Harper's New Monthly Magazine, Vol. V, No. XXV, June, 1852Various
General
Harper's New Monthly Magazine, Vol. V, No. XXV, June, 1852
Various
American literature -- Periodicals; Civilization -- Periodicals; Culture -- Periodicals
"Oh!" said a gentleman this morning, as he looked out sadly upon the
gloomy spectacle, "that is a fine song to sing _upon the land_." As
our ship incessantly rises and plunges over these heavy swells, we
become excessively weary of the ceaseless motion, even though no
nausea is excited. One is often reminded of Madame de Stäel's remark,
that "traveling is the most painful of pleasures." Still, by reading
a little, writing a little, talking a little, and thinking much, time
passes quite rapidly. There are moments of exhilaration. There are
hours of contentment. There are many hours of submissive endurance. Now
and then there will come moments of sickness, and pain, and gloom, very
nearly approaching to misery. It, is perhaps, not well to introduce the
reader into these dark chambers of the soul. But, if unintroduced the
untraveled can not know what life upon the ocean is. This evening we
plunged quite suddenly into a dense fog-bank. No one can imagine a more
desolate and dreary scene than the ocean now presents. The rain falls
dripping upon the deck. The fog is so thick that you can see but a few
feet before you. The stormy wind directly ahead, wails through our
moaning shrouds. The sky is black and threatening. The angry waves with
impotent fury dash against the sides of the ship. The gloom without is
delightfully contrasted with the cheerful scene within. The saloon is
brilliantly illuminated. Groups of ladies and gentlemen are gathered
upon the sofas, some reading, some talking, some playing various games.
Saturday Night, Mar. 27. Lat. 50° 56'. Long. 30° 54'.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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