Evening star., 1946-10-27

No doubt some curious psychol-
ogist has analyzed that part Of
mans mind which gives life to his
love for the sea and imparts q
thrill and glamor to It's ships. Such
q revelation may exist In some
learned work, beyond popular read
ing. In expert hands, the treatise
could delve behind the mere state
ments that man is intrigued by the
oceans mystery and finds imitation
for his ego In the knowledge that
he has conquered this watery ele-
ment, at least in its less wild moods
Coming to general attention, such
a dissecting work would raise the
level Of sophistication. It might
also, however, be disservice to
those who treasure unadylterated
dreams. For, in showing how the
mind ticks in receiving impulses Of
enjoyment, it might also bring about
q cold and unron1antic approach
to this form Of travel, which, even
In this aerial age, apparently holds
an undying fascination.
Yet, sophisticated or unromantac
or travel-wise as they were, 1t Is
doubtful that guests boarding the
liner Queen Elizabeth at It's pier
in New York last Tuesday night,
on special invitation, failed to be
impressed. Composed Of friends
and patrons of the Cunard White
Star Line, it. was a discriminating
group, capable of being critical
should an occasion arise.
What they saw, after their initial
glass of champagne and between
visits to the snack tables stretching
along one Of the glass-inclosed
decks, was the last word in luxury
afloat--a combination city and hotel,
with shops and Peacock Alleys,
theaters and quiet hooks, hospitals
and phone service to any part Of
the world. Her new trappings are
gay, sedate or honey, according
to the mood each room seeks to
inspire.
The ship, dead in the black water
at Pier 80, was caught by Tuesday
nights crowd In an unprepossessins
moment. Her hull and superstruc-
ture lowered above the street, which
her bow almost touched, and she
blazed with lights from stem to stern.
But the noisy welcome on her ar
rival the day before had died, there
was no anticipation that her engines
would leap into life, and there was
lacking the hustle and excitement a
bon voyage crowd revels in at de-
parture. Going aboard was akin to
inspecting display house, furnished
but not lived in.
Yet the Queen Elizabeth already
has a personality, and it was evident.
There is an atmosphere about the
ship, and 1t suggests that for some
time to come q trip aboard the
Queen Elizabeth, first class, is likely
to be mentioned by an American
woman in the same tone she would
use in saying her ancestors came
over in the Mayflower.
This atmosphere was not dispelled
even when a slim young chap, in the
white coat of the stewards staff
overlook one of the high officers and
said: please, sir, may I have your
autograph" The ,ofncer turned
briskly. The youth, however high
his fears, stood his ground and Of
fered a white slip. TITS for my little
girl" he said. The ofncer hoisted the
paper to bulkhead, raised his gold
braided right arm and wrote.
There are indications that the
"democratizing" of the lines Atlantic
travel will come about when the
Queen Elizabeth's sister ship, the
Queen Mary, Is rrady for her post
war career. In q recent dispatch to
The Star7and the North American
Alliance, Pauline Fred
erick reported the Queen Mary will
be rejuvenated with an eye to popu-
larizing trips to the Old World by sea.