Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1914-07-08
Pretoria, June %, 1914

Pretoria, June -, l9l+
1t seems that two weeks on
board a vessel would give ample
time for writing but there Is never
i Guiet moment when one can col
.ect thoughts. SO | bave concluded
TO select very noisy spot where a
band concert is in progress and
every body talking in the halls out
side
1t is the general opinion that it
is fatal 10 concentrate the mind
either on reading or writing, for 1t
will lead quickly to alal-de-mer.
Until within a few days ago we
have spent most of the time on
deck. but now it is too cold and
windy, and we are all in-the salon.
Just before dinner tonight we
passed the Ea.arland off the coast
Of Ireland and everybody jumped
un from the table and ran out to
see il. Al we get near land, we
see many vessels going in both dl-
rections. The passengers are be-
einuing to brighten up and get
ready for landing on Wednesday.
There are 7O4 people on ship, In
cluding steerage and crew.
Wednesday morning June 90.
We are in the North sea near
Hamburg, where we hope to land
tonight if we reach there before the
custom house closes at s O'Clock.
Later than that will cause US to re-
main on steamer over night, max
ing fourteen days on water.
The English channel was perfectly
smooth. and not at all boisterous as
we expected. Generally it is quiet
going lengthwise of it, but exceed
ingly rough in crossing from Dover
to Calais against the current.
The first sight of land at Scilly
Islands was refreshing on Monday.
We crn appreciate in small de-
gree the happiness that such a sight
cave Columbus. Since then we are
constantly in sight Of land, but it is
TOO cold on deck to watch the
changing scenes, and rather misty
and fog"y to get a clear view.
Yesterday we stopped at Boulogue,
France for passengers going 10
Paris and other points. 1t was an
exciting event as we reached the
shore and the smaller boat came
up for those leaving US. Some of
them were pleasant acquaintances
made during the voyage and we
were sorry to say good bye. Among
them were Mrs. Parker and daugh-
t.r of Macon, Ga. She is the state
regent of D. A. r., and her daugh-
ter is going to Paris to study voice
for a year, but Mrs. Parker will re-
turn in August, after seeing that
her daughter is comfortably situa-
ted. AS our vessel approached, our
band played in honor of the depart
ing passengers. There is q formi-
dable looking fortress at Boulogue
which is an entranc. tc France.
We got a glimpse of land at
T;zora Poinr on Enolish coast. and
the farm lands as seen through field
glasses are beautiful. The land is
laid off in large squares, and each
section is thoroughly cultivated
with different crops, presenting a
vari-colored pictere. In one sec
ton seemed to be mustard with
yellow blossoms, and in others
around it were grains of all shades
of green, with a brown spot of
freshly narrowed earth intermin-
gled. They say that every avail
able space is cultivated in England,
and they make a speciality of III
tensive farming.
At Boulogue we had news for
the first time in eight days. Our
wireless has been out of commission,
so we were entirely cut off from
the outside world. There were
several German newspapers, but
only one English paper on board
which we eagerly scanned as it was
passed around among our party.
Last night being the night before
landing, tn, customary captaln'S
dinner was given, which is the Gus
tom on every trip. The dining
room was decorated with flags of
every size and every nation, and on
each table were tiny flags and caps