of German supremacy in 1902 by making the passage from Cherbourg to
Sandy Hook lightship in five days and fifteen hours.

In 1909, however, the sister steamships _Mauretania_ and _Lusitania_ of
the Cunard line lowered all previous ocean records, by making the trip
in a little over four and a half days. They have been keeping up this
speed to the present time, and are universally regarded as the fastest
and best equipped steamships in the world,--the very last word in ocean
travel. On her last mid-September voyage the _Mauretania_ has broken all
ocean records by making the passage from Queenstown to New York in 4
days 10 hours and 47 minutes. But they are closely pursued by the White
Star greyhounds such as the _Oceanic_, the _Celtic_ and the _Cedric_,
steamships of world wide fame for service, appointments, and equipment.
Yet at the present writing the Cunard Company has another vessel on the
stocks, to be named the _Falconia_ which in measurements will eclipse
the other two and which they are confident will make the Atlantic trip
inside four days.

The White Star Company is also building two immense boats to be named
the _Olympic_ and _Titanic_. They will be 840 feet in length and will be
the largest ships afloat. However, it is said that freight and
passenger-room is being more considered in the construction than
speed and that they will aim to lower no records. Each will be able
to accommodate 5,000 passengers besides a crew of 600.

All the great liners of the present day may justly be styled ocean
palaces, as far as luxuries and general appointments are concerned,
but as the _Mauretania_ and _Lusitania_ are best known, a description of
either of these will convey an idea to stay-at-homes of the regal
magnificence and splendors of the floating hotels which modern science