Year: 1879

People who have voyaged to England with all the
ameliorations, more less of the saloon have OF
ten gazed curiously forward and wondered how the
steerage passengers were enjoying themselves. a
writer IN The Pail MdH Gazette, who made the tnp
in the Storage of Cunard steamer. has printed
three long articles in which he gives rather dole
ful experience. He took his berth in this part OF
the ship he says. because he had heard something
of its discOmforts and wished to speak from actual
observation and personal trial.


His first sight of the place in which he was to I'VE
for ten or twelve days, or at any rate in which he
was to sleep for ten or twelve nights if he could
filed him, he says, with dismay and disgust The
place was dirty and uncomfortable. The stencil
combined with the heat was iutolerabe, while from
the sailors quarters came the smell of oil and tar,
soiled smocks and unclean guernseys, so that the
atmosphere was uncomfortable. OF the sleeping ac-
cOmmOdatiOns complaint is made that they were
crowded and uncomfortable of the provisions. that
the bread was not good the tea undrinkabe, the
water no better the inferority of the latter being
accounted for by the fact that bottled beer was to
be had Tor price. The servants Of the stcerage are
said TO have been rude and unaccOmmOdating. The
first night at sea, as painted by this unfortunate
pilgrim was anything but pleasant one, the berth
having no blanket bed for these be had not pro-
vided himself with. though this must be set down
to his own want OF preparation. when lt ralneO,
the floor of the stcerage drenched and the sleep
ing hunks were wet. For washing there were no ac-
commodations, and the difficulties of a morning alb
luton are graphically described, though il is admit
ted that the women were somewhat better accom-
modatcd III this respect.


There IS a distinct complaint made In these
articles that the meat furnished the steerage pas
seugers was tough and stringy that the potatoes
were uneatable; that the butter was no better
that not single respous bic officer of the ship en-
tered the steerage during the voyage that prac-
tically the passengers were in the hands OF the
steward that IN wet weather they were. confined
to the between-decks in the foul atmosphere COM
ing uD from the steerage with no seats upon the
main deck. The writer evidently had anything but
a good time.


We have condensed "a much as possible the
statements of this writer; and we willingto be-


cvo that they are coorcd somewhat by the fact that
to such person the best arranged stcerage possible
woud scarcely have been agreeable But some OF
the discomforts which he mentions such as no
person however poor or of whatever station in life
should be subjected TO. All have right to protec
ton from the elements, TO good air, to diet whole
some, however plain, and to civil treatment from
the petty officers of the ship Nobody should be
sworn at because he happens to be poor; and con-
sderng the forlon situation of most Of the steerage
passengers, they are entitled to considerate help
and kind recognition of their simple wants.
People who are tempted to make the voyage in the
steerage "iust to see how will seem" had better
think twice before embaFking a third-class
tlckct-particularly on Cunard steamer.