HAMLYN'S MENAGERIE MAGAZINE. 
SHORE DINNER 
2 Dollars (8/4). 
Crab Flakes. Bridge Water Inn. 
Steamed Clams. Bridge Water Sauce. 
Broiled Bluefish. 
Broiled Maine Lobster. 
Maryland Chicken. 
French Peas. Hashed Browned Potatoes. 
Green Corn Waffles and Maple Syrup. 
Watermelon. 
Creme Mocha Coffee. 
This occupied some two hours., and was 
served by a very smart coloured waiter. He anti- 
cipated our every want and requirements, and I 
place on record here that his serving was excellent. 
He has my best wishes. 
IMPRESSIONS OF! NEW YORK. 
I have already spoken of its wonderful sky- 
scrapers. The Statue of Liberty, emblematical 
of Freedom, pointing at the most hybrid cosmo- 
politan city in the world — New York. Its Tube 
and Overhead Railways, Tramcars, with young 
and old hanging on by their eyelids all round 
outside. It water fronts, piers, and wonderful 
ferries. One ferry in particular if it could only be 
shewn to the admiring London Bridge crowd 
going down stream, would cause a complete 
stoppage of traffic on our Old Bridge by the 
crowds assembled. The Lightermen of the Port 
of London would also be interested by the New 
York waterbourne traffic. 
The barges are generally run in couples with 
the tug between. I counted 32 enormous railway 
trucks on two barges. This would mean at least 
48 English trucks. These are brought fully loaded 
alongside the various steamers and discharged 
with wonderful rapidity. Oh ! you gentle Lighter- 
men of the Port of London ! What would you do 
with a complete railway train on one of your 
barges? The river traffic of New York alone is 
worth a visit. The Officials who attend the ar- 
rival of steamers in their respective duties are the 
essence of politeness. They do their utmost to 
relieve the weary passenger of all worries. The 
Longshoremen or Stevedores are as fine a body 
of men as you could find anywhere. I will not 
draw any comparison with our English Dockers; 
I might offend them. 
And now I bring my New York visit to a 
close, with great regret, of nine days well spent. 
On Monday, July 9th, we embarked on the s.s. 
"Baltic," leaving the Port at seven p.m. There 
were some 1,200 American tropps with about 200 
passengers. One American destroyer escorted us 
for two days out to sea. 
On Thursday, July 12th, we had Regulation 
Boat Drill. The ship's order was as follows : — 
"A general Boat Muster will be held to- 
morrow afternoon at 4 o'clock for passengers, 
Troops and Crew. All passengers are requested 
to muster at their boats wearing lifebelts. The 
usual signal, five blasts on the steamer's whistle, 
will be given." 
Boat Muster is always a very anxious time. 
No matter what advice' and instructions are given, 
there are always certain passengers who' make use- 
less enquiries, and suggest what they consider 
improved regulations. One gentleman in particu- 
lar who expressed great disdain for wearing a 
lifebelt, and who stated that he had* no> fear of 
the water was, on our entering the danger zone, 
found fully dressed, overcoat, lifebelt and pillow, 
asleep on the stairs leading to the Boat Deck. 
His courage had evaporated ! He was taking no 
chances ! He created a feeling of unrestfulness 
amongst all the other passengers. 
The five blasts came earlier than was 
expected. They caught me and others unprepared. 
Still we went in every conceivable kind of costume. 
Children, women, old men, and young men, was 
to be the order of entering the boats. What the 
order would have been with 1,200 young Ameri- 
cans on board I leave my readers to judge. Many 
of them had never seen the sea before. To add 
to the varied pleasures of the voyage, the Com- 
manding Officer of the Troops placed fully armed 
men on sentry all round the rails of the steamer. 
They expected a submarine on the crest of every 
wave and were instructed to shoot it. I am pleased 
to be able to record that they were all disappointed. 
Not one appeared, for which they were devoutly 
thankful. The Regiment was certainly very well 
behaved. They were of a very superior class. I 
wish these 1,200 men a safe return to their native 
country. May they come out of the war with 
very few casualties. 
For the next few days we were in the Gulf 
Stream. 
On Wednesday, July 18th, our escort picked 
us up early in the morning — two first-class 
American destroyers which accompanied us to 
Liverpool. We disembarked at the landing stage 
early Friday morning, arriving at Euston Station 
5.30 Friday evening, after 31 of the most strenu- 
ous days of my life. 
Of Bird Life I saw very little — Seagulls, and 
a species of diving duck when off the coast of 
Ireland. 
To the wearied and jaded Londoner I recom- 
mend a trip to New York and back. It is full 
of possibilities. You can have all the excite- 
ment you want. Besides it might turn out a 
tragedy. 
The arrangements on the good steamer " Bal- 
tic" are up-to-date — a very steady ship and an 
excellent crew. 
I left London, Tuesday, 19th June, being the 
day before Alexandra Rose Day. My wife pinned 
a bloom in my buttonhole, and during the whole 
