Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-01-29

ager in charge OF recent cruise OF the Arabic
to the Levant, solved the get away problem
and established precedent that was later
honored by imitation.
The Arabic was scheduled to leave port
at ten A. M; but she had an enormous book
ing, and Mr. Mitchell did not want to have
a single tourist left behind. Neither did he
want to carry along any deadhead traveller
who accidentally on purpose" might tuck
himself away in the labyrinth of inviting
staterooms Three days before the date of
sailing Mitchell sent kilograms and letters
to the Arabic's passenger complement an
nouncing change Of sailing to four A. NJ.
and advising everyone to come aboard the
steamship the night before. The kilograms
and letters reached all but four passengers
who were on the way from the West, and all
but these four had their bon voyage partie;
the night before sailing At four A. NJ, when
everyone was asleep, the Arabic stole out
into the darkness and anchored in Gravesend
Bay, blight of the Atlantic some fifteen
miles from the pier.
Knowing nothing of the change, the four
travellers from the West arrived at the White
Star pier at nine-thirty A. M, half-hour
before the original hour of departure The
involuntary straggers were disappointed to
find that their ship had gone; but were as
sured on arrival that the Arabic was waiting
for them, and within two hours they were
put aboard from tug.
MEN of the waterfront familiar with the
ASA work of sending ships away on the
ocean highway have declared that there is a
disease among prospective travellers known
as sea panic. 1t is akin to the buck fever
that overcomes the amateur huntsman when
he aims at the suddenly discovered quarry
and fears TO null the trigger
An attack of this sea panic overcame a
woman on the North German Lloyd pier in
Hoboken last summer as she and her hus-
band were about to leave for Genoa on the
Berlin. She had chatted merrily on the pier
with big party for an hour before the
steamer sailed. Suddenly there came blast
from the steamers whistle and the mournful
wall of Everybody ashore!' and the woman
faltered for the first time. Her whole frame
trembled. She baked at the gangplank.
Her husband tried to help her to the deck;
but she fell into his arms.
Forgive me, Dear!" she sobbed. Il can't
go! | can't go!'
The ship was held five minutes for her;
but it availed nothing. The Berlin sailed,
leaving behind an exceptionally nervous
wife and slightly irritated husband.
GOING to Europe is hardly worth while
these days without the proper bon voy-
age party, and the well wishers must bring
along proper gifts. Presents of flowers for
voyagers used to be popular; but the bunch
of orchids, violets, or jack roses is fast giving
way to the new-laid egg. The gift of the hen
is the gift of the hour for sea travellers. A
few dozen eggs from healthy hen last longer
than hundred roses, and afford more nltri-
ment for the recipient. Steamship compa-
MES do not stock their ships with stale eggs;
but, as the egg you know is better than the
egg you don't know, one cannot go wrong in
stirring up the folk of the hennery before
friend sails for Europe.
The departure of a steamship more than
anything else perhaps shows what hold the
patent breakfast food man has upon people.
Although steamship lines vie with one an
other in the art of presenting perfect morn
ing meal, travellers want their own particular
brand of predigested breakfast fodder and
few assume that it will be forthcoming at
sea. Consequently, box after box Of break
fast foods and special table waters are
shipped to the steamships on and before the
day of sailing. At least one line has pro-
vided a special -storeroom on its steam hips
to care for the private stock" of passengers.
The voyagers bring all sorts of things to sea,
the assumption being that they are about to
H.