Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1921-08-11
joTIINGS BI THE NAY.
BY Charles Scanlon.

l.
England. The weather has been fine
and the sea So smooth that few nave
been sick. The Olympic, on which We
are, is one OF the large ships of the
white Star Line. Ii is nearly LODI
ieet long, almost 100 feet wide and lO4
ieet nigh. IL has a capacity OF 5000
passengers and crew of 1000. IL
mas speed Of more than 500 miles
per day. Yesterday We ran $50 miles
IN "a hours. To carry food, fuel.
drinking water and other supplies for
so many people for a week, together
with baggage and many thousands of
bags Of mail and hundreds of tons o.
other material, is indeed wonderful
ana requires a ship weighing more
than forty-six thousand tons.
Every convenience of a great hotel is
supplied. The dining rooms, libraries,
lounges, etc, are not only luxurious
out very large. There are not oni
Mushrooms, bathrooms, recreation
rooms and a gymnasium, but a SWIM
ming pool. electric lights, fans, laun-
airy, barber shop, store, physician,
oank, and most other accommo iations
found IN towns of considerable size.
his line OF humanity moves so
smoothly that one scarcely notices the
motion. The people dance and sing
and walk and work and rest much as
they do on land. The children play and
fret and fuss and run to their mothers.
the young people stroll and dream and
talk and laugh, the women do fancy
work and the men talk politics. as ali
DO on shore. There is the same va
riety OF races, ages, occupations, kinds,
dispositions, styles, manners and Gus
IONS that one finds in any cosmopolitan
company. Most Of the States Of the
Union are represented and many
foreign countries.
Where have they all been, where are
they going, what is taking them, how
did they get the money, what ex-
perience will befall them, what iniu-
ence will this mingling of races and
lourneylne over many countries have +?
Are some of the questions which come
10 ones mind.
My father crossed the Atlantic more
than seventy years ago in quest of
new home, and never after saw his old
one nor the mother who sent seven
sons and daughters TO America, none
OF whom she saw again. Crossing
the ocean then was a very different
thing from crossing now. Then there
were no floating palaces" or "oceas
greyhounds" to make the trip in few
days. He was nine weeks crossing.
Now i; takes six days, and have
crossed in four and one-half DAYS be-
fore the war.
The passage is not always smooth
and pleasant Two years ago I cross
ed when the ocean wis wild for three
days and nights. Ii was difficult 10
keep dishes or food on the tables and
there were not many able to eat what
was there. Strong men were thrown
violently on the decks and across
rooms. All passengers we're inside
and the doors locked, while the waves
broke over high decks and the whole
ship trembled and shivered like q
frightened child. The power and
majesty OF the sea in a storm is some
thing never to be forgotten. One
night especially it was feared We might
60 down. How does one feel at such q
time Only those who have expert
enced it can tell. All was very quiet.
Even the ship crew moved softly tut
quickly. Conversation almost ceased.
Families huddled together. Unac-
ccompanied women gathered in groups.
Men looked silently and seriously into
each others eyes. There was nothing
to do but take whatever came. But
enough of this.
My two Older daughters, Mary and
Pauline. are with me. We hope to get
to London Saturday. and after a few
days there 60 to Belgium, Holland,
Germany, Italy, Switzerland, France
and the home. Later may tell some
thing Of our travels.