A “Surprise” Visit

Ladies' Mirror, Volume V, Issue 6, 1 December 1926, Page 14

A “Surprise” Visit

Life Aboard a Resplendent Pleasure Yacht

J_Jow often' have we followed the alluring adventures of our favourite screen star on board one of those graceful gliding steam yachts, all white paint and gleaming brass, that never seem quite real, but more like dream-ships. And now it has been our experience, not only to see one, but to roam all over it and see its stately rooms and its cosy corners, and we find it is real, and, what is more, it is a real home — floating homo of Mr. and Mrs. Godfrey H.

Williams, of Aberpargyn, Wales. The “Surprise” sailed quietly into the Waitemata a few weeks ago and dropped anchor off Stanley Point, which but served to accentuate its clear lines and'delicate upper structure. As we ascended the easy steps, gently lowered on the approach of our launch, and stepped on to the bare white stretch of the main promenade deck, we felt a little like a Royal entourage, albeit a trifle strange, but we soon found ourselves at ease. Perhaps it was the gracious manner of our guide, the efficient doctor-secretary. All preconceived ideas of shipboard life were banished with the first glimpse of the hostess’ sitting room, with a real coal fire

cheerfully glowing in the grate, a comfortable Elizabethan suite set about the room, and a wondrous array of China which seemed to be everywhere a cabinet of priceless Staffordshire and Warwickshire pieces on either side of the

mantel whose mirror reflected its Satsuma vases, the occasional tables and tiny shelves, each with its special attraction in books or china, the predominant thing in our eyes being a very wonderful figure, some 12 inches high, carved from a magnificent piece of jade. And we shuddered at the thought of packing all the knick-knacks every time the ship moves on, but on examination we found each precious article is carefully wired and screwed in its allotted position. In a corner by the door we noticed a business-like desk stocked with blue writing paper seemingly made to tone with all the furnishings and the blue upholstery of the suite. And so to the large and airy smoking room, which is also the office of the busy owner who finds

stacks of Home mail awaiting him on the infrequent visits to shipping ports. And from the same bright little vestibule off the main deck long “French” doors lead to the drawing room, daintily furnished in French Empire style in gilt and rose

brocade even the delicate parchment shades on the electric candles set in pairs round the walls reflect this colour scheme which appears again in the very fine treatment of the dome ceiling which, of course, provides the light for this part of the ship. Here arc more beautiful vases and many delightful pictures which we understand are all that remain in their places when at sea, for here is the slippery parquet dancing floor where many jolly evenings are spent, with the player for “orchestra.” That it is in truth a ship is brought home to us by the steep and narrow steps we must climb to the upper deck where we find the family’s favourite rooms, small in comparison with the company rooms below but comfortable in their fur-

nishings and their position, being far amidship. There is the smoking room, just large enough for a circle of men’s chairs and a table or two, yet this is not unattractive in its severe treatment, for is there not a corner cupboard full of Elizabethan pottery and an occasional jar placed just where it is not in the way of a lounging man. Here the family spend their after-dinner hours at sea, and the daughters are snug in their dainty little sitting room next door, where idle fingers

may always find occupation at the piece of tapestry slowly growing to recognition as an old English scene. And here we have the first sign of the real business of the ship the white capped officers pacing the decidedly “comfortable” looking bridge, covered in to protect them as far as possible from the stormy seas to be met on their world-wide travels. And now below again two “floors” down by a real carpeted staircase this time, lined with gold framed pictures whose painters are not often met with on the high seas —to the dining-room. Even here it is difficult to believe we are in a ship’s saloon, as the portholes are

so high up as to be cut out of the picture (and, indeed, these arc the first we have seen, and we have already grown accustomed to the square windows upstairs with their dainty curtains of net). Here are shining dark tables, and cheffoniers laden with plate and crystal, famous pictures in massive gold frames, and subdued lights set high up towards the remote ceiling. Of course our hosts must sleep, and even the bedrooms arc worthy of note real again, with beds, dressing tables and built-in-wash-stands ; wardrobes and cupboards everywhere. In the Grey Suite, known as King Leopold’s, reminiscent of his ownership of this palatial vessel, the colour is evident everywhere, with rose-coloured touches on the beds and chairs. To complete this little world of domesticity there is the maid’s room, and the peep we had disclosed two busy people iron-

ing, sewing and mending, all of which is just as important on board ship as elsewhere. Now we have a fresh reminder of our whereabouts, for each guest room is on the compact lines of a passenger boat, but yet so roomy and cosy; the high bunk has a pretty counterpane, the dressing table has a swinging mirror, and everything spells comfort, not the least being the wonderful ventilation system which provides, even in the tropics, for fresh air from outside at whatever force one desires, merely by the turning of a switch in each room. And now our tour is complete, and after a daintily served tea in the drawing-room we arc informed the launch is in readiness, and as we speed away to the city we feel that one more dream has become reality. and Mrs. Williams have recently been joined by four charmingly natural daughters, who

have come from England to continue the peregrinations of the “Surprise” in the Southern Seas before making its homeward trip towards the middle of next year. Arrangements arc now being completed by this unassuming and gracious family, with such strong predilections for the ocean wave and sport ashore, to spend several weeks camping at Lake Wanaka, Southern Westland, where deer stalking and fishing will be indulged in under most favoured conditions. The camp is being modelled on very practical and comfortable lines. The temporary canvas home will consist of over a dozen marquees and tents. TThe “Surprise” has had an interesting career. Built in Scotland in 1896 for Mr. Anthony Drexie, of Philadelphia, she was sold to the King of Belgium, who owned her

fur thirteen years. The next owners were Captain Jephron Cohen and the late Mr. F. G. Bourne, then president of the Singer Sewing Machine Company, and she was afterwards sold to the Russian Government. On the outbreak of the revolution. the crew mutinied and murdered their officers, one of whom was put to death by being roasted in the furnaces. In 1918 the Russians took the vessel to Liverpool and she was kept there till 1921, when she was taken over by the British Admiralty and used for 16 months as the Admiral's yacht in the Mediterranean. After that she was laid up in Portsmouth until 1923, when she was purchased by Mr. Williams, who is the owner of large estates in South Wales, including rich holdings in the coalfields.