Chapter 4

           Wonderful,evenforexperiencedtravellers,isthatfirstwakingtoadayonwhichthereshallbenosightoftheshore,andthefirstofseveraldaysofisolationintheworldofaship.Thereisaqualityinthemorningsunshineatseaasitstreamsintotheshipandisreflectedinthewhitepaintandsparklingwaterofthebath-rooms,andinthebreezethatblowscoolandpurealongthecorridors,thatislikenothingelse.ThecompanyontheTitanicwokeuponFridaymorningtobegininearnesttheirfourdaysofisolatedlife.Ourtraveller,whohasfoundoutsomanythingsabouttheship,hasnotfoundouteverythingyet;andhecontinueshisexplorations,withtheadvantage,perhaps,ofaspecialpermitfromtheCaptainorChiefEngineertoexploreotherquartersofthefloatingcitybesidesthatinwhichhelives.Letus,withhim,trytoformsomegeneralconceptionoftheinternalarrangementsoftheship.

           Thegreatsuperstructureofdecksamidshipswhichcatchestheeyesoprominentlyinapictureorphotograph,wasbut,inreality,asmallpart,althoughthemostluxuriouspart,ofthevessel.Speakingroughly,onemightdescribeitasconsistingofthreedecks,fivehundredfeetlong,devotedalmostexclusivelytotheaccommodationoffirst-classpassengers,withtheexceptionoftheofficers’quarters(situatedimmediatelyaftofthebridgeonthetopdeckofall),andthesecond-classsmoking-roomandlibrary,attheafterendofthesuperstructureonthethirdandfourthdecks.