The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1914-09-17

deck floor, nor depend on the company
basins Of which there was one for about
thirty people. Our first dinner on ship
board was not too bad. The tables were
Of rough boards with board seat on
each side, but the cloth was clean. then.
and so were our napkins. / heard Of
one woman on the San. Giovanni, who
complained that she had ''only four tow
els for the fifteen days. She must have
had the two that were taken from the
room of some of our party. We were
supposed to have two towels and two
napkins each for the entire trip, but NO
of our ladies' had but one towel each.
have nothing but praise for the officers
and crew. They were gentlemanly and
did all in their power to make us COM
Portable, but converted freighter with
its cookrooms on the hurricane deck and
on the promenade deck aft, while the
dining saloon is down below and reached
by ladder-like stairs, is not conducive to
pleasant smells, quick service, or good
appetite. The usual breakfast was tough
rolls, dirty looking jam and muddy
coffee or very good tea, but some one
asked for baked potatoes, and after that
they appeared every morning and were
eaten plain with salt. The meats were
cooked very well, and included SQUAD,
chicken and turkey, but outside of let
tuce and potatoes there were no appe-
tizing vegetables; macaroni was served
on every possible occasion, and fruit was
plentiful, but seldom ripe. The fresh
butter was sweet on the first day out,
but was soon so rancid that no one ate
it. Sour wine was served with luncheon
and dinner, but when the walters found
we preferred lemonade, they piled lem
ons in front of our plates at each meal.
The staterooms made of burlap with
curtains, or of rough boards with doors,
were for four or six persons. E. P. was in
one of the latter, and called it a ''salon
having but three room mates, which was
quite enough for comfort. In front of
my room was hatch which we named
"the public square," and which was &C.
cupied on hot nights by people of both
sexes who preferred it to their berths.
One lady placarded her room "Villa Fee
licita" and other parts of the ship were
variously nicknamed. At service on
Sunday, the first day out, an entertain
ment committee was appointed, and in
consequence we had brilliant entertain
ments every afternoon on the "Grand
Promenade" while we sat, stood and
lounged in every place possible to hear,
the best locations being the "prome-
nade'' and an elevated hatchway dubbed
''the peanut gallery. There were
preachers, Chautauqua lecturers and en-
tertainers, professional elocutionists,
professors and teachers, vocal, piano,
flute and violin soloists, choir leaders,
ETC. The supervisor of music in the
Brooklyn schools organized male, female
and mixed choruses. had the honor of
assisting in mixed choruses, also in trios
with church singer from Detroit, Mich,
and the dean of women in Western
college. On ladies' day the meeting was
in charge of Mrs. Boole of National W.
C. T. u. fame, and two brilliant speeches
for woman's suffrage formed part of
the entertainment. Only one woman
anti could be scared up-a Southern
woman-and though her speech was
bright and witty. think the sentiment
of many was voiced by the California
man who remarked, 81 couldn't help
noticing the difference between the suf-
fragists and the anti, ands besides the
latter had no argument. In fact there
is no argument which may not be applied
to mans suffrage as we'll" Thirty-fve
states, the District of Columbia, Canada
and Italy were represented in the pas
senger list. There were few grum
blers of course, but they were SO scarce
as to be conspicuous among those who
were bearing the discomforts of the
voyage philosophically and good natured-
ly. Eastern Star and D. A. R. meetings
were held, twenty eight of the former
and twenty-one of the latter registering.
In spite of pleasant acquaintance and
jolly meetings, it is needless to say old
Liberty" never look SO handsome be- |
fore and the sight of the bunting and
flag-decorated docks, and the sound of
the band playing national airs to greet
US, made the tears start, and the sounds
stick in our threats when we tried to join
in "My country It's of thee, and" Home
Sweet Home"
Our first dinner in good old New York
was nectar, and it is significant that our
first purchase other than eatables was
book by Lee Meriwsther, entitled IA
Tramp at Home. -