Produced by Daniel Fromont
[Transcriber's note: Helen C. BLACK, article "Mrs. Hungerford"in Notable women authors of the day (1893) 1906 edition]
OF THE DAY, By
1906
(…)
(…)
It is well worth encountering the perils of the sea, even in the middleof winter, and in the teeth of a north-east wind, if only to experiencethe absolute comfort and ease with which, in these space-annihilatingdays, the once-dreaded journey from England to the Emerald Isle can bemade. You have resolved to accept a hospitable invitation from Mrs.Hungerford, the well-known author of Molly Bawn, etc., to visit herat her lovely house, St. Brenda's, Bandon, co. Cork, where a 'heartyIrish welcome' is promised, and though circumstances prevent youravailing yourself of the 'month's holiday' so kindly offered, and limitan absence from home to but four days, it is delightful to find that,travelling by the best of all possible routes—the Irish Mail—itis to be accomplished easily and without any fatiguing haste.
Having given due notice of your intentions, you arrive at Euston justin time for the 7.15 a.m. express, and find that by the kindness of thestation-master a compartment is reserved, and every arrangement,including an excellent meal, is made for your comfort. The carriagesare lighted by electricity, and run so smoothly that it is possible toget a couple of hours' good sleep, which the very early start has madeso desirable. On reaching Holyhead at 1.30 p.m. to the minute, you aremet by the courteous and attentive marine superintendant Captain Cay,R.N., who takes you straight on board the Ireland, the newestaddition to the fleet of fine ships, owned by the City of Dublin SteamPacket Company. She is a magnificent vessel, 380 feet long, 38 feet inbeam, 2,589 tons, and 6,000 horse-power; her fine, broad bridge,handsome deck-houses, and brass work glisten in the bright sunlight.She carries electric light; and the many airy private cabins indicatethat, though built for speed, the comfort of her passengers has been amatter of much consideration. She is well captained, well officered,well manned, and well navigated. The good-looking, weather-beatenCaptain Kendall is indeed the commodore of the company, and has madethe passage for nearly thirty years. There is an unusually large numberof passengers to-day, for it is the first week of the acceleratedspeed, and it is amusing to notice the rapidity with which the mailsare shipped, on men's backs, which plan is found quicker than anyappliance. Captain Cay remarks that it is no uncommon thing to shipseven hundred sacks on foreign mail days; he says, too, that neversince these vessels were started has there been a single accident tolife or limb. But the last bag is on board, steam is up, and away goesthe ship past the South Stack lighthouse, built on an island underprecipitous cliffs, from which a gun is fired when foggy, and in aboutan hour the Irish coast becomes visible, Howth and Bray Head. The seagets pretty rough, but luckily does not interfere with your excellentappetite for the first-class refreshments supplied. The swift-revolvingpaddles churn the big waves into a thick fo