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like a cockle shell. “Pacific” seemed then a misnomer for this wild Ocean. But the steady clang of the engine never ceased as it pushed our leviathan onward—a triumph of skill and brains over the elements, of science over matter.
I had read of this Pacific mail line as unequaled in the world in size of ships, completeness of appointments, and comfort to passengers, but I was unprepared for such a floating palace as the “America” proves to be. If there can anywhere be comfort or even pleasure in a sea voyage, it is here. Our fifty cabin passengers have more space in state rooms and saloons than would be allowed to two hundred on a Cunarder. The table is supplied with every delicacy of a first class hotel. Vegetables and fruits, either fresh or canned—beef, mutton and poultry, were shipped, “on the hoof,” before leaving port, and the steward is saving the fattest of turkeys for our Thanksgiving dinner. The crew, firemen and waiters, one hundred and fifty in number, are Chinese—the officers, of course, being American. The captain says they are as good sailors as the average of white men, and much more docile and obedient. They do not seem to me as strong limbed and broad chested as our Yankee sailors and fishermen, but few of these can be found in this section except in the position of officers. As table waiters the Chinese are remarkably quick and active, and very quiet. A glance of the eye toward any dish you may want is enough, they seem to know by intuition almost, what you require. They never hand you a cup of tea or coffee and leave you to get the sugar and milk as best you can.
This line of steamers consists of four ships, the China, Japan, America and Great Republic. The three first are in constant service, and the last named is held in reserve in ease of accidents. They make one trip a month each way from San Francisco to Hong Kong, touching at Yokohama, in Japan, where they connect with a branch line to Shanghai. They are allowed a government subsidy of half a million dollars a year for carrying the mails between these ports. They are wooden, side-wheel steamers, with air-tight compartments, built in New York, and cost over a million dollars each, They are about 5,000 tons measurement, the “America,” the largest and newest, being 5,600 tons, and the largest merchant ship afloat except the Great Eastern. It is gratifying to our national pride that this line of
