The Omaha morning bee., 1925-04-07
On the Atlantic
--Day by Day.
By o. o. M'INTYRE.

On the Atlantic, April 6.-This
morning l was up to watch the sun
Use. The sea inspires me as moth
ing else The blood of piracy must
have run in my ancestors. I dream
Of them bounding from bowsprit to
l1owsprit with rings in their ears and
l,nives in their teeth.
There was a calm save for the
liythmic plough. plough! plough like
vet wash against the washing board.
The sun was gliding the clouds and
pouring a slender stream of phos.
phorescence on the dancing foam.
Far off was a tiny puff of smoke
from tramp steamer bound for
heaven knows where.
A few sailors we're out pulling at
their early morning tobacco quids.
They are silent. taciturn men, They
may stand huddled together for an
hour without A word. Modern inven-
ions have deprived them of much ro-
nance Of sailing but the romance of
the sea goes on forever.
] watched one deck swabber. He
had the build of corsair. Despite
the cold he was barefoot and his
hairy chest was bare. His beard had
been stained vivid red There was
a savage like vanity about him in
spite of his humble task.
I tried to engage him in conversa-
ton but he was as shy as a mouse
md answered only in monosyllables.
My language was not his. His was
he staccato language Of the dead
aud gone days: Down with your
helm, Haul sheets! Hoist topsails"
The breakfast horn sounded. And I
heard little boy in cabin say:
Mother is a parade cotning?' l went
down to see the dog passengers.
There are only two, Sealinghams,
named Craig apd Dinny; and they
seemed to be standing the voyage
well. Bless 'em.
The Ocean Times amuses me. Here
is It's leading news today: Cairo:
Three Zaghlulist candidates have or
ganized a relief fund for victims of
he Assouan flood" That Is hot stuff.
I don't imagine a passenger aboard
knew until this morning there had
been flood in the Assouan.
The most pathetic person on board
t., me Is one of those buck teeth de-
butantes from New York who Is anx
ious to be seen, admired and petted.
And nobody is doing il.
The young page who answers the
bells on my deck is II years of age
and has crdssed the Atlantic II
times He came from family OF sea
going folk His mother is a steward
on n Cunarder. His father is on n
long Mediterranean cruise. Two older
brothers are in the British navy.
Silly rumors scatter over every
ship. This time II was the sinister
whisperings of dreaded typhus. You
heard Of It everywhere--in the
lounge, smoking rooms an on prone
made decks. The ship surgeon tells
me the only passenger laid up is n
man who cracked his toe against a
steamer trunk.
have been sitting at my type
-riter In n rather agreeable frame
Of mind. The boat Is steady and New
York IL only -four days away. Then
! happened to glance at n card on
the wall above my desk II reads: "In
case OF emergency, passengers will
be directed by the crew for embarka.
tion In the open boats" And now
a perfectly good day is ruined.
Irving Berlin would probably get
q Kick out Of an incident on the
promenade deck today. A Sengalese
passenger was whistling his latest
tune. "All Alone"
Tonight the moon rode high richly
siivering the whole expanse Of the
sea. On the second class deck | saw
bare headed priest stand at the
Pail for at least half hour, lost in
reverie. Then he crossed himself and
his lips mumbled In prayer. A prayer,
~ houbt. for those who have gone
down 10 the sea In ships
'e'''r's't k'''9