Page:Travel letters from New Zealand, Australia and Africa (1913).djvu/213

 Tait, the purser's clerk, appeared in a series of crayon sketches which were very good. Another clever performer was W. A. Dalton, who, I believe, is store-*keeper At the conclusion of the entertainment, Mr. Adams, the chairman, proposed a vote of thanks to Miss Woodburn, a passenger, who had volunteered as accompanist. Thereupon the chairman of the Sports Committee made a speech, and endorsed the motion to adopt a vote of thanks to Miss Woodburn; indeed, he moved a vote of thanks not only to Miss Woodburn, but to the captain, crew, etc. At mention of his name, Captain Warrall, who had come down quietly from the upper deck, slipped out; I don't think he cares much about mingling with the passengers. Anyhow, he acts bored when with them, and we do not see much of him. But the proposition of the chairman of the Sports Committee was adopted, and, this being accomplished, we sang "God Save the King," and went to bed, or to the smoking-room, or to walk the decks. "God Save the King" is sung at the conclusion of every entertainment here, including dances; it is the same air as our "My Country, 'Tis of Thee." But the words are different; the English words begin: "God save our gracious king, long live our noble king. Send him victorious, happy and glorious, long to reign over us. God save the king." While we stole the tune from the English, they stole it from the Germans; so it is to the Germans that both Americans and English should apologize Mr. Riley, of course, attended the concert, and, being drunk, and knowing most of the songs on the programme, sang as loudly as the performers, very much to the disgust of the passen