The New York herald., 1922-12-08
WIFE TELLS THRILLS OF
CRUISE ON SPEEJACKS


than the hills of Borneo. Throughout,
however, they were treated kindly by the
natives and at no time had occasion for
fear
Down 10 Bali. where the little nstixe
girls staged a queer, beautiful dance
for them, and on 10 picturesque Java,
where the speejacks went into drydock
10 have her propeser repaired some
plates fixed on her hull and TO be over
hauled.
Delighted with Java.
Il was glad almost that she had
trouble Mrs. Gowen said, because we
had a chance 10 tour some there. lava
is beautiful. All my dreams of il were
true and more. II began TO pay up for
all the inconsistencies and seasickness
and hardship OF the travels UP to that
time"
Then they went to Singapore-that
strange port filled with romance and
riches and Chinese-and were enter
tanned in royal style by yellow million
aires whose wives wore jewels that ais
most outdazzled the sun.
Never have | seen such jewels II
was like a story book. all these riches.
Everybody. even the poor. in Singapore
really poor people in the place." said
Mr.. Gowen.
They were dined by millionaire
Chinese magnates. whose palaces
rivalled anything in story. Solid gold
plate and glass of the finest crystal
ivory and precious scented woods from
the Far East-all the gaudiness and
richness of tabled wealth.
I'VE had TO hurry on, though-that
- Ia .I,s1x !. ns,lr In txA
trip" Mrs Gowen said But there
were so many beautiful palaces. Liv-
ing here in America, we imagine we
have seen almost all of greatness and
wealth and splendor there Is to see.
But. you have no idea of the wonderful
things that unfolded to our eyes as
though they had just been lifted from
the pages of a beautifully colored
book"
They went to Sumatra for a short
stay. after which they attempted to go
to Ceylon. but ran into changing mon
soon and heavy head winds and were
unable to make the trip. Mr.. and Mrs.
Gowen did go. howeyer. in another
vessel and joined the Speejacks at
Batavia, the Island of Seychelles. Then
they went to Alden, Arabia.
II wish / had hours~-to tell you of
Aden,' she said. 1T seemed as IL we
were living through the chapters of the
Arabian Nights. We We're invited to
an Arabian wedding, and IL l should
tell you of the wonders, the mystery
and the weirdpess OF it you wouldn't
believe me.
THE Arabs believe that Alden was
originally the Garden of Eden and that
Eden is now underneath. They showed
us where Gains grave was. They even
showed us where the Queen of Sheba
used TO bathe.
There was no flower nor shrub in
Alden. it seemed that the houses just
sprung from the hills. Every foot OF
the place was filled with legends, which
the natives were eager to impart-for a
price. 1t was n most picturesque place
and shall long remember it,"
Tainted at the Wheel.
| The Speejacks headed toward the Red
Sea. In telling of this passage Mrs.
Gowen shuddered.
II believe / know now where Dante
got inspiration for his, Inferno she
said.
1T was deathly hot and stormy, and
sometimes we could not make more
than one mile an hour. II was there
that / faiptrd at the wheel. because
always stood my share OF the watch
7 had to be relieved of duty until we
reached Alexandria
II love Alexandria and Cairo. We got
white camels and rode into the desert
far past the pyramids. 1t was gay in
Alexandria and we met many famous
people. We were guests at a big dinner
lat the Hotel San Stefano and regretted
when time came for us to leave.
1--WE went to Athens, and within a day
and half of port we ran into storm
and had to put into the Island of Crete
for shelter. Crete is a horrible place.
We were there for three interminable
days. Then we got to Athens, after the
storm. In time to see thousands OF refu-
gees from Smyrna coming in. We were
! there too when Constantine abdicated.
'Did show you the pictures OF Con-
stantine's guard? Oh, they were the
most wonderful looking men I ever
] saw"