Титанік
Chapter 4
Thusmostoftheberthswereforward,immediatelybehindthefo’c’stle,somewererightaft;thedining-roomwasamidships,andthesmoke-roomintheextremestern,overtherudder;andtoenjoyasmokeorgameofcardsathird-classpassengerwhowasberthedforwardwouldhavetowalkthewholelengthoftheshipandbackagain,awalknotfarshortofhalfamile.Thisgivesoneanideaofhowmuchmoretheshipresembledatownthanahouse.Athird-classpassengerdidnotwalkfromhisbedroomtohisparlour;hewalkedfromthehousewherehelivedintheforwardpartoftheshiptotheclubaquarterofamileawaywherehewastomeethisfriends.
If,thinkingoftheTitanicstormingalongwestwardacrosstheAtlantic,youcouldimaginehertobesplitinhalffrombowtosternsothatyoucouldlook,asonelooksatthesectionofahive,uponallhermanifoldlifethussuddenlylaidbare,youwouldfindinheramicrocosmofcivilizedsociety.Uponthetoparetherulers,surroundedbytherichandtheluxurious,enjoyingthebestofeverything;alittlewaybelowthemtheirservantsandparasites,ministeringnotsomuchtotheirnecessitiesastotheirluxuries;lowerdownstill,attheverybaseandfoundationofall,thefierceandterriblelabourofthestokeholds,wheretheblackslavesareshovellingandshovellingasthoughfordearlife,endlesslypouringcoalintofurnacesthatdevoureditandyeteverdemandedanewsupplyhorriblelabour,joylesslife;andyetthelabourthatgiveslifeandmovementtothewholeship.
