Титанік
Chapter 2
Suchapalaceasagreatartist,agreatepicure,agreatpoetandthemostspoiltandpamperedwomanintheworldmighthaveconjuredupfromtheirimaginationinanidlehourwasherematerializedandset,notinafixedlandscapeofparkandwoodland,butonthedustlessroadofthesea,withthesunshineofanEnglishAprilpouringinoneveryside,andthefreshsaltairsoftheChannelfillingeverycornerwithtonicoxygen.
Cataloguesofmarvelsandmeredescriptionsofwondersaretiresomereading,andproducelittleeffectonthemind;yetifwearetorealizethefullsignificanceofthisstoryoftheTitanic,wemustbeginasherpassengersbegan,withanimpressionofthelavishluxuryandbeautywhichwasthesettingoflifeonboard.Andwecandonobetterthanfollowinimaginationthefootstepsofoneidealvoyagerashemusthavediscovered,piecebypiece,thewondersofthisfloatingpleasurehouse.
IfhewasawisetravellerhewouldhaveclimbedtothehighestpointavailableastheshippasseddowntheSolent,andthatwouldbetheboat-deck,whichwasafterwardstobethestageofsotragicadrama.Attheforwardendofitwasthebridgethatsacredareapavedwithsnow-whitegratingsandfurnishedwithmanybrightly-polishedinstruments.
