Chapter 6

           Informationlikethis,however,onlyconcernedthelittlegroupofexecutiveofficerswhotooktheirturnsintrampingupanddownthewhitegratingsofthebridge.Itwasallpartoftheirroutine;itwaswhattheyexpectedtohearatthistimeoftheyearandinthispartoftheocean;therewasnothingspeciallyinterestingtotheminthegossipofthewirelessvoices.Whatevertheyheard,wemaybesuretheydidnottalkaboutittothepassengers.Forthereisoneparamountruleobservedbytheofficersofpassengerliners­andthatistomakeeverythingaspleasantaspossibleforthepassengers.Ifthereisanydanger,theyarethelasttohearofit;ifanythingunpleasanthappensonboard,suchasanaccidentoradeath,knowledgeofitiskeptfromasmanyofthemaspossible.Whatevermaybehappening,shortofanapparentandobviousextremity,itisthedutyoftheship’scompanytohelpthepassengertobelievethathelivesandmovesandhashisbeinginakindofParadise,atthedoorsofwhichtherearenolurkingdangersandinwhichhappinessandpleasurearethefirstdutiesofeveryinhabitant.

           Andwhowerethepeoplewhocomposedthepopulationofthisjourneyingtown?Subsequenteventsmadetheirnamesknowntous­vastlistsofnamesfillingcolumnsofthenewspapers;buttothemajoritytheyarenamesandnothingelse.Hardlyanyonelivingknewmorethanadozenofthempersonally;andtryaswemayitisveryhardtoseethem,astheirfellowvoyagersmusthaveseenthem,asindividualhumanbeingswithrecognizablefacesandcharactersoftheirown.