On the first morning of the voyage, the vessel ran into a nasty choppy sea, which steadily grew worse. There were twenty-five passengers at the captain’s table for dinner, and he addressed them in an amiable welcoming speech:
“I hope that all twenty-five of you will have a pleasant trip.” The soup appeared, and he continued: “I sincerely hope that this little assembly of twenty-four will thoroughly enjoy the voyage. I look upon these twenty-two smiling faces as a father upon his family, for I am responsible for the safety of this group of seventeen. And now I ask that all fourteen of you join me in drinking to a merry trip. Indeed, I believe that we eight are most congenial, and I applaud the good fortune that brought these three persons to my table. You and I, my dear sir, are—— Here, steward, clear away all those dishes, and bring me the fish.”
* * *
The pair on their honeymoon were crossing the Channel, and the movement of the waves seemed to be going on right inside the bride. In a fleeting moment of internal calm she murmured pathetically to the bridegroom in whose arms she was clasped:
“Oh, Jimmy, Jimmy, do you love me?”
“My darling!” he affirmed. “You know I love you with all my heart and soul—I worship you, I adore you, my precious oontsy-woontsy!”
The boat reeled, and a sickening pang thrilled through all the foundations of the bride’s being.
“O dear, O dear!” she gasped. “I hoped that might help a little, but it didn’t—not a bit!”
* * *
The seasick voyager on the ocean bowed humbly over the rail and made libation to Neptune. The kindly old gentleman who stood near remarked sympathetically:
“You have a weak stomach.”
The victim paused in his distressing occupation to snort indignantly:
“Weak? Humph! I guess I can throw as far as anybody on this ship.”
* * *
The wife of the seasick passenger was about to leave the stateroom for dinner. She inquired of her husband solicitously:
“George, shall I have the steward bring some dinner to you here?”
“No,” was the reply, haltingly given between groans.
“But I wish, my dear, you would ask him to take it on deck and throw it over the rail for me.”
* * *
The moralizing gentleman at the club remarked ponderously:
“If there is anything in a man, travel will bring it out.”
One who had just landed from a rough crossing agreed bitterly:
“Especially ocean travel.”