Voyage on the Ocean Liner Amerika 1912
This detailed and lively letter, published in The Hardware Reporter in 1912, offers a first-hand account of transatlantic travel aboard the SS Amerika, a luxurious ocean liner operated by the Hamburg America Line. The author, known as "Cub", provides a vivid narrative of life aboard a first-class voyage, describing not only the grandeur of the ship and its accommodations but also the fascinating array of fellow passengers, ranging from millionaires and diplomats to military officers and business magnates.
Cub Writes of Return Voyage on Liner "Amerika"
Pays Tribute to House of Markt & Co., Paris, Managed by Mr. A. Leewitz. Which is an Important Factor in the Exploitation and Sale of American Hardware in France—National Geographic Magazine is Test Periodical Published, with the Exception, of course, of the Argos, (Ind.,) Bulletin—Passengers on "Amerika" Relate Interesting Experiences and Discuss Leading Topics of the Day—Millionaires, Diplomats and Congressmen Among the "Homeward Bounds'—Voyage a Most Enjoyable One and Ship's Service is Excellent.
Dear hardware fellows, We are home again, safe and sound, and anxious to return to our desks and start something. In this letter, I will tell you about our return trip on the Hamburg American Line's S.S. "Amerika."
Before going on board, I would like to compliment Mr. Ad. Leewitz, who is the director and manager of the business of Markt & Co., 107 Avenue Parmentier, Paris. This company enjoys a very large business in every part of France in American tools and hardware. They do not do business on paper alone, like other selling agents I have met. They have a large building in Paris, carry a heavy stock of goods, and have twenty traveling salesmen and a large force of employees.
They have adopted many American ideas, and their general office in Paris, on the top floor of their building, under the skylights, in a big room, with all employees working at flat-top desks, without any private offices, reminds me of some of the offices of great American manufacturing and jobbing institutions. Suppose our American manufacturers are hankering to have their goods sold in France. In that case, I suggest they get their lines into the hands of Markt & Co.
Mr. Leewitz, a Believer in Accuracy
Mr. Leewitz looks like Emperor William of Germany; he wears his mustachio in the same style. This, at first glance, gives him a rather fierce appearance. In addition, he is speedy and direct. But after you get to know him, you will find him one of the world's most pleasant and genial gentlemen.
He, however, believes in accuracy. I wrote him a letter from Vichy. He returned the envelope and called my attention to the fact that I wrote 107 Rue Parmentier instead of 107 Avenue Parmentier.
So, in passing, I suggest to manufacturers that when they write to Mr. Leewitz, they get his address straight. That is one point travelers have to watch in Paris. There may be three streets with the same name, but one will be called a rue, the other an avenue, and the third a boulevard.
Then, occasionally, to add to the confusion, some location may be called a "place." So, fellow workers in the hardware field, remember the call down I received from Mr. Leewitz and get your addresses straight when you write there.
An Interesting Little House Organ
Mr. Leewitz gets a monthly booklet called "Le Foret" (The Drill). It is pocket-sized and has colorful covers with artistic illustrations. This booklet contains humorous articles by a fictitious character named Joseph.
As it may interest some of our readers to see how hardware descriptions look in French, we reproduce herewith parts of the French articles about American hardware and some of the cuts from Le Foret.
No doubt, if any of our readers are interested in this monthly house organ printed in French by Markt & Co., they can write directly to Mr. Leewitz, who will be glad to put them on his mailing list.
Mr. Leewitz states that this little advertising booklet was suggested by The Gimlet, the house organ of the Norvell- Shapleigh Hardware Co. of St. Louis.
Opportunity to Increase Export Trade
American manufacturers interested in developing business on their lines in Europe could not talk to anyone better posted on the subject than Mr. Leewitz, and they should make arrangements to meet him at Atlantic City.
Letters addressed to him in care of Markt & Co., Importers, and Exporters, 193-195 West St., New York City, will find him upon his arrival. By the way, Mr. Leewitz writes that he expects to attend the Hardware Manufacturers ' and Jobbers' conventions at Atlantic City.
The Departure on the "Amerika"
We landed in Europe in the rain, and at eight o'clock one night, we sailed from Cherbourg on the "Amerika," also in the rain. A special steamer train runs from Paris to Cherbourg. It was crowded with weary, financially depleted Americans, all in a hurry to get home.
We arrived at Cherbourg in the dark and were loaded on board the ship by a lighter. Thank goodness we did not have to pass through customs when leaving a country, so we were spared that annoyance. Way out in the harbor, we could see the many lights of the Amerika as she was waiting for us.
When we walked up the gangplank, many friends had gotten aboard at Southampton to welcome us. The steward promptly showed us to our cabins. After cleaning up, we enjoyed an excellent dinner at the table with many friends. After dinner, we examined the ship.
View of the Smoking Room on the SS Amerika. Built of Solid Oak, Roughly Fashioned Nineteenth Century Decor. Cassier's Magazine, December 1905. GGA Image ID # 1d1b199fb8
As we have written, the SS Olympic appeared like the Marlborough-Blenheim Hotel at sea. The SS Amerika impressed us very much, especially around the smoking room, as if a section of a German "Hof Brau" had broken away from the Fatherland.
Gulf Stream Forces Out Summer Apparel
Because of the iceberg scare, all the transatlantic steamers are now taking the Southern route. As we supposed it would be cold on the return trip, we had packed all of our summer clothes in the trunks marked for the hold and put only winter clothes in the little steamer trunks they permitted us to store in our cabins.
As soon as we entered the Gulf Stream, the weather was not cold but exceedingly warm, in fact, "sticky," and many of the passengers who had been wiser than we were dressed in white flannels and white shoes.
Do you know that the Gulf Stream was the greatest, most potent, most stupendous, and most beautiful natural phenomenon in the world? By the way, this same Gulf Stream is a great institution.
If you are interested and wish to learn more about the most significant thing on earth — outside of a few of our hardware jobbers — just read the last issue of the National Geographic Magazine.
A Magazine Worth Reading
And did you also know that the National Geographic Magazine - next to the Bulletin, published in Argos, Ind., is the best in the world? I would rather read it than The Hardware Reporter. To obtain this magazine, you must be a member of the National Geographic Society.
To become a member of this society, it is only necessary to send $2.00 to the headquarters in Washington, D. C., and be endorsed by an old member. I authorize every hardware man in good standing with his own family to use my name to advocate for membership in this society.
They have a white marble building in Washington, where the organization's high-brows get together now and then to make speeches. I have never attended one of these meetings. Still, with the one exception referred to above, the National Geographic Magazine is the best value you could receive for your money in "printers' ink."
Every father and mother raising a family owe it to their children to have them read National Geographic Magazine each month. I am not in the habit of giving such strong testimonials to other publications, especially when I do not own any stock in them, but I pass out these few feeble remarks to show my appreciation for the excellent work done by the editors of this magazine.
Money, Luck, and Success on the "Amerika"
Of course, you want to know the keynote thought of my return voyage from the other side. I, therefore, will not dally with you but will tell the plain truth.
My primary impression of the SS Amerika was of my poverty and lack of success in the material affairs of this world. I may have had mental and spiritual flights.
Still, when it came to hard tacks, I realized on the " Amerika " that I had not grasped my opportunities and was a plugged dime in a gạme of $100.00 chips. The " Amerika " was loaded to the guards with money, luck, and success ---present and past.
Carnegie Gives Up Castle to Guests
The first morning on board, I got mixed up with millionaires. One of them had just been visiting Andrew Carnegie at Skibo. He showed me Andrew's photograph, affectionately inscribed to him, and he told me a rather amusing thing about Skibo Castle.
Mr. and Mrs. Carnegie do not live in the castle but have a little cottage on the lawn nearby. Here, they live quietly and modestly with a few old servants. Skibo Castle is turned over to their guests, and my millionaire friend stated that sixty-eight guests sat down at the table in the castle on one occasion.
Again, we take off our hats to the Canny Scot. He has solved another problem. Just leave your house and turn it over to your guests and relations while you take rooms and live in peace and quiet in an adjoining boarding house. This idea is certainly worth the price of admission. Brothers, are you "next?"
Haiti Situation Discussed By Millionaires
This millionaire had a birthday on their second day out. He invited a select coterie of millionaires to have a luncheon with him. By accident, I was also invited. You should have heard the conversation at the luncheon.
Millionaires discussed world movements involving millions of dollars and the fate of whole nations in the most off-handed manner. For instance, one millionaire advised watching developments on the island of Haiti.
He remarked casually that the sugar interests were rapidly buying up all the best sugar land in the little Republic of Haiti and that when the land was all cornered, the chances were there would be a revolution and that following the revolution, there would be an appeal to the United States Government to annex Haiti, with the result that Uncle Sam would take care of Haiti and Santo Domingo, that there would be a stable government, that there would be no tariff on sugar against Haiti in the United States.
That land in Haiti would immediately increase severalfold in value—a straightforward proposition.
After luncheon, I took out my notebook and made a memorandum to monitor developments in Haiti. Of course, we all know that Haiti's president was recently blown up. Perhaps that was just one of the minor details in carrying out the plan to exploit the island.
Watch for Panama Canal Story
Then, with many good smiles, these millionaires discussed how the United States Government acquired the land for the Panama Canal. That story will someday come out, and the truth may put a lurid dime novel in the same class of dullness as some of our dignified hardware trade journals.
Partial View of The Upper Promenade Deck on the SS Amerika. Cassier's Magazine, December 1905, p. 94. GGA Image ID # 1d1b7ac7a4
U.S. Congressman an Interesting Character
I walked the deck daily with a millionaire who is now a member of Congress. When I informed him that I was connected in a humble capacity with a trade publication, he shook the ashes off his cigar. He remarked that he now owned three daily newspapers and was figuring on acquiring a fourth.
This congressman is also in the gas and electric light business. He takes care of the wants of several cities along this line and amuses himself with public service corporations such as streetcar lines.
He told me that he started as a poor boy, just loved to work, and never expected to retire from business as long as he lived. He was the most interesting character.
I received some inside information from him regarding Lorimer and his trial that would make reading enjoyable — but the best stories are never told.
Parcels Post Encourages Erection of Great Department Store
Another of my millionaire friends bought a city block for $5,000,000 and is now erecting a mammoth department store on the property. He tells me that he was encouraged to make this investment because of Parcels Post developments and that it will be his policy to start an excellent mail-order campaign immediately.
They will deliver all purchases of a particular value within five hundred miles of their new store. He wanted me to take charge of his mail order department, but I told him the proposition looked too much like real work.
Diplomat Complains of U.S. Stinginess
A United States minister to a foreign court was returning home to take his annual vacation and rest. He told us how hard ministers have to work and suggested the necessity of trained diplomats to look after the United States' foreign affairs.
He bitterly complained because Congress had declined to continue a particular appropriation for some bureau disseminating consular reports. Of course, I don't want to trouble any senators or members of Congress at home.
Still, if some of these long-haired gentlemen could have heard the remarks that were made in our party concerning the results of " hayseed " statesmanship and economy when handling the nation's foreign policy, they would realize that an attitude that may get votes in a corn-growing district is not popular with the gentlemen who are trying to uphold the dignity of the United States in foreign countries.
U. S. Army Colonel Relates Interesting Experiences
Then, a colonel in the United States Army had been attached to the Court of St. James and was on his way to a far western assignment. He was one of the most interesting passengers on the ship.
He had fought Indians and campaigned all over the West. He knew the West from the Bad Lands clear down to Yuma. I used to enjoy sitting with him on a moonlight night on one of the top decks while he told Indian stories.
Someone should save some of the stories he had gathered from the Indians directly from oblivion. Then, he occasionally changed the program by describing his experiences among the nobility in England.
Just imagine a combination of rough riding in the old Indian days, with black satin knickerbockers and silk stockings of an official diplomatic reception at the Court of Edward VII or George V ! What varied and interesting lives some men live!
Geronimo at St. Louis Fair Recalled
As I listened to him talk, my mind reverted to old Geronimo, who came as " Exhibit A " to the St. Louis World's Fair ethnological collection. I can see the old fellow sitting with an enormous drum beside him and keeping time to his thoughts with an occasional gentle tap on the drum.
I remember paying Geronimo 50 cents for his picture with his autograph. What memories this old warrior must have had! But he, too, with so much that was picturesque in the earlier Western days, had passed away, never to return.
This colonel knew Russell of Great Falls, Mont., the cowboy painter. Russell is another Western character—the cowboy who developed into an outstanding painter without instruction in that art.
To my mind, his pictures are closer to the authentic Western spirit than Remington's. Most of Remington's pictures look to me as if they were colored snapshot photographs.
A Subject for the "See America First" Campaign
A bright, attractive young man in French tennis shoes told me he was from Danville, Va. I asked him if he had visited certain places in the United States, and he replied that he had not, that he went abroad every year, and that he was unfamiliar with America.
I think the railroad advertising slogan " See America First" would fit his case. Some of his father's money should be spent viewing the country where Dad made his pile.
I enjoyed going to the SS Olympic with Mrs. Reginald Vanderbilt and her companion, Miss O'Brien. Therefore, you can imagine how pleased I was to see them — at a distance - returning on the Amerika.
A View of the Ritz-Carlton Restaurant on the "Amerika," One of the Finest Types of Ocean Travel Comfort. Cassier's Magazine, December 1905, p. 98. GGA Image ID # 1d1ad23a44
Ritz-Carlton Restaurant on Top Deck
However, these descriptions of some characters we met on the return voyage are not particularly interesting to our readers. We indeed had a delightful return trip. On the forward part of the ship, on the top deck, there was a Ritz-Carlton restaurant.
Here, meals are served a la carte. I was admitted to the millionaires' club for the sake of contrast. Every night, the Millionaires' Club had dinner at the Ritz-Carlton restaurant. The tables were decorated with flowers, and each guest was given a souvenir. They were undoubtedly swell affairs.
The "Washington" Deck Companion Way on the SS Amerika. The Flower Shop Can be Seen in the Background. Cassier's Magazine, December 1905, p. 106. GGA Image ID # 1d1b1b2268
All the popular ladies on board would walk the deck every morning wearing orchids and other fresh flowers. The ship's regular flower store did a thriving business.
The captain of the "Amerika" was a great, big jolly German. His smile was enough to make you feel safe. He seemed to know most of the passengers. All the stewards were very attentive. Not only were the meals good, but the service was excellent.
The band on "Amerika" is Orderly.
A list was passed around for contributions to the band. This band did not put on their war paint and go out and collect donations by main force from the passengers, as on the other ship we have written about.
We steamed up New York Harbor one Saturday morning. We all had a splendid opportunity to see Sandy Hook, the Statue of Liberty, and the tall buildings that make New York's skyline one of the world's most impressive sights. Taking it all in, we had a most delightful return voyage.
Customs Officials Courteous
The customs officials must all be out for votes because we had no trouble with our baggage. They were so pleasant and agreeable that we were sorry the customs laws prevented us from giving them tips.
At 6:32 p.m., we caught the Pennsylvania 24-hour train for St. Louis and arrived home the next day precisely on time. But after getting through the railing with our baggage, our first impression of America was the gentle "touch" of the taxicab driver who asked for $3.50 to take us across the river from Hoboken to our New York hotel. We were so glad to get home that paying three times as much for a taxicab as they charge in Europe was considered a touch of local color.
The Vastness of America
What were our impressions upon our return? There were two: One of them being the small number of people in the country, the emptiness of the country roads, the scarcity of vehicles and people along the railroad tracks; and the other, the largeness of everything compared with Europe, the large engines, large cars, the roomy trains, our wide streets, our big stores, the larger houses. We felt like Gulliver in his travels when he left the country of the Lilliputians and suddenly found himself in the land of Giants.
So, it ends the account of our return voyage, of which we can say we followed the precept of Robert Louis Stevenson — that the happiness of the journey itself should be a large part of the joy of reaching the destination.
Yours faithfully,
CUB
"The Cub Report: Cub Writes of Return Voyage on Liner Amerika," in The Hardware Reporter, St. Louis, Vol. LVIII, No. 15, 11 October 1912, pp 59-64.
Review and Summary of "Return Voyage on the Ocean Liner Amerika, 1912"
This detailed and lively letter, published in The Hardware Reporter in 1912, offers a first-hand account of transatlantic travel aboard the SS Amerika, a luxurious ocean liner operated by the Hamburg America Line. The author, known as "Cub", provides a vivid narrative of life aboard a first-class voyage, describing not only the grandeur of the ship and its accommodations but also the fascinating array of fellow passengers, ranging from millionaires and diplomats to military officers and business magnates.
For teachers, students, genealogists, and historians, this document serves as an invaluable historical resource, offering a rare glimpse into early 20th-century transatlantic travel, economic affairs, and international relations.
📜 Key Themes and Insights
1. First-Class Travel on a Luxury Liner
The SS Amerika was one of the most opulent ships of its time, and the author describes its lavish amenities, including:
- The Smoking Room, designed like a German "Hof Brau" (beer hall).
- The Ritz-Carlton Restaurant, where millionaires dined with fresh orchids on their tables each morning.
- The Washington Deck Flower Shop, which flourished as passengers adorned themselves with fresh floral arrangements.
- Exceptional dining and service, praised for its quality and attentiveness.
Cub’s personal anecdotes—such as his dinner invitations to millionaire gatherings—paint a colorful picture of the wealth and prestige that accompanied first-class travel.
🔹 Historical Relevance: The description of the ship’s interiors, social atmosphere, and luxury accommodations provides a direct comparison to other ocean liners of the era, such as the Titanic. This account also reinforces the class distinctions present in early 20th-century travel.
2. The Business and Trade Element of the Voyage
A significant portion of the letter is dedicated to Cub’s reflections on business opportunities in France, specifically with Markt & Co., a major distributor of American tools and hardware.
- He praises the efficiency of European business practices while offering valuable insights into international commerce.
- The advertising strategies and promotional materials used by European companies highlight early global marketing practices.
🔹 Relevance for Economists & Business Historians: This provides a fascinating case study on early transatlantic trade and American business expansion in Europe.
3. The Social and Political Conversations Aboard the Ship
Cub provides unique insight into political and economic discussions happening amongst his fellow passengers, many of whom were powerful businessmen, diplomats, and government officials.
- Haiti & Sugar Industry Speculation – Millionaires discussed U.S. sugar interests buying land in Haiti, predicting a U.S. annexation of the island.
- Panama Canal Negotiations – Another topic of conversation was how the U.S. government acquired the land for the Panama Canal, with hints of secret dealings.
- Congress and Foreign Policy – A U.S. diplomat complained about budget cuts, arguing that the United States needed a stronger diplomatic presence abroad.
- U.S. Army Stories & Indian Wars – A U.S. Army Colonel shared stories about past Native American conflicts and European diplomacy, bridging the gap between America’s frontier past and its emerging global role.
🔹 Relevance for Political Historians: These conversations offer a rare glimpse into the concerns of America’s elite in 1912—shedding light on foreign policy, economic expansion, and global diplomacy.
4. The Impact of the Gulf Stream on Ocean Travel
Cub describes how the Gulf Stream unexpectedly forced passengers to swap their winter attire for summer clothing, emphasizing:
- The unpredictable nature of long ocean voyages.
- How ocean currents influenced transatlantic routes and weather conditions.
- The importance of scientific knowledge in early 20th-century navigation.
🔹 Relevance for Maritime Historians & Educators: The author encourages readers to study oceanography through National Geographic Magazine, highlighting early public interest in maritime science and weather patterns.
5. Reflections on Returning to America
Upon arriving back in the U.S., Cub is struck by the stark contrast between Europe and America, particularly:
- The “emptiness” of America – fewer people along roads and railways.
- The “vastness” of America – larger homes, wider streets, and grand-scale infrastructure compared to European cities.
🔹 Relevance for Cultural Historians: These observations reflect America’s rapid industrial expansion, but also how travelers in the early 1900s viewed their homeland after experiencing European life.
📚 Why This Article is Valuable for Different Audiences
👨🏫 Teachers & Students – This letter serves as a first-hand account of early 20th-century ocean travel, useful for history, business, and geography lessons. It can be analyzed for economic trends, political insights, and cultural perceptions of the time.
👩🔬 Historians & Maritime Experts – Provides detailed descriptions of life aboard a pre-World War I ocean liner, offering comparisons to ships like Titanic. The conversations on board reveal political, economic, and social issues of the era.
📜 Genealogists – The passenger names, occupations, and connections could help identify ancestors who traveled in first-class luxury, providing context to family migration and social status.
🌎 Business & Trade Historians – A case study on American-European trade relations, advertising methods, and international commerce strategies in the early 1900s.
🧳 Travel Enthusiasts – A rare first-hand look at transatlantic travel in the golden age of ocean liners, with fascinating stories about millionaires, diplomats, and adventurers.
🏆 Conclusion: A Must-Read Document for Understanding Early 20th-Century Ocean Travel
🔹 A Deep Dive into Luxury Travel – The SS Amerika’s first-class accommodations, elite passengers, and high-society gatherings make this a rich source for understanding the opulence of ocean liners before World War I.
🔹 Political and Economic Discussions Reflecting a Changing World – The Panama Canal, Haiti’s sugar industry, and America’s diplomatic presence were all major global concerns in 1912, offering valuable insights into historical power dynamics.
🔹 A Personal Narrative that Feels Alive – The letter is humorous, detailed, and engaging, bringing the era of ocean travel to life in a way that textbooks rarely do.
🔹 A Crossroads of History – The SS Amerika’s passenger list and events foreshadow major global shifts, from the impending world war to the rise of American economic influence overseas.
Whether you’re a historian, teacher, student, or just fascinated by the past, this vivid account of transatlantic travel in 1912 is a treasure trove of historical insights.
