Титаник
Chapter 2
Hereweretelephonestoallthevitalpartsoftheship,telegraphstotheengineroomandtothefo’c’stleheadandafter-bridge;revolvingswitchesforclosingthewater-tightdoorsincaseofemergency;speaking-tubes,electricswitchesforoperatingthefoghornsandsirensallthenerves,infact,necessarytoconveyimpulsesfromthisbrainoftheshiptohervariousmembers.Behindthebridgeoneithersidewerethedoorsleadingtotheofficers’quarters;behindthemagain,theMarconiroomamysterioustemplefullofglitteringmachinesofbrass,vulcanite,glass,andplatinum,withstragglingwiresandrowsofswitchesandfuseboxes,andahighpriest,young,clean-shaven,alertandintelligent,sittingwithatelephonecapoverhishead,sendingoutorreceivingthewhispersoftheether.Behindthisopenedthegrandstaircase,animposingsweepofdecorationintheEarlyEnglishstyle,withplainandsolidpanellingrelievedhereandtherewithlovelyspecimensofdeepandelaboratecarvinginthemannerofGrinlingGibbons;theworkofthetwogreatestwood-carversinEngland.Aftofthisagainthewhitepathwayofthedeckledbythedoorsandwindowsofthegymnasium,wheretheathletesmightkeepinfinecondition;andbeyondthatthewhiteroofaboveendedandtherestwasdeck-spaceopentothesunandtheair,andperhapsalsotothesmokeandsmutsofthefourvastfunnelsthattoweredinbuffandblackintotheskyeachsovastthatitwouldhaveservedasatunnelforarailwaytrain.
