Some businesses may have slumped in Shanghai, but judging from news of goings and comings among our acquaintances one would believe that shipping is having some sort of a boom in the passenger service line. We heaz much of liners and comparisons in accommodation and those inclined to be a bit "choose" may like to reflect upon conveniences or lack of them in boats of the really good old days.
In his reminiscences Lord Frederick Hamilton, a son of a former Duke of Abercorn, gives an illuminating account of his travel days. He says:
^I would like people who grumble at the accommodation provided in one of the huge modern liners to see the arrangements that were thought good enough for passengers in 1892. Our ship the Britannia, of the Pacific Steam Navigation Ca, was just over 4.000 tons, and we passengers congratulated each other loudly on our good fortune in travelling in so fast a vessel. The Britannia had no deckhouses, the uncarpeted, undecorated saloon was the only place in which to sit, and its furniture consisted of long tables with swinging racks over them flanked by benches. This sumptuous apartment was illuminated at night by no less than forty candles, a source of immense pride to the chief steward. The sleeping cabins for a six weeks' voyage were smaller land less comfortably fitted than those at present provided for the three hours' trip between Hollyhead and Kingstown; at night one dim oil lamp glimmered in a ground-glass case fixed between two cal, but only up to 10.30 p.m. after which the ship was plunged into total darkness. As it was before the days of refrigerators, the forepart of the deck was devoted to live stock. Pigs grunted in one pen, sheep bleated in another, whilst ducks quacked and turkeys gobbled in coops on either side of them. No one ever thought of grumbling; on the contrary we all experienced that stupid sense of reflected pride which passengers on a crack liner feel, for the Britannia was a singularly pled@ing object to the eye, with her clipper bows, the graceful curve of her sheer, and the [beautiful lines of her low hull unbroken by any deck-houses or top hamper."
Perhaps those of us who shortly contemplate travel will be cheered by contrasting comforts, but no wonder, in the old days, that villagers stayed in their rural homes from birth to death, and never strayed abroad. convener, tea-committee; Mrs. F. H. B-Harmon, convener, work committee; Mrs. W. C. Allen, visiting committee-The Guild is in healthy form this year since several new members have joined, old members have returned from home leave, and enthusiasm is great. Members expect to enjoy an active season.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.