Evening star., 1936-05-17

neGGSSdly " SCitu 81 "
who are sailing? Don't the steamers give their
first-class passengers three good meals day?
In answer to this, would say that nothing
could be less necessary than food of any kind
sent to cabin passenger on modern trans
atlantic liners Meals? Three whole ones and
four half ones and as many more as one may
feel weak. or i'll or just plain hungry
enough to ask for.
Even if you are miserable and staying in
bed, your stewardess will 60 and find any
number of just the right appetizers or fruit
juices or peppery bouillons! Yet, that does not
mean that you can't find some particular
delicacy that a sailing friend likes.
And fowers2 Many voyagers are given
cabinsful of them all at once. They need,
however, not 60 to waste if there is coldroom
space enough. They can be taken there and
brought back a sixth or eighth of the quantity
at time.
Several letters ask about sitting at the
captains table and whether this obligates
one to take all ones meals at the hour he sets9
Or whether the guest of honor on his right
decides the hours2 Or whether one may eat
when one chooses2
The answer to these is rather elastic since
each captain makes his own custom. But
when passengers are given permanent places
at his table, he tells people the hour at which
he dimes and they are expected to be there at
that time.
On very modern ships it is most likely that
the captain has table entirely to himself, so
hot fta,, (x.,ho or ipfn
port or in bad weather. his table is vacant. On
other evenings he invites five or seven, or
however many he chooses, among the pas
sengers to dine with him. In this case they
meet in his cabin for cocktails and then go
into the dining saloon, and are seated by him.
Questions about making friends are numer-
Gus, but not easy to answer because all
approaches between strangers depend upon
the who and the how. The only definite rule
to be observed is that those. whose idea of
blissful voyage is to get to know as many
people as they can, shall consider the equal
rights of others whose contrary idea is to be
left to rest or read or dream in solitude.
Therefore, when ones friendly advances
awaken no obviously friendly response it is
a very first impulse of well-bred person to
withdraw at once. And because withdrawal
should be instructive. it would not be neces-
sary to include this advice were it not for the
density of an occasional persons perceptions.
Mary Friendly, starting conversation with
her unresponsive deck-Chair neighbOr, can
not imagine that any lonely man can be less
than grateful to her for her kindness in be-
friending him. This is quite all right if he is
lonely and wants to be befriended. But she
ought to be able to tell the difference between
courteous reply, which ends with full stop,
and friendly reply or an evident encourage
ment.
In other words, do not take it for granted
that your own point of view is the only one.
Those who don't feel like walking briskly
around the deck, or playing shuffieboard, or
joining in whatever activity you suggest,
should not be pulled out of their chairs by
main force.
In answer to other questions about making
friends, there is no improperly in accepting
any invitations you'd like to. Obviously, a
woman alone does not go into mans cabin
nor invite him into hers unless she has a sitting
room. If you are a woman alone and are in
vited by fellow passengers to go on short
excursion mot included in price,, you may
perfectly well accept this or any other invita-
tions that give you pleasure. You return
kindnesses always - to the best of your
ability. If your ability is great, so much the
better. If it is very little, make what return