The Golden Cage

Author’s NoteThe competition of the Ocean Liners from the 1870s onwards resulted in revolutionary changes that astonished the world. The Dynamic of 1883, built by Harland and Wolff for the Belfast Steamship Company, was one of the first vessels to be lit throughout by electricity. Passenger vessels were well ahead of the shore in the matter of electric lighting. It was not until 1887 that The Savoy was the first theatre to be lit by electricity and the first electric street lamps did not appear until 1891. It was a Cunarder, the Lucania, who became the first vessel to be in wireless touch with both sides of the Atlantic at once. The French Line’s La Touraine was slower but more beautiful and was the first Liner to offer cabins en suite. Their food was better, although not quite so prolific as the Lucania, who advertised that ten meals a day would be provided, which included a pint cup of bouillon, sandwiches carried about the deck and trays of ices at 3 p.m. and toffee and sweets at 5 p.m. Macy’s, one of the oldest of the great American stores, added to their building in 1881 by putting up a six storey addition extending Eastward of the existing headquarters on 14th Street and completing the building during the first part of 1892. Incorporated in it was a new ladies’ waiting room, which they described as ‘the most beautiful and luxurious department devoted to the comfort of ladies to be found in a mercantile establishment in the City. The style of decoration is Louis XV and no expense has been spared.’