ge. Our own country did not follow the
lead until 1838, when the good people of New York were thrown into a
state of excitement by the arrival of two steamers, the _Sirius_ and the
_Great Western_, from England. So long a time had elapsed since the
voyage of the _Savannah_ that men had well-nigh forgotten it, and were
disposed to regard these vessels as the _first_ ocean-steamers. Indeed,
some narrow-minded and ungenerous writers have asserted that they _were_
the first--totally ignoring the prior claim of the _Savannah_.

From that period ocean-steamers began to run frequently across the
Atlantic. They now do so regularly, as well as to nearly all other
parts of the world.

OCEAN MAIL-STEAMERS.

The improvements which have taken place during recent years in
ocean-going steamships have been great and rapid. The speed attained by
some of these magnificent vessels is little short of marvellous. Many
persons still living can recollect the time when the voyage to Australia
in a sailing vessel lasted six months. What is now the state of
matters? By more than one line of steamships the traveller may reach
Sydney or Melbourne within forty days. A recent voyage of the _Orient_,
one of the latest and finest additions to ocean steamships, merits more
than a passing notice. The _Lusitania_, which belongs to the same line,
steamed from England to Australia in less than forty days, and the feat
was regarded as a great one. But the _Lusitania_ has been far
outmatched by her sister-ship the _Orient_, which has actually
accomplished the same voyage in thirty-five days, fifteen hours, and
forty-six minutes. From Plymouth to the Cape of Good Hope took the
_Orient_ only seventeen days twenty-one hours. This is the fastest
speed on record. Whether it is the maximum rate possible to ocean
steamships, or whether it is destined to be surpassed by a still higher
degree of speed, remains to be seen. Many persons are of opinion that
the increased facilities of speed which are now within reach of
travellers on long voyages will gradually lead to the total disuse of
sailing ships for passenger traffic. It may be so, but there are still
not a few who would prefer a sailing to a steam ship for a long sea
voyage, notwithstanding its so greatly inferior rate of speed. But
nowadays everything must be sacrificed to _time_. "Time flies," is at
present the motto of most instant and potent power with the world; but
the day is perhaps n