The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-08-11

I was sorely tried We had got out of the car
riage, and were walking up long ascent in
the road, quietly enjoying the fne scenery,
when Swiss gentleman, with his two daugh-
ters overlook and politely greeted us. re-
sponded, most rashly, in French; for, taking it
for granted that we were accomplished in that
tongue, he commenced conversation at once
This could have managed easily enough, by
shifting the burden Of reply to my companion !;
but, unIuckily, the two bright-eyed Swiss girls
graciously addressed themselves to me in par
ticular, and that was responsibility that had
to be met. Ii was a terrible moment-con-
fronted by two pretty ladies, talking sweetly at
you in strange tongue, and you what with
the effort to understand, and the effort to trans
late your own thoughts, and shame at your ig-
horace utterly at your wits end! ! answered
as best could--tried to remember the names
of all the places had seen and wished to see
talked in nouns-substantive, leaving them to
supply the partices-and caught myself gee
ticulating as violently as Frenchman. But
the agony was too great to be protracted on SO
hot day and, pleading the fatigue of the la
dies Of our party, who was sure wished to be
seated, bolted for the carriage Never before
had been so eager to get rid of good compa-
ny. AS ] took my seat came to the conclu-
sion that hencefOrth it would be wise not to
venture beyond ones depth.
Whatever becomes of the dead languages"
French and German should be taught in every
liberal institution of our country. American
travel abroad is increasing largely every year,
and our countrymen generally prefer the CONT
nent travelling here is pleasanter and vastly
cheaper than in England. But, how little can
we know of People with whom We can hold
no free intercourse We see the surface of their
life, but cannot enter into its depths.
Paris, July IS, lS53.-Speaking of expense
of travel, should say that in England railroad
fare is double and hotel, living three times
what they arc on the continent This is point
of some Importance to our travelling country
men. The hotel most frequented by Americans
in London, is Morley's | tried it for week,
unaware of its charges but it is well to be able
to speak in such matters from experience. The
traveller orders room, or any number of
rooms he chooses, and is charged accordingly.
He is then charged for whatever he orders for
his meals---also for lights for ice, for attend
ance, for everything There are no common
drawing rooms for the guests; there is no CON-
mon table You live by yourself and beside
your friends see nobody but a stiff, solemn
precise, silent waiter, with black suit, white
cravat and very smooth hair The bill Of fare
is a meagre one but as did not care to pay
too much for my whistle" | determined to
live quite moderately, on much palmer food
than | could content myself with at home.
Living in this plain way, in two rooms--one, a
small, dark chamber, the other, tolerably-
furnished sitting .rOom-t cost two Of us, one
week only about S66-that Is, at the rate Of
1913 each! Now, | wish my countrymen to
know that this Morley Hotel, so much talked
of, il not equal in appearance in furniture, in
in service in fare when you |
order the best, or in any respect whatsoever
With thrd-rate hotel in New York, where
he fare is 80 day, or less Minart's is said
o be much better, but the charges are still
more enormous, and it is doubtful whether any
hing would be gained by going there, except
more soiemn and ceremonious service. can
conceive of nO reason why an American should
subject himsel" to the exaotions of either or,
indeed, Of any London hotol, Ho can live quits
Is respectfully, more elegantly, and more CON-
ortably, at nearly half the expense, in private
apartments.
AS to eating an American abroad must
make up his mind to forego many of the luxu-
ries to which he is accustomed at home. b.
ker's bread the French roll, and the brown
loaf are the only varieties of breadstuffs he can
command in England or on the continent, and
these are always cold, often stale, and, on the
continent out of Paris, poorly baked out OF
poor -four. Hot roll, short biscuit, batter-cake,
pancake, flannel cake, hoe.cake, Johnny. cake,
dodgers corn-batter bread - those delicious
preparations Of -four and meal, 30 we'll under
English hotol has no table Thote. You must
compound your own dinner from such bill Of
fare as it has, which is not very various. On
the continent you find the table dhote a mere
suggestion of dinner in an American hotel
The guests seat themselves at a common table,
and are first served with soup, then with fish
cut up in convenient portions and passed around
in waters. While eating your fish, you see
two or three joints, it may be of mutton, put
on the table, they are then taken off, cut up in
small slices and the fish being disposed Of, the
sliced mutton is handed by the waiter to each
guest, who is left to eat it by ITSELF or possibly
with bread or potato. Then, perhaps, comes
some boefsteak, also prepared in small pieces,
and handed round the same way, to be eaten
by itself and then, in succession, may follow
some sweet bread and a few mutton chops.
While eating the latter, there is vision of
roast beef; and this, too disappears from the
table, to be cut up and to be passed round like
the rest and to be devoured probably by itself.
Then, dish of peas may be circulated then
the pudding sliced up and carried round; then
the salad then pair Of very small chickens,
which are carefully disscctcd before being sent
ON their errand. Finally comes the dessert, of
fruit, &c. Thus, on very meagre bill of fare,
they manage to get up some ten or dozen
courses, which appear quite imposing, but there
is nothing in them. Just imagine New York
hotel attempting to satisfy its guests, with beef,
mutton, and chicken, cut up in small bits with
peas, potatoes and lettuce, and calling this u
sumptuous repast To me, this table dhote is
most detestablc institution my gorge always
rises against it.
Some reader may perhaps think these are
very small matters to notice but the truth is
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