Semi-weekly herald. [volume] (Durango, Colo.) 1907-1917, 1910-07-04
OVER THE OCEAN BLUE.

The following letter. just received
Edith B. NJ Young OF The Herald staff
will doubtless be of interest to Du-
range friends. We take pleasure in re-
producing 1t almost in full. Miss Haer.
tel, who is mentioned several times.
Is n niece of Professor Worker, who
accompanied them 10 Europe.
T. S. s. Rotterdam" May "a to June
2. 1910.
1t was 1915 Tuesday morning. May
Gath, when the II. NJ. T. S. S. Rot
terdam" of the Nederlandsche-A meri-
kaansche Stoomyaart Maatschappii
left the pier at Hoboken.
The day was not an ideal one for
leaving our native land" the sun
very warm and light fog hanging
over the harbor which dimmed the
buildings to be seen in the distance,
especially lower New York.
The feelings one experiences on
leaving ones home land can not be
described. it seemed as II were leav-
ing everything that | loved and held
dear. AS the snip began to move last
farewells were shouted and handker-
chiefs were waved back until the pier
looked like a dark line in the distance
AT 80 a. m. the pilot left the steam
er with cards and letters that had been
written in the meantime, and we were
out on the ocean. 1t was hard to
realize that we should see no land for
a week, only the great expanse of blue
ems, it seemed.
AT 1890 the first dinner was served
on board which was enjoyed by all as
we had not been out long enough to
have seasick ones.
AT p. m. the steamer entered a
dense fog in switch it continued till
evening. For while it looked like
we might be starting on a rough voy.
age at once. The fog horn sounded
every few minutes but we soon be.
came accustomed to 1t and in the even.
ing when we left the fog we hardly
noticed that the footing had ceased.
The first morning on board good
many were ON deck bright and early.
About noon we heard that quite few
had gotten sick, not because the sea
was rough, but because of the motion
of the boat and out of confederation
of their friends whom they did not like
to disappoint. One gentleman across
from our cabin, who seemed to be
enjoying himself immensely, singing
and inflicting others who were in their
rooms trying to sleep, did not feel
quite SO gay the morning after.
Miss Haertel and l have a very
pleasant lady from New York in our
cabin, which makes it all the nicer
On board are about forty little people
some only three feet tall who are
causing quite good deal of excite
ment and interest among those that
have their cameras. l also took some
one of the chief attractions at the Hip
podrome in New York the past win
ter. Most of them speak three Ian
guages and are very intelligent. One
is a Brazilian, little fellow, hardly
| three feet tall, % years old and a
perfect little gentleman. They are to
be in the Lilliputian village at the
Brussels exposition with their little
dwarf Shetland ponies which are in
the shiphold.
Several afternoon the orchestra
played on deck and the little people
caused quite a bit of amusement by
| their dancing.
The weather continued clear and the
ocean smooth until May 30th, Decora.
ton day, and all seemed satisfied with
life. Many who were taking their
first trip to Europe said they had
never dreamed of an ocean voyage be-
ing altogether SO enjoyable. Pleasant
acquaintances are always made on the
steamer and time for landing arrives
only too soon.
AS the Rotterdam is a slow steam
Crime days-the people going to
Europe are ones that go more for the
pleasure they get on a large, sumptu
Gus, modern liner in preference to one
of the fast five-day boats, but which
OF course are a great advantage to the
business men.
| The meals on the steamer were ex
cellent and the service from the stew.
ards could not have been better. In
the library were books in English
German, French and Dutch SO those
that wanted to spend their leisure time
reading could easily do so.
The evening of the 26th and eth OF
May we obtained a good view of Hal
ley's comet.
Decoration day dawned with heavy
sky and about O'Clock it began to
rain and continued all day. We were
expecting storm, which did not come
only drizzling rain. In the evening
the musicians gave concert which
was very good and enjoyed by all
During intermission ice cream, lemon.
ade and cakes were served.
l Tho WaathAr fn