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| SS KAISERIN MARIA THERESIA. |
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| Rev. W. J. Howell. |
Cortland Evening Standard, Saturday, March 7, 1903.
THE ORIENT CRUISE.
A Letter from Rev. W. J. Howell Written Out at Sea.
TWO HOURS FROM GIBRALTAR.
A Fine Trip Up to Date, Though Storm was Then Raging—Life on Ship Board—Preaching, Reading Entertainments—A Stop at Funchal—Mr. Howell May Write a Book Concerning the Trip.
Mr. Scott Gale this morning received the following letter from Rev. W. J. Howell, the pastor of the First Baptist church, who is now upon a trip to the Holy Land. The letter is dated Feb. 18, two hours out from Gibraltar and was written upon the deck of the Kaiserin Maria Theresia which was then in the midst of a storm and with the wind blowing 65 miles an hour. Mr. Howell says the letter is fragmentary and he has jotted down the things that come to his mind, but his friends will be highly interested in what he has to say:
We are now for a few hours in the roughest storm of the voyage. It is a hurricane. The wind is 65 miles an hour.
I left Cortland in a snow storm. The entire voyage was nice after a day or two. We were delayed two days in leaving New York on account of lack of coal. I spent the Sunday very pleasantly in the city churches. I have much enjoyed the fifty steamer letters. I read them only as each day came. I thank you all very cordially. I hope this letter will be taken as a reply.
I have met some people who are friends or relatives of some of my friends. The second day one-half of the seats were vacant at the dinner table. I have not missed a meal. Some days the racks were on the table to keep dishes from sliding to the floor. In this fierce storm I am sorry for the two watchmen who are up in the ''crow's nest'' on the mast, higher than captain's bridge, in this storm. There is no danger at all, yet the wind is beating up waves and spray on the decks. Port holes are closed. The band cheers the voyage with its good music. "My Old Kentucky Home" makes one homesick for a moment. It is a merry crowd aboard. A United States senator from West Virginia and United States ambassador to Brazil are aboard.
Rev. Dr. Wayland Hoyt, Baptist of Philadelphia, preached last Sunday a wonderfu1 sermon from the Twenty-third Psalm. On the Galilee horseback trip, Mr. Wallace, Dr. Hoyt and myself occupy the same tent. There are three in every tent. Dr. Hoyt is perhaps the most literary man aboard.
Dr. Villers, Baptist of Indianapolis, lectured last week on ''Madeira, Gibraltar and Alhambra." Dr. Tyler of Denver, Disciple, lectured on "Algiers and Malta.''
Every afternoon at 3 in diningroom, Dr. Hoyt reads from Geo. Adam Smith's geography of the Holy Land. He read today on "Plain of Esdraelon,'' the second day on ''Province of Galilee" and the third day on "Lake of Galilee'' and fourth day on "Samaria."
Valentine's day was observed. Too many were sick to observe Lincoln's birthday at the time. There are more Baptist preachers aboard than any other denomination.
I forgot to say that Sunday afternoon there was a Sundayschool [sic] mass meeting. I spoke on the "Historical Setting" of the lesson. Rev. Dr. Wilcox, a Methodist of color, also spoke on the "Doctrinal Teachings." They have a special hymnbook aboard. It is labeled "The Bible Students' Oriental Cruise." It is the book used by the Y. M. C. A. in Cortland.
The two days we lost in starting we make up by deducting one day from Madeira and one day less in Constantinople. Many are planning side trips across Europe. So far only ninety of the 420 passengers have booked to return on this ship. About thirty-five take the horseback ride through Galilee and Samaria. Thirty-five take the carriage drive in Galilee. But 300 go direct to Jerusalem for five days. At the Sundayschool meeting last Sunday they announced at 4 p. m. that the Lord's Supper would be observed.
I am writing in a fragmentary way, as I recall facts. There are 320 persons in the ship's crew; 120 stewards wait on the dining tables; 230 tons of coal are used every day. There are twelve engineers.
When we neared the Madeira Islands, the sun was up and it was a beautiful sight. The first outline of land that rose so high for a long time, looked like clouds hovering near the sea. I left my watch at New York time until I reached land. There was about four hours' difference in time. I am now writing at 12 o'clock noon. It is 8 o'clock in the morning in Cortland.
Our first and only stop was yesterday at noon at Funchal, the capital of the Madeira Islands. We left at 10 o'clock at night. The ship anchored one-half mile out. A large tender came out for the passengers. We went down the side of the ship on a ladder. Twenty-five small boats gathered around and small boys dived for coins. They brought them up every time. The Portuguese language is the one spoken. We rode up the steep rocky streets in an oxcart. It is too steep for bicycles. There are many tropical fruits and flowers, as bananas, figs, etc. It is a steep, rocky or volcanic island. The gardens are terraced. Stone wall after stone wall holds the earth for gardening. I never saw so many beggars in all my life. There are not 100 Protestants in the city of 10,000. Nearly all are Catholics. There are forty-nine Catholic churches in Funchal. The rocky formation is much like the Palisades. This is their winter season, yet I did not carry an overcoat at all. Wood is scarce in the island. Clay is plentiful, so the roofs are tiled. There are many thatched houses. Canary birds sing sweetly in the trees. The Methodists and Presbyterians have mission churches here. Nest week 7,000 English sailors will be here. They work for peasants in the country and sailors in seaport.
As we left at night, I think I never saw a prettier sight. The cliffs and rocks back of the city rise 5,000 feet high. The bay is circular. The city is built from the edge of the sea and up the steep background. The lights along the rim of the sea and back up in the amphitheatre were beautiful.
It has been a day and a half since we left the Madeira Islands. Yesterday was a sunny day. Today is a storm.
Everybody is writing letters. There are some newspaper correspondents aboard. A Russian princess came aboard at Funchal.
I have been asked by a committee to write a book of the cruise. Mr. Clark wants me to do it. Dr. Hoyt will write the introduction. I have not yet agreed to do it. It means a lot of work. I may do it.
The purser gave me the following facts of provisions: 87,000 pounds of meat, 25,000 pounds of fish, 700,000 pounds of flour, 9,000 pounds of sugar, 147,000 pounds of potatoes.
Many bulletins are put up from day to day.
This was a parody, "Lost. Somewhere near the Gulf Stream, a set of false teeth and a yellow wig. Finder please leave with the chief stoker for Ramses II, who will pay a liberal reward."
I shall be very glad to hear from any of the church friends. I have thought often of you and of Dr. Coats.
Regards to all,
W. J. Howell.
Death of Mrs. Spencer.
Mrs. Mabel Eliza Spencer, wife of W. G. Spencer, 10 Duane-st., died this morning from heart failure, aged 17 years, 6 months and 38 days. The funeral will be held from the house at 4:30 o'clock Monday afternoon. Aside from her husband Mrs. Spencer is survived by one child, a boy 13 months of age, by her mother Mrs. Mary Mounsey and a brother and sister, John and Mary Mounsey, all of Cortland.
Have Secured Positions.
The following students of the Cortland Business Institute have obtained positions this term: Harold Nichols, stenographer for Kellogg & Van Hoesen; Grace Delevan, stenographer for Cortland Specialty Co.; Grace Mallery, stenographer for Cortland Specialty Co.; Clara Morgan, stenographer for Cortland Specialty Co.; Lena McAuliffe, stenographer and bookkeeper for Forrest Seed Co.; Ollie Northrup, stenographer and bookkeeper for Newton & Co., Homer; Arthur Crofoot, bookkeeper for Brown's pharmacy; Alta Burleton, stenographer for Gillette's skirt factory; Lizzie Bailey, bookkeeper and stenographer for Sugar Bowl; Leo Ellis, bookkeeper and stenographer at Ellis Cab Co.
Dr. Cheney at Oswego.
Dr. F. J. Cheney assisted at a teachers' institute in Oswego Thursday. The Oswego Times of that night said: Dr. Cheney of the Cortland Normal followed Mr. Shaver with a very good discussion on the conduct of the recitation. This, he said, was the testing place of the teacher's personality, preparation and natural adaptation. He spoke on the purpose of the recitation, the matter of the recitation and the manner of the recitation.
Dr. Cheney was the first speaker of the afternoon. He made a fine address on "The Teacher's Contract." He spoke on the advance of teaching in all branches, showing the difference between what was expected of a teacher forty years ago and the requirements of the present date. Dr. Cheney returned to Cortland at 3:55 this afternoon.
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