CHAPTER XLVII 



THE CALL OF AMERICA 



Start for New York — Old Friends on the Titanic — Mr Theodore Myers — 

 First Money made in America — Hopes for Racing — Americans'- 

 Promises — New Friends' Kindness — Callous Snobs — Price of 

 Living — My " At Homes "- 



After the racing season was over in 1910 my health 

 had been pretty bad, and I managed to get leave for 

 two months, to be extended for a time if necessary, and 

 before Christmas I went over to Paris, for a few days, 

 undecided whether to go to Nice and then over to 

 Algiers, or to take a trip to America. As a matter of 

 fact there were no definite plans, but simply the deter- 

 mination to have a thorough ease-up when the oppor- 

 tunity was available. After being in Paris for a few 

 days I decided to go to New York — I had lived so 

 many years without ever seeing America, although I 

 had crowds of friends, and had been on an American 

 newspaper. 



So one fine morning there was that wearisome 

 journey from Paris to Cherbourg to catch the Adriatic ; 

 a more comfortable ship is not afloat. Being the off 

 season I was accommodated royally and made the 

 acquaintance of all those good fellows who were 

 destined eventually to lose their lives on the Titanic. 

 Nearly all the personnel went to the Olympic when she 

 began her runs, and they were afterwards transferred 

 to the Titanic on her maiden voyage. Poor Latimer, 

 the chief steward, was very fond of racing, and used to 

 come to my cabin every morning with a bunch of grapes, 



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