An Outing on a Coaster 
reading or to dreams; the daily discoveries 
anent the life on the deep and those who go to 
sea in ships; the tricks of the elements—these 
are factors in a vacation that probably not one 
young man in twenty thousand haseven under- 
taken. All depends, of course, on finding a 
captain who will agree to take you. 
his consent you must be prepared to undergo 
some discomforts—no more, probably, than you 
would encounter in camp—and you will get on 
much better, if you will submit to them with 
hearty goood nature, since they are inevitable 
under the circumstances. Take what bunk can 
be spared for you, do not demand pie at a table 
where flap-jacks are a luxury, do not scold and 
complain and make yourself a wonder and a 
subject for ridicule among the sailors, and if 
you have any “sporting blood” in you, the va- 
cation in the cabin and on deck of a coasting 
schooner will be one to look back upon with 
genuine satisfaction ; bearing fruits of struggles 
with the inner and the outer man. A new man, 
with appetite tutored and sharpened by de- 
nials; with a vitality and nerve force revived 
and strengthened by contact with nature in her 
most beautiful and refreshing phases; with 
power to take up and accomplish more than any 
other possible life would give ; the experience, 
like the beacon lights that have been seen send- 
ing their silver sheen over the waters, will 
illumine many an after hour. 
The expense of such an outing should be very 
moderate. The extras to be takenalong can be 
measured up by one’s own inclinations—they 
are not necessary, merely pleasurable. The 
fare that will be charged will not probably be 
more than one dollar a day, and if you can load 
up with a lot of yarns, jokes and canned 
laughter, you will be so welcome that the fare 
will become a minor consideration ; a sailor 
dearly loves a yarn, a laugh and fun of any 
sort, and it will not hurt you a bit to drop the 
“shop” and burst off afew of your own buttons 
with a roaring, old fashioned guffaw. 
Information about coasting vessels in port 
can be obtained at the Port Warden's office, 17 
South street, and from the following firms of 
ship brokers: George C. Blairs Son, 62 South 
street, Jed Frye & Co., 47 Water street ; Rack- 
ett & Bro., 62 South street; H. B. Rawson & 
Co., 45 South street; a personal call on the 
above will be better than inquiries by letter. 
In case the time for the outing is limited to a 
certain number of days, it may be wise to select 
a vessel bound for some port from which a 
If you get 
209 
return to New York can be made by direct 
steamboat line, such as New London, Provi- 
dence, Fall River, Newport, Boston or Portland. 
The possibility of fogs, headwinds or other de- 
lays will thus be discounted by the opportunity 
of returning home at once by the most econom- 
ical service. 
The Incomparable Chicago and Alton.—In these 
United States of America at least, and it is highly 
probable that throughout the entire world, the official 
record for the safety and welfare of its passengers 
made and maintained by the Chicago and Alton Rail- 
road cannot be surpassed if, indeed, it can be equaled. 
Over its completely rock-ballasted, dustless road- 
way between Chicago and Kansas City, Chicago and 
St. Louis and St. Louis and Kansas City, eighteen 
magnificently appointed express trains are run on 
uniformly fast time every day. But, in spite of 
this heavy passenger traffic, the official records show 
that from December 4, 1879, to December 4, 1890, eleven 
years, there was no passenger, who was in place asa 
passenger, killed on Chicago and Alton trains. More- 
over, there was not a passenger seriously injured, to 
the extent of losing a limb, an eye or a member of 
any kind during that time. 
During the entire period of the World’s Columbian 
Exposition in Chicago, when it was not an uncommon 
thing to find the usual passenger traffic of the road in- 
creased two, three and four-fold, and special excur- 
sion trains and extra sessions of regular trains were 
very many, there was not an accident of any kind—a 
most remarkable record. 
Besides being America’s most popular railroad, the 
Chicago and Alton is the Pioneer Dining Car Line, the 
Pioneer Pullman Sleeping Car Line and the Pioneer 
Palace Reclining Chair Car Line, and the best line 
from Chicago to Denver, Colorado and Hot Springs, 
Arkansas. 
Be sure that your ticket reads over the Chicago and 
Alton Railroad, when its matchless and direct lines 
can form the whole, or even a part of your journey. 
JAMES CHARLTON, 
General Passenger and Ticket Agent, Chicago, Il. 
Improved Train Service on West Shore Railroad.— 
Commencing Monday, June 24, the West Shore Rail- 
road inaugurates its regular summer service, which is 
greatly improved over former years, many new local 
trains having been added to the schedule. 
The Washington, Baltimore, Philadelphia, Long 
Branch, New York, Catskill Mountains, Lake Minne- 
waska, Saratoga and Lake George cars commenced 
their regular trips on this date. The local train ser- 
vice has been greatly improved. The time of the 
through buffet, drawing and sleeping-car service to 
Toronto, Detroit, Cleveland, Chicago and St. Louis 
has been greatly shortened, arrangements having been 
made to run the day coaches and baggage cars on the 
New York Central and St. Louis (limited), through 
without change. From this it will be seen it will be 
of great benefit to the patrons of this line. 
Civil Service Examination for Fish Culturist.—An 
open competitive examination to fill a vacancy in the 
position of fish culturist in the Department of the 
