Submitted by scott on Thu, 10/06/2011 - 11:18

With this chapter we hear of the many diversions offered passengers: Horse billiards (shuffleboard), journal writing, Magic Lantern shows, dancing on a rolling deck, mock trials and charades. What I think to be the most interesting point in this chapter is the observation of the executive officer: "There they are, down there every night at eight bells, praying for fair winds—when they know as well as I do that this is the only ship going east this time of the year, but there's a thousand coming west—what's a fair wind for us is a head wind to them—the Almighty's blowing a fair wind for a thousand vessels, and this tribe wants him to turn it clear around so as to accommodate one—and she a steamship at that! It ain't good sense, it ain't good reason, it ain't good Christianity, it ain't common human charity. Avast with such nonsense!"

Reading Date
July 26, 2011
SL Venue
Fate Gardens

Twain Chapter Comments