UNCOMMERCIAL TRAVELLERS.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume XI, Issue 1363, 2 October 1883, Page 2

UNCOMMERCIAL TRAVELLERS.

To anyone of an observiug turn of mind there is a large amount uf tuud lor reflection and amusement to be obtained uu board ship in obseiviug lhe many pecularities of those arouud. There is one class of passengers without fail to be found on board uf every ship currying from half a dozen passengers upwards. They are at ouce noticeable by t he air uf all-importance with which uirut about the duck, aud by their ever endless aud always auuoyiug information of ‘ how things were done ou the last ship they travelled by ” —and their unfavourable opinion of the vessel they then trod, us compared with that endless “lastune.” How the steaming power uf the “last” was far superior to tne pieaeut “abominable tub,” a.id how the master aud officers were fine fe.lows, whilst the present lot were “ awfully How.” One only obtains relief when a gale ,f wind sets iu, aud they are below iu then berths—busy writing up their diary. Anther class is that ot gushing description, who cannot do too much for you, and who •re amazed at their having selected such a ub as the une they went their last trip iu. L’he officers weie simply a must iguoram lot, whiEv of course the present company were the pink of perluction. There are others who are ever giving valuable advice to the officers as to how things shou.d be done, aud how they hid seen tnem done ou Lhut“last” trip Others like to compare one company with another, always of course io the detriment of the opposition line. Masters of steam vessels can tell some fun ay stories of their passengers when they like, for as a rule a shipmaster is a cute aud very observing sort of chap, though generally speaking he is parti ularly innocent of heart. An amusing tale is told by one of the worthy skippers of the Union Company of a passenger who took passage from a port on the East Coast. In conversation with the captain he spoke most flatteringly of the boats of the company, and of the able officers on board ; but there was one thing he did not like, and hoped would be altered. “ What is that?” asked the captain anxiously “ Why you see all your knives are cleaned by the patent circular machines, and those machines sharpen the backs of rhe knives, which of course you must know, captain, is very dangerous, as one might cut their mouths !” It was a study to have seen the worthy skipper's face at this explanation, and nothing but a hasty dive into his cahin saved an explosion. We say nothing of the spoonying companions, for they are not only to be met on board ship, but are to be found here, there, and every where.