Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1915-07-14

O. o..
are a few days out at sea, we feel
we have paid rather dearly for this
same sence of security. In these
days when a five year old boat is
"ancient history" the S. S. st. Paul
with twenty years Of sea-going to
her credit, and a veteran Of the Gu
ban War as well is decidedly passe.
She looks old and smells musty, and
her equipment is decidedly lacking
in the comforts to which we have
become accustomed crossing on the
great transatlantic boats Of the
British lines, What strikes us as
rather amusing, also, is the fact that
the st. Paul is American in nothing
save her name and registry. Cap
tain, officers, crew, cuisine, all is
English, even the passengers cross
ing on this voyage, are almost en-
tirely British, with a very few ex-
ceptions. su F.$-..- - .
But we have the satisfaction Of
knowing there Is no contraband on
board, not even automobiles. We
passed, the first day out, British
boat bound for Liverpool, with its
upper deck crowded with automobiles
for Government use, and !: Is:s,lppo osee,
its hold crowded with war munitions,
I think should prefer the ,musty old
Dox,I I, Fntr fret t., NJ
On the bridge deck Of our boat
we can see an unusual complement
Of life, boats, piled one on top of
each other, and also many RATS,
marked to accommodate rs persons.
This boat is crowded. all three class.
es, but officers assure us that there
is adequate accommodation In case
Of shipwreck. To-day there was
boat and fire drill, and at the bugle
call, passengers as we'll as crew
turned out Someway 1t had for US
all new significance as We realized
that perhaps in the efficiency and
promptness Of these stewards, lay
our safety, and perhaps our lives:
q We are nearing the war zone, and
today life belts have been gotten out
and officially inspected and Judging
from the actions of the occupants of
state room No. 22O, they have been
tried on and properly adjusted and
left within easy reach. "A
These English people are. wonder
full, stoical perhaps, or heroic as you
please. Just across from me at ia
bic, sits young woman wose one
brother has been killed in action,
somewhere in France" as word has
just reached her, also her remaining
brother has been wounded and is
home in England convalescing. She
is crossing to see him. "You see.'
she explained to me, che will soon
be returning to the front, and l
can't let him go to the front, and
can't let him go without seeing
him again, he is all I have left, and
it is too big risk to rum" But
as she said it, these English people
there was never a tear nor tremor
as she said 1t, these English people
don't wear their hearts on their
sleeves. All the passengers seem
gay and care-free, though doubtless
there are many reservists going
back to serve under the colors, and
many others who are going back to
broken family circles, and to shat
tered business. -~, -ls
But felt, Sunday morning, that
there was an unusually large num-
ber in attendance upon Divine Wor-
ship and I think we all felt sense
Of unusual solemnity as we sang the
hymn sacred to those who go down
to the sea in ships, who do business
in great waters" rs
Eternal Father, strong to save .
whose arm hath bound the restless
wave
Who bidd'st the mighty ocean deep
Its own appointed limits keep,
Oh hear MS when we cry to Thee,
For those in peril on the sea.
Oh Trinity Of love and power,
Onr brethren shield in dangers
| hour,
From rock and tempest, fire and toe'
Protect them whereso'er they go,
Thus evermore shall rise to Thee
Glad hymns of praise from land and
! sea.
asked a bright young English
! girl last night, if she were afraid O.
submarine danger, as we neared the
War Zone. "Not greatly" she re
Piled, .'that is, do not believe tn