The life boats are now swung out ready to lower at a minute’s notice...

Sunday, May 27:

Second Sunday on board. Got up at noon and ate a good dinner. A beautiful day with the water as quiet as the day we left N.Y. I wonder where we are. We are said to be due in Bordeaux about Wednesday noon. We are running at greater speed now than heretofore. We have passed many boats in the last two days -- all merchant vessels. The explanation seems to be that the boats are convoyed out of European ports in groups and then when out of the danger zone are abandoned and scatter to the four winds. They say we are to be convoyed in another day.

Tish and I sunned ourselves on the forward lower deck this P.M. for two hours. Many pictures were taken. The favorite objects seemed to be a group of six French soldiers just returning to the front after a furlough of a month in America.

At four o’clock we had another life boat drill and the boats are now swung out ready to lower at a minute’s notice. We have all men in our boat for which I think we can be thankful if anything should happen. Everybody treats the probability lightly, however, and no one seems to be worried. Many are sleeping on deck now, but I am too fond of my bunk.

At nine o’clock we had a concert on board in which we discovered that we had much talent on board. It opened up by a lottery on prizes contributed by people on the ship in the way of eats, drinks and trinkets. Those that were not called for were raffled off and sold at fabulous prices. Next on the program was a French play of which I understood nothing. An American play and take off on beginners in French followed and was very amusing. Then we ascended to the parlor where a very good musical concert took place. Many artists were uncovered for the first time this trip. Mr. Symons’ voice is a tremendous baritone and very good. He sang some ballads. They are reported as having taken in some $825 all of which is to go to some war benefit fund.

After the concert Miss Mullen staged a party in the dining room at which there were about 15 of us. We ate sandwiches, cake and drank punch and had an awfully good time. At 2 A.M. I went to bed.