- lish go crazy about ship sports, and greatly annoy those
who want to be quiet, but the Germans are more considerate of others.
Friday, April 11.—We have spent this day in the
open sea. Usually we are in sight of land, but if there
has been any in sight today I have not seen it. There
was a rain-storm this morning, but it soon passed away.
This is our fifth day out, but the sea has been remarkably
smooth; I have never seen it equally gracious,
either on the Pacific or the Atlantic. We have
not had enough motion to disturb the weakest stomach,
and I shall always remember the Indian ocean with
gratitude. The weather has been hot, but usually we
can find enough breeze to be comfortable. A good
many slept on deck last night, finding their cabins
stuffy. . . . The leader of the band and orchestra
is a waiter in the dining-room. I cannot understand
why a man able to lead a very good orchestra with a
violin, and a very good band with a cornet, is compelled
to work as a waiter. The bass player in both organizations
is our table steward, and he is very capable,
although he cannot speak a word of English. . . .
There are eight at our table. One was born in France,
one in Alsace-Lorraine, one in Scotland, one in England,
one in Wales, one in Spain, and two in America. One
of the ladies traveled three years in India and two in
Australia, with a circus owned by her husband, and
did a riding act. She is now a widow, and conducts
a riding-school in Johannesburg. One of the men is
