BALLROOM SCENE ON A LINER.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 10439, 19 April 1912, Page 2

BALLROOM SCENE ON A LINER.

.Appearing like a hugo floating ballroom, -with passengers in evening clothes, the Ctinard liner Lusitania departed for England from New York on February 28, writes the correspondent of tho ' Standard," introducing a revised sailing schedule wliich is expected to land tho passengers in London in time for luncheon on Monday afternoons, with plenty of-time in the caso of those going to Paris to catch tha 2.20 p.m. boat train for Paris. Henceforward tho Lusitania, Mauretania, and Campania will sail regularly at the same early hour (1 a.m. K Instead of at 9 a.m. as previously. They aro enabled to do so by tho Government's innovation of lighting the Ambrose channel, the exit from New York harbour, making navigation by night as safe as in the davtime.

Tim new sailings really cut tho time between Now York and London tiy onethird of a day. Tho Lusitania's departure almost assumed tho importance of a society event, and the Ounard pier on Wednesday mornings may develop into a distinctive feature of Now York life. There were 325 saloon passengers, a largo proportion of whom arrived direct from the opera, tlm theatres, or- private da-noos. There was a long procession of motor-carH depositing handsomely gowned women, laden with jewels, with escorts in immaculate evening clothes. Tho women paraded tho vessel's deck with their operacloaks swinging in tho wind, while a general air of midnight gaiety proAn omnibus drove on to tho pier with nine jovial youths in evening clothes seated outride, wliilo inside were a dozen men and women como to bid them " bon voyage." Tho women, dressed in tho latest Parisian, gowns, were all singing, and one little blondo removed her satin slipper and threw it at tho Lusit.ania.j_ shouting, "Good luck!" Mr Lancaster, tho purser, caught tho dainty (shoe- and carried it away, remarking that ho intended to keep it as a mascot. A dainty buffet supper was served in the saloon of the Lusitania from 9 p.m. onward, and it will be made one of the features of the early morning sailings It will consist of hot and cold dishes during tho winter, altered exclusively to cold delicacies when tho hot summer nights arrive. Tho Lusitania's twotiered dining-room was profusely decorated with flowers, and M. Emile liertrand, tho Lusitania's chef, presided at tho principal of tho four tables, whore th c . collation was served. It is possible that other lines will be compelled to follow the example of tho Onward Company.