South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-05-17

to be a sea-voyage story and not a
war editorial
An Englishman is an Interesting
type to study, and we have all kinds
of them on board. In general l have
learned several trite facts about him.
He does not drop his his; he never
wears silk hose; he does not wear
mOnOcle; frequently his clothes fit
him faultlessly and as a rule he is
most cOmpaniOnable creature. Also.
he is quite sure he has a sense of
humor. To bear out this assertion
one of them at my table painstakingly
told me several rafting jokes. They
were first rate about Civil war time
and no doubt did not rattle then. But
they afforded him lot of satisfaction
and probably Will continue TO do so
for some time to come.
\ Valuable New Yorker.
At table was an excellent oppor-
tunity to get acquainted. We had a
Scotchman, three Englishmen, one
knew all about the New Yorker be-
fore we had finished our first plate of
soup. He had travelled on every
steamer built knew the captains by
their first names, and was thoroughly
informed on every subject pertaining
this ship in particular and the sea in
general In the facetiOuS moment l
asked him if he had ever crossed on
the Ben Hamilton; / was promptly in
formed that he had crossed on her
Cor him" p three times, but that
some years ago that noble craft had
gone ashore near Bermuda. Stranded
on an onion reef. no doubt. But while
our VOluble friend was saturated with
nautical information, he seemed to be
shy on a few little facts as to where
stamps might be purchased, and the
way to get down to the steerage, and
which was port and "stabbard," which
things TO US mattered enormously.
Our usual routine is to arise at
seven. provided the ship has behaved
like a gentleman the preceding night.
and one feels like arising. Then there
is a brisk twC-mile walk around the
promenade deck; breakfast. letters
and games of Switchboard or quoits
on deck: beef tea at eleven, visiting
among the deck chairs, luncheon at
one. tea at four and dancing in the
social hall, dinner at seven and a
concert in the lounge in the evening.
In general il is a most delightful vOy-
age. / should like to stay at sea a
month.
our tea dances develop some re-
markable exhibitions No two are
graceful. but they are unfamiliar with
the new American steps. A shy little
Welsh couple provided a lot of amuse-
ment with their odd figures and halt
ing steps The mans shoes were stiff
and ponderous. with the soles curved
lust like rockers and the manner in
which he got around was startling 10
behold. Seriously. il was rather a
pathetic sight.
\ Welsh Rarebit.
Speaking of Wales, il is not a very
large country. but . gosh, There is
one Village of a few hundred inhab-
itants which struggles under the name
OF "Llanfairpwllgw gyllgogerwch. -
This is no myth: an Englishman wrote
it out for me. and what Is more. he
pronounced il. and he is still in fairly
good condition. The name is really
"a description Of the place; il means
the little house on the little hill by
the little brook, etc" Ny informant
told me il was a description OF the
place. but I think il must have m
Cluded "a large portion of the sur
rounding territory.
We have had several kinds OF
weather. If ] may mention the sub
Ject. one night in the fog we were
DELAYED two hours on account of two
other vessels in the vicinity: the next
day sailors alOft sighted three ice
bergs Twice IL was SO rough that
one could stay in his berth only with
difficulty. The sensation OF having
the ship drop from beneath YOU on
a plunge is most disCOncerting Ere
quently she would poise ON the crest
OF wave and wiggle amidships AZ
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