The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1909-07-20
Copyrighted for Samuel Gompers, by
2. S. Ridsdale.)
Liverpool, July 1, 1909.

June 18th. the Baltic" brought us to
Liverpool, Sunday, the 26th. A Smooth
sea, sunshine in day time, moonlight at
night, very nearly record runs for the
ship for every twenty-four hours
these were the transit eatureS Of the
voyage. A sociable and democratic
of about 400 passengers; lit
tie over-dressing or other vain show;
dancing evenings on the deck for the
young folks; the solution of every
form of commercial, international, OR
1abO problem in the SmOklng room
Parliament-theSe were the social
features of the firSt-cabin group. No
thrilling incidents occurred; no ice
burgs were seen, nc collisions threat
ened, no scandals tried in the "Whis-
pering courts" nothing was to be Oh
served more remarkable that the read
ing of the Sunday services of the
Church of England by the purser in
the main saloon.
AS my mission to Europe is largely
for the purpose Of making what obser-
vatiOns Of the working peoples con-
ditiOns which the time of my visit per-
mlts, I wrote to the Captain of the
Baltic asking permission to go over
the vessel to see how her wage-work-
ers Jared. In reply, he sent a very
cautiously delivered verbal message
by the Purser the effect that the lat
ter official WOuld at any time place
himself at my service for q visit of in
spection. Accordingly, having made
an appointment at a certain hour
with the Purser, I waited on him at
his office. to be old that, as his time
was almost fully aiken up by his en-
gagementS. he could only devote
but twenty minutes to the inspection;
but, if I preferred it, he would send
with me as a substitute one of the
stewards With a steward, therefore,
and on A noQrioan 0nmnQnjOn went
the usual rounds Of the parts of the
vessel which are shown to favored
frst-class AS we passed
along, the guide glibly recited his we'll
conned lesson as to the vessels won-
drouS bigness and the marvels Of it's
operation. All Of this was admirable
indeed as a transporting machine de-
signed to carry with safety a popula-
ton equal to that of a considerable
village.
The Baltic is certifcated by the
British and American maritime au-
thorities to carry 426 first-class pas
sengers, 42O second, and 1195 third,
and a crew of $40; in all, 2,411 souls"
as the expression is among M I
am reliably informed that, despite this
limit of passengers and crew, the Bal
tbs" as well as other steamers bound
for the Port Of New York, frequently
carry over 1000 third-class passen-
gers. Our guide, the Steward, show
ed is the various pantrtes and kitchens
for each class, and the bakeshop
where the bread is made to fill the
souls Of all classes. Rather rapid
ly, he walked us through the second
class lounge and smoke-room, through
the steerage quarters, and to the land
ing at the head Of steep and narrow
ladder-like iron stairways that led to
an internally hot place far below,
judging from the fierce waves of heat
Hhof rOon o-l 80 -rI~-o 100
stood. VISITORS never go down
there said our guide; 'it's too hot!'
And he led US away quickly, SO quickly
and determinedly hat to both my
American friend and myself his action
signified and commanded mo Ad-
mission!"
I asked where the sailormen were
lodged. "In the fo'k'sel," he replied;
but visitors never go there. The
sailors work four-hour watches; SO the
fo'k'sel always has a lot Of chaps
In it asleep, and visitors might wake
'em up" This explanation seemed to
voice also our guides pity for the poor
sailors; by making it he success
fully kept us out Of the forecastle.And
in another moment, he had us back
at the first-class compaiOn-way, and
was bidding us good-bye-with thank
We'll, of course, not being an offic-
ial inspector, I had seen all parts OF
the ship to which one might penetrate
whose relations to the were
but those Of a temporary patron. I
had been treated most politely. bul
When back in my steamer chair
found myself musing on the probably
similar superficial character, of oc.
casions, Of what constitutes invest.
cations. The way to truth is otter
blocked by polite attentions.
However, by dint Of questioning. {
glimpse at the life Of the stewards wa.
obtained, and their wage-scale learn,
ed; and, besides, we saw the steerage
The on the Baltic as on al
the European Transatlantic Liners
receive 3 pounds Us dollars) pc,
trips a year. hat is. they receive il
round trip, and make at most tWelv,
wages less than 200 dollars a year
What the mpanie fail to nav tn,
in Uauoc tho naaaa.-a-.~-