Year: 1877

Ocean Travel


Tne steamers are hurrying home with the
remnants of the American wayfarers who
have been doing the cathedrals and the
boulevards. The season, so far as our
tavern keeping friends at Carlsbad and
Baden-Baden are concerned, has not been
as profitable as in years past The Tam
many statesman and the shoddy prince
have not been seen as frequently as in the
days of Tweed and Fisk. Most Of the
statesmen are in Jail and most of the princes
are in bankruptcy, and the Americans who
have honored the ancient lands with their
free and independent presence are, as
general thing, sensible people who go for
the good things to be seen and known in
Europe, and leave the eagle at home. We
are glad to note that our fellow citizens re-
turn in fine health and spirits, ready for
the serious work of life We hear also fair
accounts Of sea travel and sea service. In
no branch of modern achievement has Mr..
Darwins theory of evolution found more
admirable illustration that in sea travel.
The progress of tho science which evolves
man as he is out of the ape, whose main
pleasure in life was swinging through the
trees, is tame and dull compared with the
evolution which has converted the craft Of
Columbus into the cean-bound Bothnia or
Germanic. The terror of the sea has be-
come the pleasure of the sea. And now that
the HERALD has made an alliance offensive
and defensive with Old Probabilities of the
Weather Bureau there is no reason why the
traveller should not have his cyclones if he
wants them. The truth about cyclone is
that while it has an ominous sound our
modern steamers laugh at it. The serious,
sensible traveller rejoices in his storm as
the husbandman in the rain. It brings
sunshine into his eyes and life into his
cheeks. It is only milliners and grand
mothers who crave "the painted ship on
the painted ocean" Science fears nothing
now but the iceberg and the fog. just
as the brave man cares for no enemy
that he can see. Even the iceberg and the
fog only require care. This care is shown
by such lines as the Cunard, who in the
season of ice run below the line OF ice and
over course where fogs are less frequent
than in the North. The Cunard line adds
another season of good fortune to the many
years that have gone before. Tennyson
gave it as the greatest honor Of Wellington
that he had ''gained a hundred fights nor
ever lost an English gun." In the same spirit
we may say Of the Cunards that in all the
many years of their service. their thousands
of trips over the stormiest of seas they have
never lost letter or passenger In giving
this praise we give what has been fairly won.
Nor must it be understood rs in any way dis
paraging tho other lines. 1t would be hard
to improve upon the White Star line for in
stance, the ships of which are as luxurious
as palace and as safe rs ahouse on the rock,
or the Inman, the German lines and the
others The science and the discipline which
have done so much for the pioneer Cunard
line have not been lost upon those who have
come after to share with them the trade car
rying of the seas. The truth is, there is, no
trip so safe as that from New York to Liver
pool. 1t has its dangers, OF course, but
there are dangers in crossing the Brooklyn
ferry and in walking down Broadway. The
chances of danger are less on the ocean
than in any other form Of travel. We have
to thank the bold and skilful men who make
the steamers and sail them for having
achieved this complete comforting measure
of safety, and as Christian people we have
also to thank Divine Providence that the
season now ending has been one of unvary-
ing success, leaving no tale of disaster to
mar sunny memories of European lands.