Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1911-02-01

COUNTY,
rest of the family it did not appear
just that way, to them it was full
of sadness, they never expected TO
look upon those shores again. tbs
land of Poets, Philosophers, =. VIZ
riors, Statesmen, Preachers, A4fh-
ors, Painters, Scubtors and makSrs
of homes; this land of green r1sa-
dows fragrant with the odors s4of
roses and violets, beautified With
the cowslip, the primrose. daisies
and buttercups; melodious with the
cong Of the thrush and the nightin-
gale. -.
"Creen fields of England, wheresder
Across this watery waste we fsre.
Your image at our hearts we bear,
Green fields Of England. every
where"
Dear old England! We will never
forget thee. Night comes on and
the morning dawns; the good ship
Sir Robert Peel, bound from Lon
don to New York. is well on her
way; she sails down the Kehtish
coast, through the straits of Dover,
past the Isle Of Wight, or, as ma
tive of Bucks would call it, "Oily
Woit." through the English Chan
mel. passes Lands End and away to
the westward and the untried -ex-
periences Of new world. It was
not long before we began to pay .tri-
tube to Neptune, all but my father
and my elder sister. Rebecca,
promptly and generously rendered
up our accounts. fully able to ap-
preciate that line:
when the swallows upward fly"
We were exactly five weeks be-
tween London and New York, which
for sailing vessel sixty years ago,
was considered fair passage: We
were entertained nearly all the way
by young lady of much talent. She
was vocalist, possessing. as she
herself readily admitted. asoice Of
much sweetness and power. The
lady was also blessed with be-
disposition which induced
her to carol for the poor sailors in
the forecastle, most of whem ap-
peared greatly to enjoy her d3ptivat-
ing musical ministrations, 15r they
seldom failed to respond with great
eclat. It must be admitted Nat her
was not as extensive, nor
was it as choice as 1t might have
been II considered from the stand
point Of the great artists. AS q
matter Of fact she appeared to know
only one sons, but then = must be
said to her credit. that what was
lacking In variety, was more than
atoned for in jealous repetition.
There was never any doubt among
the passengers rs to her familiarity
with Cheer. Boys, Cheer" which
she rendered with unfiagging zeal,
and the sailors always responded
with salvos of applause and encored
time and again to her intense sat
isfaction. Unfortunately. however.
there was one drawback. switch to
most artists would have ksen some
thing Of a handicap; shesappeared
to have few If any admirers other
than the sailors before the mast.
The passengers were either deaf to
music or they were unable to appre-
ciate her particular rendition. 1
noticed that this singular attitude
was most pronounced among the la
dies. fact which at the ume deeply
impressed my juvenile n1tnd. That
gifted lady was not toNbe silenced
by this cold indifference, however,
for she never ceased to warble till
we dropped anchor at the port Of
New York. =
Two or three young whales were
sighted at a distancesAa shark fol-
lowed the ship for everal days
which the sailors said was sure
sign that there would y death on
board before long. an3 they were
right. Schools Of porSoises or sea
piges as they were called. frequently
appeared about the skip; acres of
them gambolling in the waters and
flashing in the sunlight. delighted
the passengers for hours at q time.
About four weeks after we sailed
and the novelty had wofp OF we be-
gan to get anxious to sep land again.
l asked one of the sailors when we
would reach New York; he laid one
hand on my shouldersan with the
other pointing directly over the bow
of the ship, said. do you see that
hill yonder?" replied that l did
for it often appears as you look for.
ward at sea as though there was a
big hill which would have to be