The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1921-02-25
STEAM SHIP TRAVEL

to compare notes of the ships in
which they have crossed the ocean
and in all their conversations in
smoking room or lounge on ship
board, or among their friends al
home, no word occurs oftener than
Service"
Nearly all ships are rated by these
experienced voyagers according to
the quality of the service on board
A given steamship line may offer a
good table, but if the service is poor
the food will not redeem it. Anoth-
er line may have fine ships, but
with poor service they will never be-
come popular. In other words, ii
food and service are good the char
acter of the ship is not considered
critically. If it happens, as it does
in certain cases, that ship food and
service are all everything that could
be desired the line providing them
stands high in the critical travellers
estimation.
Magic OF Thank You
Service begins for you in the role
of ocean traveller when you arrive
at the dock to 60 aboard ship. You
are relieved of your grip by white
coated steward who says "thank you
sir" as he takes it. You next see
the grip in your stateroom, in its
proper place. If it is unlocked you
will find it's contents laid out or
hung up in their proper places, your
clothes on forms, your toilet ar
ticles on the dresser your slippers
beside the bed.
Every Wish Anticipated
From that point onward through
out the voyage you find every wish
anticipated. When you come down
to dress for dinner you find your
clothes laid out for you. Further
more, they have been pressed. The
studs have been placed in your shirt
and a collar is ready to your hand.
The steward has proven himself
more than a mere room attendant
he is valet, and it gives you COM
Portable. feeling to receive atten-
tions of such an intimate kind as he
can bestow
Thus it goes on throughout the
voyage. Your every wish is antlcl-
pated. At night, on retiring you find
the counterpane laid back, your
pajamas invitingly spread out on the
bed, your dressing gown placed on
the back of chair and your bath
slippers beside it ready for morning.
Ventilation has been arranged prop
erly. A night lamp burns beside the
bed to be extinguished by a last
touch of switch button.
In the morning you are awakened
by the steward, opening the curtains
He has coffee for you, and shaving
water. "You will find the bath next
door but one, sir. Thank you, sir!'
With that he goes softly out.
You may wonder why he thanked
you this time-but you like it..
The Gentle Art of Eating
T. So much for room service. Next
comes that which has to do with the
gentle art of eating. 1t is evident
from the moment you come on board
that the company has fear that
your appetite may not be entirely
satisfied at all times. This fear is in
directly expressed through tTe
stewards-not merely those VITO
serve you at table, but sundry 9TH
ers who seem to be posted about fol-
the sole purpose of preventing you
from becoming hungry.
Your whole day aboard ship is dis
tinguished by skirmishes with stew
ards who offer you tempting things
to eat. After your coffee and bath
you are ready for breakfast. There
is an elaborate menu-fruits, ce-
reals, fish, meats, rolls, toast, jam,
tea and coffee-an international bill
of fare. .
Your table steward quickly gets
to know what you like best, and
produces it in such a surprisingly
short time, you wonder f he has not
had it concealed under a napkin