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Subject: Diary of Elisabeth Koren - 52-59
Date: Sun, 3 Aug 2003 09:25:43 -0700
Acknowledgment
The following selection is taken from "The Diary of Elisabeth Koren"
translated and edited by David T. Nelson and published by the
Norwegian-American Historical Association (NAHA) in 1955. The Volume is
still in print and available from NAHA at http://www.naha.stolaf.edu
where you will also find the first 33 volumes of Studies and Records
online as well as Theodore C. Blegen's 2 volumes on Norwegian Migration
to America. This chapter is published with the kind permission of NAHA.
The book this selection is drawn from is under copyright and permission
has been granted for educational purposes and it is not to be used in any
way for commercial purposes.
Wednesday, November 16. The sun was already shining through the little
porthole and down through the glass in the deck above, when I awakened
after sleeping all night without interruption. Yes, Vilhelm was still
sleeping, and since his watch had stopped and I had no idea of the time,
I let him sleep and hurried through my toilet. When I went in for a glass
of water as usual, I found almost everyone at the coffee table. I hurried
in again and roused my lord consort, who asked me, a little peevishly,
why I had not awakened him earlier. My excuse had to be that the watch
had stopped; I felt that he could still get there in time. I went in,
drank my coffee, buttered some bread for V., and had just poured a cup of
coffee to take to him when he appeared. That was fast work.
We were pleased with the good wind and fine weather, but were annoyed by
the dirty fat girl who, unabashed, came and sat down by the doctor's wife
as she was winding yarn near the ladies' saloon, and also by the doctor's
wife for always tolerating the girl near her. {9} "The old one," too, has
advanced from below to windward. V. wrote and I took out my knitting and
Alhambra.
I have just been on deck to breathe the fresh air, and found there the
same intimate group that had vexed us below. Mrs. Popp has progressed as
far as her doorway and lies on the floor with Kihn; but it does not look
as though the fair wind will be able to brighten her pitiful face. Now
the usual entertainment begins as Jean is placed in a corner to learn a
verse by heart. But he proves to be lazy. The doctor scolds, and the
whole scene ends, as usual, in tears.
The day is now so far advanced that a lamp is lit; we have a lamp again,
fortunately; we are burning sweet oil. V., who has just finished a fine
speech for Arthur, is reading. Kihn crochets and has a headache. Z.
smiles and knits. Franciska and Jean quarrel and fight. Küsler sits
puzzling her brain over a crocheting design. The captain and his wife lie
on the floor, sleeping, I think. The doctor and his wife sit in the
darkened part of the room; he has his arm about her neck, she strokes him
caressingly under the chin. I cannot see Mr. G., but I can hear him
behind the mast, entertaining himself with Anna and asking her whether
her name is Anna Boll or Anna Weber, which has been the moot question
since we came aboard. Juul comes in, puts his cap on the stove, stands a
moment by one of the sofas, goes into his cabin for a moment, then takes
his cap and goes out again.
Verily the cookbook has appeared again; it passes all bounds. It is Kihn
and Zeplin. The former's headache apparently goes away when she becomes
stimulated --- as she always does when the talk is about food. The day
has passed as usual. We ate a good dinner in peace --- sat so long at the
table that it was too late to start the whist game. The dominoes began to
move again. I took a chair in a corner and let my thoughts wander off to
Alhambra. Then there was coffee, and then it became dark. V. went on
deck, but came back, sat down, and began to sing; and so the time passed
until the lamp was lit.
Thursday, November 17. 1 was so late today that V. had to bring me my
coffee and rusks. The wind, thank God, is fair today, too, and that has a
cheering influence upon all save Mrs. Popp, who sits with just as many
wrinkles in her brow as ever and, after the captain has gone out, asks
Mr. Giering, with her usual anxiety, when we may expect to reach port and
how the barometer is. She is sitting in her corner with Miss Kihn by her
side; the latter has borrowed Dickens' Christmas Carol, with which she is
now occupied. {10} I really believe she finds it more interesting to
braid Anna's hair in little pigtails all over her head than to pore over
a book of which she does not understand a word, according to V.'s
opinion. Mr. Giering, who is always willing to make himself useful, is
writing something for the captain. The rest of the company is on deck,
although the prospect is not very inviting, for the day is gray and wet.
Friday, November 18. Yesterday was really a festive day. At the noon meal
the captain ordered the steward to prepare a punch for the evening. But
we had codfish, anyway. Most of us are satisfied with potatoes and butter
when we have that. We went into our cabin. V. was reading some of his
notes to me when we heard the conversation become very animated in the
saloon and went in to see what it was about. We found Juul surrounded by
all the passengers, holding a pretty little waterfowl in his hand; it had
fallen upon the deck and he had clapped his cap over it. Since it was
wounded in the breast, it was sentenced to die and thereafter to be
stuffed and mounted. Amidst the excitement, meanwhile, coffee had been
brought in, and we seated ourselves at the table. I can hardly remember
when everything has had such a cozy, homelike appearance. All were in a
cheerful mood. We sat about for a time, each one at his task, and
afterward went on deck until the light was lit.
The evening passed as usual until supper, consisting of stewed codfish,
was brought in. Later we had punch. It was very good and was soon gone.
The captain ordered more, together with small biscuits, raisins, and
almonds, whereat the steward looked anything but pleased. Healths were
drunk, the captain's, "Miss Bride's," etc. First, songs were sung by
those who knew any. Then it was decided that all were to sing, whether
they knew any or not, under penalty of forfeit. Juul, assisted by V.,
sang "King Christian." Then "the old one" came trembling forth and
bleated something, I know not what. The doctor, too, offered his best in
a song and the company found it very entertaining. Franciska, accompanied
by her mother, sang "Freut euch des Lebens." {11} Each one offered his
mite save three stiff-necked persons, of whom I was one. Forfeits were
required, but we were graciously exempted from redeeming them. Then they
sang with great earnestness and with tears in their eyes "Du, du liegst
mir im Herzen," or whatever it is. {12} V. sang with them, the most
pitiful expression on his face.
Juul took his cup (on board ship one uses what one has), went over to the
captain and said a few words, half German and half Danish, of which the
sense was that he wished to drink the captain's health, whereupon he came
over and asked V. to join him in a song for the skaal. Together they sang
"Og dette skal være." {13} Juul shouted "Hurrah!" so that the rafters
rang and afterwards drank with us all. He was in high spirits, and
laughed in chorus with "the old one," who became so gay that she sang
incessantly and began to propose what game we should play, when the talk
turned to that problem. Fortunately, her proposal was rejected, but it
was certainly just as good as the one that was accepted. This consisted
of saying some nonsense which each one was to repeat, with a forfeit if
he failed. This is a great favorite here, and each outdoes the other in
coining words which do not belong to any language and are almost
impossible to pronounce.
We were in full swing when the mate stuck his head in the door and said,
"Herr Kapitän! Regen and Brise." {14} The captain went out and the women
became uneasy. "What is 'Brise'?" asked the doctor's wife, who has no
more idea than the man in the moon about such things. They recovered
quickly, however, when they understood what it was, and became just as
merry as ever. The captain returned and the sport went on anew. "Es war
ein grüner Jäger," etc. {15} Juul was witty. The banal forfeits were
redeemed and the captain kissed Kihn. despite much opposition on her
part, all to the great merriment of that agreeable audience who remained
at the doorways of their cabins. Thus the evening passed, and a part of
the night, too, for it must have been almost one o'clock before we got to
bed.
Today the sea is smooth and there is a calm. What little wind there is,
is not of the best. We are only a score of miles from New York. If we
could just get a little breeze soon! It is gray and damp again today; but
I have been on deck awhile this forenoon, nevertheless, and watched two
sailing vessels.
We had sat down, the captain and his wife, Giering, V., and I, around the
table near the stove and were struggling with Giering's knot when there
was a knock at the door. {16} "Come in!" But no one came. V. went over
and opened the door and there stood the ship's painter. He came in, went
up to the captain, and began to mumble something to the effect that the
pharmacist had threatened to throw a wine bottle in his face and in
several ways had insulted him. I thought he was drunk, but this was not
true; he stammers badly and has a disagreeable voice. The captain went
out. Then the door opened again and that disgusting pharmacist, after a
couple of vain attempts, came in so drunk that he could scarcely stand on
his feet, and began to abuse the painter and the other men. The captain
came back at last and took him out. The painter remained and ate dinner
and is now playing whist.
The past two days have been more pleasant; it is cleaner and neater in
the saloon. All are up and well. The doctor's wife, wisely enough, keeps
on deck for the most part. Zeplin and Küsler walk in turn with the
patient brother-in-law. {17} Küsler has been in and out, smiling
constantly, wrapped up in her pretty traveling costume, and now has found
refuge on one of the sofas with her blue stockings and Don Carlos, which
is brought along for appearance's sake, for it is certainly not there to
be read. The lamp has just been lit. We are lucky to have it.
Across the table from me (I am sitting in my usual place close to the
mast) sits the doctor's wife playing with Anna. "Fatty" leans against the
chair behind her, and waits to put Anna to bed. Madam Zeplin sits there,
too, with her everlasting embroidery, which she thinks troubles her eyes
less than reading. That is a puzzle to me. Franciska sits by her, quiet
for a change, and is ruining a pair of scissors by cutting holes in wood.
Jean stands beside her, without quarreling, and amuses himself by trying
on a three-cornered paper hat from all angles. Kihn and Mrs. Popp have
vanished into the darkness of the captain's cabin, and no doubt find it
interesting to lie on the bed there, for they do not come back. The
doctor is lying down because of a headache. The other men have a light at
the other end of the table and are playing whist. Juul stands watching
them, as usual. Arthur is chased to bed crying, while Emil stands very
serious and attentive and observes the players. That is the picture here
this evening. The ship is steady, of course, since the scene has this
appearance, and God grant that we may have a good wind tonight.
Saturday, November 19. I was not quite through with my toilet this
morning when V., who at last was awake, said, "We must be getting the
pilot; I thought the mate told the captain that just now." I hurried in
and found the captain there. The pilot had come and American newspapers
lay on the table. I went back with that news and eagerly seized the
newspapers in hope of finding something from Europe, but in vain; every
thing except that. I was very curious to see this first Yankee, but was
much disappointed, when he came in to drink a cup of coffee, to find,
instead of a seaman, a man in a light gray coat and immense collar who
looked more like a country squire. Our quiet English pilot, with his
knowing smile, was something quite different. We went on deck; there was
nothing but thick fog and it was wet and unpleasant, and so I soon went
below.
The women are in a radiant mood. Madam Zeplin's face is one big smile
with her teeth the center of it. "Miss Bride" is somewhat quiet and
languishing, naturally enough, I think. It is not an easy matter to make
a voyage to New York to be married. Presumably the steward is very glad
at the prospect of being rid of us soon, but he expresses his joy very
generously by serving us delicacies; thus we had excellent butter and
biscuits for coffee this morning and pork chops for breakfast. After we
had finished the chops, the pilot went on deck. The captain, who remained
seated awhile, suddenly became uneasy and sprang to his feet. Something
seemed to be wrong. V. dashed into our room and looked out, and called to
let me know that we were very near land. We had been aground for a
moment, but fortunately had slipped free again. Whether it was only the
fog that was responsible for this, I do not know.
We have now had our first glimpse of America --- Long Island. It reminded
me a little of England --- the same grayish-white rock; but it was too
cold and raw outside to enjoy the view. It is fairly calm again today. I
wish the fog would blow away, so that we might catch a glimpse of the
beauty of the famous harbor.
Sunday, November 20. Today at last we arrived at Staten Island, but, to
our great disgust, had to drop anchor and await further orders. The
reason was that all the steerage passengers had to appear before the
doctor to show that they were well, and all did so, in fact, save two
tiresome persons who would not stir from their beds. One was faint from
seasickness and had a swollen cheek, the other was sick from having eaten
too much, with the result, it was said, that when the doctor saw them
lying abed in broad daylight he thought they were very sick, and we had
to stay in quarantine. Now there was grief and confusion; and most
annoyed of all was our good friend Mr. Giering, who had believed so
firmly that he would be able to sleep in New York tonight. The captain
went ashore and we passed the evening as well as we could, but we were no
wiser when he returned. Nothing had been decided. All that time we had
waited in vain.
Since we had the most beautiful sunshine and a clear dark-blue sky, we
could really enjoy the beautiful view as we entered the harbor. We were
up early, V. even before the sun. When I came in, I found the whole
steerage on the quarterdeck and heard cries of "Land!" We hurried on deck
and caught our first glimpse of America. It was beautiful --- some bluffs
with white buildings. After breakfast we went on deck again and remained
there.
It grew more beautiful as we sailed along. We had Long Island to our
right, Staten Island to our left. Long Island is less attractive; the
country is more level and monotonous --- woods and fields with buildings
here and there. On the opposite side, however, there were several
elevations; the lower area is mainly cultivated land; in the background
are woods of evergreen and leafy trees; villas are scattered here and
there. Some, with towers, loomed up in the midst of the woods on the
upper heights; others were surrounded by gardens and level meadows. They
looked very new --- as if the landscaping was unfinished. The most
charming ones lay close to the water, thickly surrounded by trees, all
with verandas. There were likewise many buildings in poor taste. Several
things reminded me of home -two large poplars outside a house made me
think of our poplars at home on Storgaden. {18}
Yes, it was a joy once more to see land, and we shouted when we saw a
carriage driving along or people walking on shore. But there was
melancholy in knowing that this land was, after all, America; and the
anticipation or joy that, especially during the first part of our voyage,
I thought I would feel so strongly on reaching land, was not present in
the degree I had expected, for here everything was foreign. There was no
one waiting for us; it was not like traveling in Europe, still I was
heartily glad and thankful that the voyage was safely over.
We very soon began to notice something of the rush and bustle of New
York. There was a mass of shipping; steamships passed to and fro. Tugs
were towing one big ship after an other. One towed us away. There were at
least four emigrant ships lying there; one of them, a German ship, with a
great many passengers, cried out "Hurrah!" as we passed by. The captain
brought us letters from home and from Johan. Good news, praise God!
<9> The "dirty fat girl" is apparently the children's nurse.
<10> Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol (London, 1843).
<11> "Kong Christian stod ved hojen mast" (King Christian Stood by the
Lofty Mast), first line of the Danish national anthem, by Johannes Ewald;
and "Rejoice Ye in Living," a song by Martin Usteri dating from 1793.
<12> "You Live in My Heart," German folk song.
<13> Skaal is Norwegian for a toast. The song goes as follows:
Og dette skal være Kapteinens Skaal,
Og dette skal være Kapteinens Skaal,
Og Skam faa dem som ikke
Kapteinens Skaal vil drikke,
Hurra, hurra, den Skaalen er bra, hurra!
And this shall be the captain's skaal,
And this shall be the captain's skaal,
And shame on those who shrink
The captain's skaal to drink,
Hurrah, hurrah, the skaal is braw, hurrah!
<14> "Rain and wind, sir."
<15> "There was a verdant hunter."
<16> For a description of Giering's puzzle, see p. 27.
<17> See chapter 3, footnote 14.
<18> Storgaden was the principal street in Larvik, Mrs. Koren's native
town in Norway.
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