree a concert is given IL the wealth.
er Is bad but whenever Christmas eve
Is pleasant and the latitude Is suitable
the passengers go on deck. which they
ind to be shielded from the wine by
canvas, brilliantly lighted and decorat-
ed with flags and hunting. And. I tell
YOU. on a moonlight night. with a calm
sea and soft, pleasant air. in the MedI-
terranean. for example, a Christmas
v aboard q great ship is something
for most ~sseng to remember. I'm
sure L can imagine anything more
charming.
THE band plays lively music, and
the passengers dance on deck, but re
they imagine they are the only ones
aboard ship who are celebrating
Christmas eve they are II
they were to look into the forecastle
they would see another Christmas tree
there, also covered with little decora-
tons and gifts-the sailors tree. For.
you know. a German Is only half q
German without a tree on Christmas
eve, and every German ship has one.
Long before the ship sailed from
her home port on the Christmas voy-
age friends and relatives of each sailor
some little presents. which
they sent Onward in care OF some ac-
quaintance in the crew so hat their
particular sailorman might have his
surprise at the right time. OF course
these gifts are inexpensive, for the
sailors family has little money to
spare. but n pipe. warm stockings or
some such article Is received aboard
the vessel and carefully kept until the
proper time, when all are hung on the
tree. h company gives the sailors a
little wine or beer and Christmas cakes
This applies also to the fremen. who
have a tree of their own in their room.
So, as you will see. there are usually
as many as three trees aboard the ship.
THE 25th of December we observe
as a holiday on our ships. and all work
is suspended aboard ship excepting
that which IT is absolutely necessary to
perform. If there Is q clergyman
among the passengers ne is requested
20 hold religious services for the tour
lists and ais for the crew, and these
are fully attended. On German YES
sells the captain does not o~ffciate. as
do English captains, at such cere-
monies."-Chicago Inter Ocean.