At Sea,--Signaling a Passing Steamer

International travel became relatively commonplace in the years after the Civil War when passenger steamships carried American tourists and artists back and forth across the Atlantic. These vessels also delivered thousands of European immigrants to the port cities of the United States. Here Homer recorded the midocean passing of two steamers, described in the text:

Passing a ship at sea is always an exciting incident; the strange vessel, which you have never seen before, and will probably never see again, seems like an old friend to you. You watch its approach with welcoming eyes and regard it half sadly as it sweeps by and fades in the distance.