Etiquette for Steam Ship Passengers

‘Do you remember my cousin who crossed with you in the spring of ‘95?’

 

WHAT NOT TO ASK THE CAPTAIN

“The annual rush of tourists back and forth over the Atlantic has begun,” said a liner’s captain, “and I am hardening myself to stand the usual ten tourist questions.

“There are ten questions that every tourist who can get near enough puts to me. You'll put them to me if you ever cross on my ship. I have been asked these ten questions 3,764,952 times. They are:

1. ‘Were you ever shipwrecked?’
2. ‘Any whales in this latitude?’
3. ‘How deep is the water here?’
4. ‘What tips are usually given, and to whom?’
5. ‘How many times have you crossed the Atlantic?’
6. ‘What is the best remedy for seasickness?’
7. ‘Why are you always painting this ship?’
8. ‘Will you let me come up on the bridge some time?’
9. ‘Do you remember my cousin who crossed with you in the spring of ‘95?’
10. ‘I suppose the passengers ask you a great many stupid questions, don't they?’”—Philadelphia Bulletin, 1910

🍽Etiquette Enthusiast, Maura J Graber, is the Site Editor for the Etiquipedia© Etiquette Encyclopedia