Gene Tunney, boarding the Mauretania, was beleaguered by flashlight troops, newsgatherers. Said he to them, "No questions, hear? There are 30 of you here and each would ask about 80 questions. That makes, uh, 2,400 questions." Said they to him, "When are you coming back?" He snapped, "No questions, I said." He declared he would not consider going into any business until he returns from Europe, refreshed and mentally regarnished by a Continental tramp with Novelist Thornton Niven Wilder.

Stephen Vincent Benet, U. S. poet and novelist, arrived in the second class cabin of the Ile de France, delighted with the heavy sales of his 80,000-word cycloramic epic of the Civil War, John Brown's Body (chosen by the Book of the Month Club for August). Said he, "I was not sure that it was a grand poem. I had worked over it for so long I felt I had given birth to a piano."

Ambassador Houghton, Postum-tycoon Hutton, Pastor Cadman left on the Homeric; on the lle de France went the U. S. Secretary of State (see p. 15).

Philip A. S. Franklin, president of the International Mercantile Marine Co., went to a ship, the Virginia (Panama Pacific Line), the largest steamer ever built in the U. S. (thirtyfour thousand tons). He went to look, not to ride; the vessel will not operate until December.

Capt. William Prothero of the Scythia has a new job. In September he will leave his ship, become relief captain of the three largest Cunarders, Berengaria, Aquitania & Mauretania. The Cunard program calls for heavy duty service with these vessels; they turn around quickly in New York; there has been scarcely any rest period between voyages for their burdened, responsible skippers. Capts. Charles Smith and W. R. D. Irvine broke down on the Berengaria; Captain Sir James Charles recently died on the Aquitania. Hereafter their regular captains will take them for three round trips and then be relieved by Capt. Prothero on the ensuing voyage.