August-November 1903, World Tour, Part III Image 12

-Lloyd steamer Bayern for Shanghai. Meet Mr. Merrill and family who know Mr. Sargent and self. Very pleasant chat. Weather very hot. Fans over tables at meal times, and buzz electric fans in every berth. Thus the sticky, muggy weather is rendered tolerable, or even pleasant, but what of the coalheavers, men and women, coaling the ship in blazing sunshine, tossing endless succession of 40 pound baskets from lighters to bunkers. At distance look like busy ants. For hours, until dark, were passing groups of mountain islands on north. They were beautifully filled with various tones of blue, beauty enhanced by grand range of cumuli. Good cooking, good band music, everything done for comfort of passengers. September 9th. Still hot, but comfortable in shade. Arrived at mouth of river towards evening. 15 or 20 miles below Shanghai. For a hundred miles or more have been sailing in yellow and brown mud. The deposits from the Yangtse must be enormous. Drop anchor about dusk. Fine sunset over the willowy low delta lands. Tender came alongside from Shanghai. September 10th. Everybody goes to Shanghai. At 9:00 A.M., on the little steamer Bremen, or tender. A grand town with fine river front “The Bund”. 2 hours run. Go to Astor House with Sargents, get lunch, very showy dining room and cool with punkas. Get letter of credit at Shanghai and Hongkong Bank. Buy some things, call at Agents of O. and O, and Pacific mail and cable to Harriman. Call at Hotel to bid Sargentshttps://scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/jmj-all/3914/thumbnail.jp