The Hawaiian gazette., 1908-12-11
JACK LONDON
IN AUSTRALIA

Jack London and his wife have
abandoned the Snark-at least, tempo
rarily-and will visit Tasmania and |
New Zealand by steamer. The follow
ing interview with Mrs. London APP
peared in the Sydney Morning Herald
of current date:
eve looked forward to this trip for
five years." said Mrs. Jack London.
"Mr. London had been reading Mr..
Slocum's account of his trip, and was
fred with the desire to take similar
one; SO he asked me how should like
it. aud when i said, 1T would be just
heavenly the thing was settled.
"That was before we were married,
and we decided that as soon as we had
made our home we should set off. But
you know homes aren't made in day
especially when they re ranches, as
ours is--so one day l said to my hus-
band, Were getting no younger, and
travels at once.'
$50 We made up our minds to leave
the finishing of the ranch for while
and have the boat built at once and
start on our way. But 'the best-laid
plans you know. The very day that
the boat was to be commenced was
the day of the great earthquake.
"Of course, that meant scarcity of
labor and raised prices, so our little
boat cost us JUST three times what il
should have, and was six months later
than we had expected.
i "However, we didn t take that as q
bad omen, and, indeed, it wasn't, for
we've had the very loveliest time all
through. AT least, ever since we got
rid of our original crew, for we began
with the idea that friends would be
the incest people to have on board
an idea which we soon changed-with
the crew; and now we have only one
of the original members.
Ono, there was no other woman on
board, and / never felt the need of
one. If there had been more room ]
might have had one, but as it was ]
was quite happy without. 1 never
had time to miss them, for my hus-
band and have so many interests in
common, and I help him with his wor,
i do all his tipping. And had my
own work, too, for I've been keeping
|, journal of the voyage. That's the
first volume there, in those four boxes
all ready to be sent off.
} ono, I've never done very much
/, writing before-just few stories and
magazine articles-but I've always
J been in literary atmosphere, and II
comes naturally. Besides, there was
so much to say about that trip that
| one couldn't help writing it down. My
! husband is doing n Solomon Island,
7 novel now, unnamed at present.
"But we didn't spend all our tim,
} writing, you know. There was lots t.
do on board, especially as there was
, often somebody i'll. Whenever We
were short-handed took my turn al
the wheel, but not very often.
| az was just as much at home or
board as any of the men. / discarded
skirts altogether-they were only in
the way in such small place-and
had suits of serge and pongee, which
were very much more suitable and
, comfortable. OF course, carried 6
wardrobe for ports; indeed, 1 was able
to bring nearly all my clothes witt
4 me, SO well is my cabin supplied will
4 chests and lockers. There isn't mucl
standing room, but / had plenty o
+ lockers. had no place for cabil
9 trunks, though, and I've just had T.
A buy those, for we are going to leav
r the Shark now for a few months AM
!. travel to Tasmania and New Zealan'
by steamer.
"We didn't mean to come to Aus
tralia this trip, but changed on
r minds ut the last. That is one Of tn
), Joys of travelling as we are; we g
e lust where we like and when we like
|. We make no very definite plans, blu
Just do what we want TO when tn
time comes.
is "At present I'm feeling rathe
j. tired and lazy. We stayed too lon
e in the Solomon Islands, for they ar
s very enervating; but when Mr.. Lon
l. don is better / shall be rested, an
we mean to see as much Of Australi
as we can. We want to go into tn
country and see the stations and rid
Z your horses. We are both great rio
I; ers, and often go Off with our saddle
g bags for fortnight at time.
. ain fact, it doesn't matter muc
to us whether ere on land or SCI
We always have a good time"