GIRL'S UNUSUAL LIFE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22628, 16 January 1937, Page 20

GIRL'S UNUSUAL LIFE

AT SEA SINCE A BABY 1 FATHER CAPTAIN OF SHIP An unusual visitor recently to London was seven-year-old Pauline Falvesen, who, when she reached set foot on dry land for the first time since she was 15 months old, Pauline's mother is English, a native of W 7 isbech, Cambridgeshire, and her father is Norwegian. Paulino herself would pass for an English girl or a Norwegian, for she speaks both languages perfectly. She also knows a smattering of Japanese. She went to London on an eight months' visit, after having lived nearly all her life on the steamer Aelbryn, of which her father is captain.

Pauline has already been twice round the world. Her parents have accomplished that feat eight times. The last occasion on which Mrs. Falvesen left the steamer was when she came from New York to England for the birth of her daughter. Then she left Paulino with a nurse while she hurried back to the ship. She took the French steamer Desirade, sailing for Jndo-China, and between Colombo and Singapore caught up with her husband's steamer. A boat was let down for her, and from that day she has not left the Aelbryn. Pauline, who has a mass of auburn curls, was taken on board when she was 15 months old. She lives the lifo of the sailors and on the Aelbryn has been found hosing the upper deck. Her only friend besides those on board is her dog, Sandy. She has never been to school, but is not backward, her mother giving her lessons twice a day.