The Beginning

Edward Charles Ericson
Sylvia Ann Hayes Ericson
May 1, 1897 - Aug 22, 1897

Our Trip to Europe

It was in the winter of 1896-7 that we decided on it. We sent for literature on European travel, read up the Encyclopedia and studied the maps; all of which gave us not only profit, but pleasure and made me think of the old country lyceum and the subject for debate “Resolved that there is more pleasure in anticipation than in realization.” Especially did I think so when visions of mal de mere and a stormy ocean arose before me. Mrs. E. declares she will not be sea sick. I am more cautious and say I may be. During the winter we outlined our plan of travel and investigated various steamship lines. We decided to go by the Mediterranean in going over so as to take in Italy before the hot summer season begins and then work northward. We had thought of going by the Anchor line, but as their Italian line is mainly composed of freight steamers, taking from 16 to 18 days over, which was a longer sea trip than we desired, on a steamer of uncertain accommodation. We concluded to go on the North German Lloyd and on March 6, 1897 bought tickets on the Kaiser Wilhelm II to sail on May 8^th. But although ordering so early we were not able to get the berths we wanted, but had to content ourselves with an inside state room. The tickets from New York to Naples cost $90.00 each, which is the lowest first cabin rate, running from that up to $200.00, according to size and location of the room, the table service, tc. being alike. We planned to leave home May 4^th which would give us two nights and a day for starting. Our old girl Hannah Shegstad, who is returning to Norway plans to accompany us to New York, her steamer leaving the same day as ours.

May 4, 1897

The eventful day has at last arrived. Court is over and all preparations made. Business is to be a thing of the past for three or four months. Our two valises are packed we take no trunk, our wraps are in a shawl strap, the inevitable Kodak is thrown over the missis shoulder, the lunch basket is filled and now comes the sad parting from our dear ones and our friends, very many of whom show their regard by seeing us off on the train at 4 P.M. On reaching Sioux City we transfer to the sleeper Faribault and next morning wake up in Illinois.

May 5, 1897

On reaching Chicago we are pleasantly surprised to see our old friend John F. Reid at the depot to meet us and we enjoy a few minutes chat before the bus rolls us away to the B & O Depot, there being only forty five minutes, between the trains.

We leave Chicago at 10.15 am. and about 8³⁰ P.M. reach Newark, Ohio, where we take the sleeper “Alysia” for a night’s rest.

May 6, 1897

We breakfast at Cumberland and after a pretty ride through West Virginia hills and down the Potomac, past Harper’s Ferry reach Washington about 1 P.M. After a few minutes stop the train sweeps on, 45 miles an hour past Baltimore and through the tunnel under an arm of Chesapeake Bay which must be two miles or more long, over the wide Susquehanna, through the peach orchards of Delaware, rushing through the Quaker City and across New Jersey we at 7 P.M. reach Jersey City and are ferried over to New York. After seeing to our baggage we go to the St. Nichols Hotel on Broadway and Washington Place and after a refreshing wash, go to bed and enjoy the luxury of a wide bedstead again.

May 7, 1897

After breakfasting we start out shopping. We go to Siegel Cooper Co’s big store and get various sundries for our trip not forgetting a steamer rug. We dine at a café in Union Square and then take the cars down Broadway to Bowling Green to rent steamer chairs, buy some English sovereigns for use at Gibraltar and some Italian liras for use on landing at Naples. We go to the Cunard dock to see to checking Hannah’s baggage and take a look at the first cabin and staterooms of her steamer the Lucania, one of the swiftest and fastest afloat. We go over to Hoboken, N.J. to our steamer the Kaiser Wilhelm II, to see if any telegram had come and are relieved to find none as no news in this instance at least means good news. The Kaiser is a steel vessel 450 feet long, 52 feet wide, 7000 horse power, two smoke stacks, the hull is painted white, while the stacks masts tc. are yellow. On crossing over to New York again we take the elevated road to 125^th St. and walk over to Riverside to see Gen. Grants tomb. It is a large and imposing structure of white marble, but is not yet completed. Workmen are tearing down the stands erected for the big dedication held last week. We return to our hotel and after a short rest Mrs. E. and I take the car and go to Broadway Theatre to see Frank Daniels in “The Wizard of the Nile”, and at 11³⁰ go to bed thoroughly tired.