1931 Handwritten Travel Journal Diary - Cunard Lancastria and Scythia

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The author of this travel diary did not write her name in the book, but she was from Yonkers, NY. On July 1st, she departed NYC on the Lancastria for a wonderful cruise through Europe and Scandanavia. (A few years later, this ship was comandeered and used as a troopship by the British. On June 17, 1940 the ship was sunk by the enemy resulting in the deaths of over 4,000 - more than that of the Titanic and Luistania combined). The countries she toured included Spain, Algiers, Italy, Monaco, Holland, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Scotland, Belgium, Holland, France, England and Ireland. The extensive cruise lasted 2 full months. She returned September 1 on the Scythia. Both ships were from the Cunard Line. Of course the author wrote of the many spectacular sights she saw. But she also commented on the people she met or saw, both on the ship and off. She was quite expressive and outspoken at times in her opinions : July 1.....What an excitement and what a thrill when the boat actually got underway! The trip down the Hudson with the N.Y. skyline set out against a full moon......I could not sleep, too tired nervously, and got up four or five times to look at the lovely path of moonlight on the water...... July 3......Last night it rained and the water dashed through some of the port holes and in some instances drenched people who had not wakened. It looked like a wild night out over the water. The ship had pitched all day and rolled all night but I escaped being sick...... July 8...... (Madeira) This morning when I wakened, something seemed different. I looked out of my porthole and saw a great rock and row boats in the harbor. Soon the boys were just below begging for coins.....The way the children are taught to beg is too pathetic. Everyhere we turned, we saw poverty and begging, and yet there were many nice houses. The difficulty seems to be that there is no middle class.... July 11 ......(Cadiz ) The people do not impress me as favorably as those in Seville. There is so much drinking at tables on the sidewalk. The children are pale and thin and the people look poor. America with Prohibition for me! .... July 13 ....(on shipboard ) We were invited for tea in the officers quarters and had the nicest kind of a time with our young officer Nunan. He showed pictures of his wife and baby and I hope we lessened his lonesomeness just a litte. He says he can't get home before October. It must be hard for these ship's officers to be away from home so long.... July 14 ...(Algiers, Africa) ....For years I had thought I would come to Europe but never have I thought I would be in Africa. It seems too strange to be true. We saw a whale spouting just before dinner.....there are some of the worst shacks and hovels I have ever seen....bodies are buried without boxes and are dug up every five years to make place for others....We saw veiled Mohammedan women and plenty of French girls and women who dress like we do.....Arabs from the desert with big turbans, capes and full trousers. Several dervish dancers went through the streets. One of the tradesmen told me they were "Allah dancers"..... July 26.. (English Channel)..... It is such a shame that American girls should smoke and drink as they do. Scarcely one of them but has a cigarette in her mouth all the time.... Aug 5....( Edinburgh).... Conditions are tragic in this city. The taxes are very high and the people show the effects of unemployment. Many of the children show undernourishment and poverty. They are not nearly so clean and fresh faced and happy as in Norway and Sweden. All the people seemed sober, hard working and no particular joy shining in their faces. I wonder if the Scotch are too serious. Aug 8 ...(Paris) ...The grave of the unknown soldier is under the Arch of Triumph. As we were standing there a company approached to lay a wreath on the grave. The man who put it on wore 21 decorations. His face was very sad and reminded me of pictures of Foch. The guide said he was probably a distinguished general. Aug 22.. (Cork... read more

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