The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1922-12-28
CRUISING AROUND TnE WORLD

AAN AAAh a. Ht0 afAAAs US @@+@E 80
entirely new atmosphere We came
aboard strangers TO one another. and
In the early intervals OF sightseeing
scarcely passed the stage Of acquaint-
anceship. Out here on the Pacific,
with land left far behind US. our
great pleasure party has become self
contained In place of chance groups
we now have circles OF friends which
will long outlast the cruise. Gather
ed as we are from all parts of the
United States we find we have never
theless the same tastes and stand
ards of comfort, In short the same
idea OF what makes a good time. AT
ter all we Americans are the most
homogeneous people In the world.
The islands have got Us. as the
phrase goes Once person has felt
the subtle charm OF the South Seas,
IL is said, he will never return TO
northern lands, or at least with great
reluctance We approached Hilo,
our first call in Hawaii. over beau
tifully calm sea. Since leaving San
Francisco the air has grown mild
without heat Our first visitors from
the islands have been many tropical
birds of brilliant plumage. which are
wholly unfamiliar to our northern
eyes.
A vessel approaching the Hawaiian
group at night first catches the well
coming flash of the great lighthouse
at Hilo, from a point rs miles or
more at sea. Our first sight Of land
came on a beautiful sunny morning.
The mountains of Hilo, the highest in
the entire Pacific, rose slowly from
the sea and gradually unfolded in a
marvellous panorama. Like all this
group the island of Hilo Is of volcanic
origin. and as we drew near, its rug
ged outline was sharply etched
against the sky There are three
: great volcanoes in Hilo, one OF
: these Mauna Kea rising to an eleya-
ton of 1926 feet We were to see
; It in active eruption a few hours
J later.
The visit of the Laconia is great
! event in the islands. As we neared
/, the landing place the great crowd
collected impressed us with our i'm
; portance. A world cruise is a rare
J event. and the Laconia under charter
of the American Express Company
carries the largest party of tourists
D which ever descended upon Hawaii
To our northern eyes the shore line
). Of this tropic isle was an endless de
Hight worth travelling far to see. /
was reminiscent, someone said, of az
elaborate stage setting Of some musi
! cal comedy at home The buildings
n everywhere suggestive of the tropics
Z we're set among a wealth of brilIian
tropic vegetation. The glisteninl
r White sands Of the beaches stretche,
! away endlessly our arrival had 0
course been anticipated, and AWAITING
: us on the dock were rows Of automo
, biles which were placed at our dis
! posal throughout our visit
The great show place at Hilo, a
|. indeed Of the South Seas, is the ac
4 tive volcano Of Kilauea with its lax
e Of boiling lava. Half our day wa
D spent there. Along excellent road
! we ascended to an elevation Of 400
!, feet, and looked down into III
y famous crater, which has a circum
a ference Of eight miles The actiy
Il portion Of the crater some twent
J acres in area, is filled with molte
= lava which dashes against the side
2 hike breakers on the seashore. FroI
( .this boiling pit great clouds. consist
: ling of thousands of tons Of cinder
{ are thrown high above tie topmos
p peak OF The craters edge, and carrie
p .l.l o., 70 sea- our ears paused
n tthe very brink Of this inferno.
Another trip was made. this tlm
y .by railroad 90 paauilo which gave q
% excellent views oi the inland life 6
g taa island. The road spans dee
D. rrines and suiches often commaHe
% Inns very extended vistas ol sea an
|ladI. The extent OF the coffee az
4 cane p.mauous came as surpris
s., ss aid their remarkable euieFatio.
.k % ue much 0EeEuoEkea pafas
'e |Huo b earieu spot lndar q
= wonderfully favorable climatic 80
y dluoas 8l tile island - cfoaa ans
~ our northern eges OuE af
of i5eelHE ln .ae eoaiH ss
,e avel sIla ler imar
b. I uet p0rl at .i aaaa.a
us to the aor
Il t faHowiaE mor o
nre oi the famous an
a he made ua E