A Letter Written on Feb 2, 1901

Norddeutscher Lloyd
Bremen

Dampfer, "Keiser Wilhelm II"
Hohenzollern
Feb. 2, 1901

My dear Hattie,

The first attempt, worthy of the name, just off the Azores. We expect to sight the islands to-day and so begin to feel "on the other side" at last. This has been a typical winter trip, I fancy, so far. No smooth seas have we seen. We have had one fine day! Last Thursday we appeared as they picture the European braveth [?] "on a pleasure trip to the Orient."

Everybody was out to meals, dressed up & promenading the deck in the proper style, but that was one day and we have been on board one week - exactly. Lou. is a capital sailor. She has hardly felt the qualms!

It seems so long ago since last Sat. that I hardly know where to begin in the history.

I believe I did not inform you that we are on the steamer that has been dubbed "The Rolling Willie," and it is bearing out its reputation "to a T." We roll & we pitch, but this steamer unlike the old Pennland does not squeal every few seconds, so I can stand it. Possibly this nickname has been the case of the renaming of the Kaiser Wilhelm II[.] Mrs. Judge Grinnell of Greenfield & Miss or Mrs. Ripley & a Miss Russell are on board. I have not met Miss G. but have chatted with the Ripley women. They are to sojourn in Naples a while at a Hotel not far from the Pint-Store Pension[.] They could not get a Baedeker of Southern Hertz [?] & so was she was attracted to mine this morn. & that set us talking.

I am writing in the upper saloon and sometimes the ink bottle of my neighbor tips dangerously near me. I am thankful to have a fountain pen.

Lou comes in from the deck and announces that land is in sight so I will only say one word more & join the crowd on deck who are shouting one to another "Land in Sight." - One thinks of Columbus!

The lady near me is trying to find out how to spell "orthodox" & is having a hard time of it - Mrs. Mead has hardly been out of her berth - Let me tell you the richest thing yet! Her baggage is marked as from Mt. Holyoke College So. Hadley Mass - on the new tags I sent her for the trip.

Goodbye C

9 P.M. After lunch we all repaired to the forward deck and for three hours watched the island of San Miguel pass before us as a panorama. I feel as tho' I had seen "a dream of beauty" pass - There is no describing the scene, but a perfect afternoon with the sun gradually leaving the scene sinking at last and the moon coming out will give you the idea of the lights on the picture.

Look up the Azores on the lamp shade and think of lofty peaks standing up out of the ocean, covered with a marvelous granite to the summit - read in the atlas or encyclopedia about the luxuriant vegetation & then use your imagination and then come & see the islands! Lou & I think of taking up our abode here - a little later.

Well, we are soon to see Gibraltar! Mrs. Mead has landed there before now & so will probably not land this time. You ought to hear Mrs. M. talk of college affairs just as tho' she were still a part of it & had the "say."

Get a souvinir [sic] of our play, which I let Dr. Dole take, & you will see what the girls gave us two weeks ago to-night. There is something about the sea serpent in it & that is our nickname for her.

Lou has nicknamed, according to her wont, all the passengers & we have a rich lot - There is Kid McCoy the prize fighter, the catholic priest, the plover, the red frog, the broom beard, the manicure &c, &c

The service on board this boat is fine. The stewards are and table waiters are all Germans young fellows who speak little English, and we have great fun trying our words on them. There is the "cherub", the "Emperor" &c they all amuse Lou very much indeed.

The wonderful facility with which they keep themselves & their dishes right side up is fascinating to her.

We have had the racks on the table all the time during this voyage so far. We rather hope that the sea will keep calmer during the rest of the time. Our boat is a rather slow one, but we like her, or I do much better than the old Pennland of '86[.] The Queen's funeral took place to-day, I suppose Mrs. Mead is troubled because the Captain of this boat did not keep the flag at half mast to-day. I have not read one word about the affairs connected with the Queen's death or the King's coming to the throne. You may have to keep some old papers for me to peruse next fall, as no one can ever find the things that are written at the time of such an event.

Sunday A.M. A lovely day. I suppose our steamer was reported off the Azores yesterday & it would be in the N.Y. papers this morning. but as the Gazette came out Sat. I fear you will not know of it. It is so warm this morn that I am sitting on deck without the sign of a wrap on me - not a hat even.

Lou and I have been reading a ribbon letter sent by the Porter Hall girls - all full of jokes - I am reading Guide Book quite constantly now.

Remember to write me if the package from So. Hadley gets to you all right - & if you get the souvinir [sic] for Dr. Dole &c, &c. I will settle for expenses later -

I would like to know where father is these days - Cornelia

I trust this letter will not over weigh -