The Cordova daily times., 1921-06-16

OiS OA IhS plCdodAI lcdluTeS or ocean travel is the making of ac- quaintances. You meet people on the liner whom you would never have met at home. Very often acquaint- ances made in this way ripen into lasting friendships.
 The process of making acquaint- ances at sea is as easy as it is pleas ant. It begins with an exchange of civilities, usually at table. The table is the social unit of the great liner. People are no longer placed in rows at long tables, as they used to be, but sit at smaller ones, that have chairs for from two to a>dozen peo- pie. Thus any size of party can be made up, to suit the convenience of people travelling together. A mar ried couple may have table to themselves if they wish, or may on request be seated at table with several other people.
 Seating .congenial people together is one of the fine arts practiced in the stewards department on a big ship. Usually the seating is done by the second steward, who on the largest ships especially, must have a keen understanding of character, and q p1n out dences thereof. A steamship where several hundred people are seated at once in the first class cabin din ing rooms, the second steward may be rated as the cleverest of his craft. His quickness in sizing up" his eli entele on first sight is quite mar velous; yet his glance seems nothing more than casual. The accuracy of his judgment as what kind of people will be congenial to each other is attested by the small number of persons who ask to be transferred from the tables where he places them. after the voyage begins.
 The method of seating the multi tude who are to fill the great ships dining rooms is simple and effective On sailing day notices are posted in the main companionways stating that places at table will be assigned by the second steward at the dining saloon after such an hour
 At the hour named the second steward is to be found at a table outside the main entrance to the din ing saloon with a large seating plan before him, showing each table, by number, and the places at each. which are also numbered He also has near him a board with similar plan painted on it and with a slip for each chair, in which is inserted a numbered ticket for that chair. As the passengers state their pre- ference regarding places. the steward listens. then reaches for the neces- sary tickets. He then takes down on the seating plan, each opposite the proper seat. He then passes over the ticket for the seat.
 Each table in the saloon at this time bears conspicuous pIacard, with it's number. The chairs are also numbered. The passengers hold ing ticket 78 for table S4 therefore has no difficulty in finding his place without delay He then signs his table ticket, and hands it to the table steward.
 Once the places at the table are filled, and the first meal of the voy. age begins-it is usually luncheon, as ships sail most frequently before 1 p. m.-the passengers make rental survey of their neighbors. Conversa- tion usually is sparingly indulged in. Nobody wants to be first in breaking the social ice. Furthermore there is an inevitable tendency to silence in the first hours of voyage, when home ties are being cast off, and new ventures are at hand.
 So the first meal passes somewhat depressingly. You may think your neighbors a precious lot of mum mics, and wonder how the steward could have made the mistake of putting you at that table, when you specially asked him to seat you among "nice, congeuial people,"
 Dinner brings change in the so- cial atmosphere at your table. Every body comes down in evening dress, and you note that it improves them wonderfully. You note that the