Page:California Inter Pocula.djvu/155



I once  knew  a  strong-minded  woman  wlio  avowed she could  put  down  sea-sickness  by  force  of  her  wilL "It is  a  mere  fancy,"  she  used  to  explain,  "you  feel yourself  swaying  and  rocking,  and  see  others  sick, and  take  it  for  granted  you  are  going  to  be  sick  your- self; and  so  you  are.  I'll  none  of  it." Afterward the lady  went  to  sea. Whether at  her  command  the wind and  the  waves  were  calm,  whether  the  still small voice  within  was  quiet,  she  did  not  say  ;  but never afterward  did  she  so  much  as  intimate  that sea-sickness could  be  brow-beaten.

At last  the  agony  is  over. The sea  calms  some- what, and after  two  days  of  rolling  and  dissolution, pale, gaunt  forms  crawl  from  tumbled  berths  and  dis- ordered rooms and  eye  each  other;  staggering  about as they  first  attempt  to  use  their  feet,  grasping  posts, and railings,  finally  settling  down  to  languid  lounging in high-back  easy-chairs,  and  on  benches. Thouglits of feeding  arise  ;  appetite  grows  apace,  and  seats  at table  fill  up. With return  of  appetite  comes  some degree of  amiability. The whitened  faces  put  on  a cheerful  look  as  they  multiply  on  deck,  the  females manifesting their  convalescence  by  renewed  interest in their  toilets,  and  in  the  dresses  of  their  neighbors. Under these  auspices  if  not  harmony,  at  least  general good conduct  prevails.

And now  the  voyage  proper  begins. Taking your ticket, which  indicates  room  and  berth,  to  the  office of the  purser,  the  civil  commandant,  though  not  al- ways a civil  man,  you  receive  for  it  a  table  check, whose number  designates  your  seat  for  the  voyage. Notables and  favorites  are  placed  at  the  captain's table. Women travelling  alone  in  charge  of  the  cap- tain often fare  better  than  when  their  husbands  are with them. Aside from  the  captain's  table,  all  is managed  upon  the  most  democratic  principles. The table is  usually  ill  supplied  and  ill  served,  though  not always. Table tickets  are  given  to  prevent  a  scramble