Page:Travel letters from New Zealand, Australia and Africa (1913).djvu/143

 and soon had members of the crew interested. Among other pictures, we had one of the "Ventura," taken at sea when we passed it on Christmas day. The American flag was displayed at the ship's peak, and it looked as good to us as it probably looks to an old soldier on Decoration Day We meet traveling acquaintances every day. This morning we met Mr. Adams, the life insurance man, whose wife was so ill on the "Sonoma," and who was so devoted to her that the men were proud of him. "I am staying at the Wentworth," he said; "it is twice as good as the Australia." The Australia Hotel is the best in Australasia (which includes New Zealand), and of course many hotels are said to be superior to it. Mr. Adams is meeting his wife's kin for the first time, but I neglected to ask him if he suited We also met the Sandersons. We greatly admired Mrs. Sanderson, in spite of the fact that she is English. She was coming over to meet her husband's people for the first time, and we predicted she would be satisfactory; but she was fearful—people are so particular in cases of that kind. Mr. Sanderson, however, told me that his folks dearly love his wife. Mr. Sanderson is the man who operates apple orchards in Oregon, and they leave for home on Saturday, on the "Ventura." At 7:40 in the evening we resumed The Traveler's Trot, and departed by train for Melbourne, 585 miles. The railroad is standard gauge, and the sleeper very good. As usual, we found the train crowded. Melbourne is almost as large as Sydney, yet there is but one railroad between the two cities, and this runs but one train a day: a train in three sections, leaving at 7:40, 8 and 9:30 Be