Letter 4367 - Revision history

Brett: Text replacement - "unsympathetic" to "disagreeable"

2024-07-18T08:15:08Z

Text replacement - "unsympathetic" to "disagreeable"

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:15, 18 July 2024
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	During the night the pitching became so strong that I woke up, and was seized by fear, my heart pounding, almost feverishly. But a good glass of cognac soon had a soothing effect. I put on my coat and went out onto the deck. The night was moonlit, wonderful. Seeing how everything was in its usual order, I realised that there was absolutely nothing to be worried about. If there had been danger, naturally, the crew would have been scurrying about. The spectacle of the ocean at night under the full moon, if not raging, then still grumbling, is indescribably beautiful.		During the night the pitching became so strong that I woke up, and was seized by fear, my heart pounding, almost feverishly. But a good glass of cognac soon had a soothing effect. I put on my coat and went out onto the deck. The night was moonlit, wonderful. Seeing how everything was in its usual order, I realised that there was absolutely nothing to be worried about. If there had been danger, naturally, the crew would have been scurrying about. The spectacle of the ocean at night under the full moon, if not raging, then still grumbling, is indescribably beautiful.

	Thereafter I slept splendidly. In the morning the agitation began to decrease, and little by little turned into a gentle swell. We entered the ''Gulf Stream''; this can be felt by the fact that it suddenly became warm, like summer. The ship's passengers had fun all day. It must be said that several hundred emigrants are travelling with us; the majority are from ''Alsace''. As soon as the weather is good, they organise a ball, and it's great fun to watch them dance to the sound of the ''harmonica''. The emigrants don't look at all sad. There are 6 cocottes of the lowest sort travelling with us, under contract to one gentleman, whose enterprise this is, and who accompanies them. One of them is very attractive, and my friends from 2nd class all take advantage of her charms in turn. They have a pitiable, plucked and famished appearance. My main friend (the commis-voyageur) is successfully courting a 2nd class passenger, and has already entered into a relationship with her. When they retire to his cabin, his friends take charge of her son and nurse him. I was just invited by this cheerful gang to join them in 2nd class, and the ''commis-voyageur'' entertained me and the rest of the audience by singing frivolous couplets and caricatures of French court proceedings; he did all this with such unabashed comedy that I laughed heartily. The ~~unsympathetic~~ lady, my neighbour at the table for dinner, with whom I now inevitably have to talk, turned out to be the wife of an artist from the Boston Orchestra. Consequently, today's conversation was musical. She described things to me of interest to a musician about the Boston concerts and the local musical life. Today we encountered several sailing vessels, one huge whale emitting a luxurious fountain, and a sperm whale. But I missed them both.		Thereafter I slept splendidly. In the morning the agitation began to decrease, and little by little turned into a gentle swell. We entered the ''Gulf Stream''; this can be felt by the fact that it suddenly became warm, like summer. The ship's passengers had fun all day. It must be said that several hundred emigrants are travelling with us; the majority are from ''Alsace''. As soon as the weather is good, they organise a ball, and it's great fun to watch them dance to the sound of the ''harmonica''. The emigrants don't look at all sad. There are 6 cocottes of the lowest sort travelling with us, under contract to one gentleman, whose enterprise this is, and who accompanies them. One of them is very attractive, and my friends from 2nd class all take advantage of her charms in turn. They have a pitiable, plucked and famished appearance. My main friend (the commis-voyageur) is successfully courting a 2nd class passenger, and has already entered into a relationship with her. When they retire to his cabin, his friends take charge of her son and nurse him. I was just invited by this cheerful gang to join them in 2nd class, and the ''commis-voyageur'' entertained me and the rest of the audience by singing frivolous couplets and caricatures of French court proceedings; he did all this with such unabashed comedy that I laughed heartily. The disagreeable lady, my neighbour at the table for dinner, with whom I now inevitably have to talk, turned out to be the wife of an artist from the Boston Orchestra. Consequently, today's conversation was musical. She described things to me of interest to a musician about the Boston concerts and the local musical life. Today we encountered several sailing vessels, one huge whale emitting a luxurious fountain, and a sperm whale. But I missed them both.
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	{{right\|22/10 April 1891}}		{{right\|22/10 April 1891}}

Brett: Text replacement - "an unsympathetic" to "a disagreeable"

2024-07-18T08:13:42Z

Text replacement - "an unsympathetic" to "a disagreeable"

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:13, 18 July 2024
Line 110:		Line 110:
	I read all day, because I can't come up with anything to do besides reading. Composition is impossible. The homesickness continues to gnaw at me. When I tried to express how I feel to my friend the commis-voyageur, he said: "Et bien, à votre àge c'est assez naturel", which I was very offended by. However, he is a nice and cheerful fellow, and I chatted with him and his friends a few times today. A ''garçon'' from the smoking room invited me to take part in a bet on the number of miles travelled by 12 noon. I gave him the 5 francs demanded, and at 12.15 he brought me 50. I turned out that I had won — but how? I don't understand this.		I read all day, because I can't come up with anything to do besides reading. Composition is impossible. The homesickness continues to gnaw at me. When I tried to express how I feel to my friend the commis-voyageur, he said: "Et bien, à votre àge c'est assez naturel", which I was very offended by. However, he is a nice and cheerful fellow, and I chatted with him and his friends a few times today. A ''garçon'' from the smoking room invited me to take part in a bet on the number of miles travelled by 12 noon. I gave him the 5 francs demanded, and at 12.15 he brought me 50. I turned out that I had won — but how? I don't understand this.

	At dinner I had to conduct a conversation with ~~an unsympathetic~~ French woman sitting opposite me. There's still a week of sailing left. I'd better not express how I'm feeling. I only know that this is the last time... No, at my age you need to sit at home, closer to your people. The thought of being so far away from all my loved ones simply kills me. However, thank God, I'm completely well.		At dinner I had to conduct a conversation with a disagreeable French woman sitting opposite me. There's still a week of sailing left. I'd better not express how I'm feeling. I only know that this is the last time... No, at my age you need to sit at home, closer to your people. The thought of being so far away from all my loved ones simply kills me. However, thank God, I'm completely well.

	All last evening one ''miss'' was singing Italian romances so impertinently and abominably that I'm surprised that someone didn't say anything rude to her.		All last evening one ''miss'' was singing Italian romances so impertinently and abominably that I'm surprised that someone didn't say anything rude to her.

Brett at 12:31, 30 June 2024

2024-06-30T12:31:43Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:31, 30 June 2024
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	The night was horrible. I was tossed from side to side so much that it was almost impossible to sleep. I dozed off numerous times, and awoke at the first strong jolt. In the morning it improved, and during the day it was altogether tolerable until 4 o'clock. However, I couldn't swallow a single bite at breakfast. Then a new calamity began. Approaching the ''Bancs de sables'' near ''Terre-Neuve'' we entered a belt of thick fog, as apparently always happens here. This is what they fear most at sea, because a collision with even a small sailing ship is deadly. Our speed was reduced, and every half-hour a ''siren'' sounded — a device emitting a terrifying blare, like the roar of a colossal tiger. This had a terrible effect on my nerves. However, at the moment of writing, the fog has begun to thin, and the siren is blaring less frequently. My identity is now known on the ship, and now various gentlemen constantly come up and ask if I'm so-and-so. Whereupon the pleasantries, compliments and conversations ensue. I've acquired a mass of acquaintances, and now I can't find anywhere to walk by myself. Wherever I go, there's an acquaintance who immediately starts walking beside me and talking. What's more, they pester me to play. I decline, but it seems that I'll have to perform something in a badly drunken state in order to escape. All my thoughts are: when will this all end and when will I finally be home? I thought of nothing else today. I'm counting, thinking and dreaming about the bliss of returning.		The night was horrible. I was tossed from side to side so much that it was almost impossible to sleep. I dozed off numerous times, and awoke at the first strong jolt. In the morning it improved, and during the day it was altogether tolerable until 4 o'clock. However, I couldn't swallow a single bite at breakfast. Then a new calamity began. Approaching the ''Bancs de sables'' near ''Terre-Neuve'' we entered a belt of thick fog, as apparently always happens here. This is what they fear most at sea, because a collision with even a small sailing ship is deadly. Our speed was reduced, and every half-hour a ''siren'' sounded — a device emitting a terrifying blare, like the roar of a colossal tiger. This had a terrible effect on my nerves. However, at the moment of writing, the fog has begun to thin, and the siren is blaring less frequently. My identity is now known on the ship, and now various gentlemen constantly come up and ask if I'm so-and-so. Whereupon the pleasantries, compliments and conversations ensue. I've acquired a mass of acquaintances, and now I can't find anywhere to walk by myself. Wherever I go, there's an acquaintance who immediately starts walking beside me and talking. What's more, they pester me to play. I decline, but it seems that I'll have to perform something in a badly drunken state in order to escape. All my thoughts are: when will this all end and when will I finally be home? I thought of nothing else today. I'm counting, thinking and dreaming about the bliss of returning.

	The fog has passed, but now the pitching has started again... ~~There~~'~~s not~~ a ~~word or~~ whisper about the missing wallet.		The fog has passed, but now the pitching has started again... I haven't even heard a whisper about the missing wallet.
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	{{right\|24/12 April<br/>8 o'clock in the evening}}		{{right\|24/12 April<br/>8 o'clock in the evening}}

Brett: /* Text */

2024-04-18T20:13:05Z

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Brett: 1 revision imported

2022-07-12T12:34:58Z

1 revision imported

← Older revision	Revision as of 14:34, 12 July 2022
(No difference)

Brett at 10:11, 23 April 2020

2020-04-23T10:11:14Z

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