Captain CHARLES M. CAIRNS
Captain Cairns, who retired recently from the post of Dockmaster at Leith, went to sea in 1881, and his long career provided him with experiences of fascinating interest. Listeners will remember that he appeared last year in 'Here awa, there awa ' and again in ' A Scottish Alphabet', when he told a graphic story of a tempestuous week in the North Sea. In two talks, of which he gives the first tonight, he is to contrast conditions of travel in ocean ' liners ' fifty years ago with those of the present day. What was then described as ' every comfort and luxury ' for passengers would be thought by the pampered tourists of today the extremity of hardship. Tonight's talk deals with accommodation for passengers, next week with that for the crew.