This departing of the big steamers, noons or afternoons--there is no
better medicine when one is listless or vapory. I am fond of going
down Wednesdays and Saturdays--their more special days--to watch them
and the crowds on the wharves, the arriving passengers, the general
bustle and activity, the eager looks from the faces, the clear-toned
voices, (a travel'd foreigner, a musician, told me the other day she
thinks an American crowd has the finest voices in the world,) the
whole look of the great, shapely black ships themselves, and their
groups and lined sides--in the setting of our bay with the blue sky
overhead. Two days after the above I saw the "Britannic," the "Donau,"
the "Helvetia" and the "Schiedam" steam out, all off for Europe--a
magnificent sight.
TWO HOURS ON THE MINNESOTA
From 7 to 9, aboard the United States school-ship Minnesota, lying up
the North river. Captain Luce sent his gig for us about sundown,
to the foot of Twenty-third street, and receiv'd us aboard with
officer-like hospitality and sailor heartiness. There are several
hundred youths on the Minnesota to be train'd for efficiently manning
the government navy. I like the idea much; and, so far as I have seen
to-night, I like the way it is carried out on this huge vessel. Below,
on the gun-deck, were gather'd nearly a hundred of the boys, to give
us some of their singing exercises, with a melodeon accompaniment,
play'd by one of their number. They sang with a will. The best part,
however, was the sight of the young fellows themselves.
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