It may seem odd to include a travel book on a technical website, but like any machine, the Titanic was created for people who lived within a certain cultural and social framework. These the details of these cultural expectations are usually not expressed, and this poses a problem because they are often critical to understanding the design of the vessel. Fortunately, the "Scientific American Handbook" spells out explicitly many of the social conventions of the time which are now no longer a part of our culture.
As we move farther away from the Titanic's epoch, the ship's design becomes harder to interpret correctly because ship herself was the product of an increasingly alien civilization. The "Handbook" serves to remind us of the needs of the Titanic's passengers, what their ideas of comfort and courtesy were, because it is only through that prism of their expectations were that Titanic's design can be properly understood. Without this reference as an anchor, human nature will cause us to project our own personal ideas and expectations onto the ship, moving the Titanic from the realm of an historical vessel to one of a fantasy ship.
I think this "Handbook" book, better than most, sets forth the expectations and cultural climate of the times.
On a more practical note, the "Handbook of Travel" forms an excellent foundation for the customs of the day we've all heard about but rarely see actual documentation for, such as visiting Second and Third Class, importing dogs into Great Britain, the distinction between "Third Class" and "Steerage", attitudes towards inside cabins and the crew's management of portholes, and many other small points. These have been specifically selected on the quotation page so that a reliable primary source can be cited for these frequently unattested social conventions.
These notes were taken from the "Scientific American Handbook of Travel", which forms an excellent guide prepared for the benefit of Americans planning a holiday in Europe in 1910. Material covers planning the trip and estimating costs, customs and formalities, railway travel tips, package tours, guides to London and Paris, and special sections on automobile and bicycle touring.
Travel onboard ship receives lavish attention, a full five chapters, more than any other aspect. One disappointment is that the White Star Line receives almost no coverage, and the Cunard, very little. Although lavishly illustrated with more than 500 photos and plentiful tables and diagrams, the vast majority of shipboard photos are of the German liners. While the I.M.M (the parent company of White Star) is credited with the provision of certain photographs and tables, the editor laments that aside from the generous contributions of the North German Lloyd and Hamburg-America line...
"...the steamships companies have been apathetic, showing a lack of appreciation of the publicity which is most extraordinary to the trained newspaper man. One company never even replied to repeated and courteous letters requesting information. Never the less, all have been treated impartially."
The book's editor makes some rather explicit comments on what Americans may expect to find in Europe, not all of these observations are favorable to the Europeans. While rather blunt, they are obviously meant to diffuse any disappointment.
Because the "Handbook" has a good deal of duplication and scattered material, a certain amount of reorganization was needed for several topics. To improve readability, I have introduced certain linking expressions not found in the original but consistent with the original intent.
Copyright by MUNN & CO. Inc, 1910, with Matter Copyright 1902-09 inclusive.
"The Scientific American Handbook of Travel, With Hints for the Ocean Voyage, for European Tours and a Practical Guide to London and Paris"
Compiled and Edited by Albert A. Hopkins Editor of the Scientific American Reference Book. 500 Illustrations.
Published by Munn & Co., Inc. New York; The Musson Book Co., Ltd, Toronto.
Dewey Decimal: 910.4H
Physical: Pages: vii+503, Plus 5 double sided maps and an addendum in pocket:
Map One: Recto: Road Map of Western Europe entitled; "A.C.A Itinerary Map of Europe published by The Automobile Club of America, Bureau of Tours, NY, NY ( Map grades automobiling roads between: Madrid to Budapest, Naples to Copenhagen. England from Dover to Penzance, to Carlisle. Scotland and Ireland omitted)
Verso: Blank
Map Two: Recto: Underground map (central London)
Verso: tram map (greater London)
Map Three: Recto: "Paris Monumental" Roadmap of central Paris with sketches of important buildings and monuments superimposed at location.
Verso: "Omnibus and Tramway Plan of Paris" showing city center and outlying districts. With extensive notes on lines.
Map Four: Recto: "Days and Hours for Visiting the Principal Museums, Palaces, Libraries, and Galleries in Paris". Also railway map of Paris and Environs.
Verso: Map of the Paris Metropolitan (Subway) system. Eight travel sketches suggesting an itinerary to see Paris in eight days.
Map Five Recto & Verso: Blank maps of the Atlantic to mark steamship progress.
Addendum: Notes on latest information for the 1910 travel season including a Wager-Mozart festival in Munich, passion plays, the Brussels Universal and International Exhibition, and the English Racing Calendar for 1910. On the reverse, and Identification Blank, to be carried on the person in case of accident.
Copyright © 2009 Bill Sauder