The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1869-11-15
AHERTCAYs In sUR0PE.

Travelling IN Europe used to be one
Of the rare Injuries that could be III
dulged IN by only few American
citizens. Within the memory of
many men now living q single sailing
racket 4 week, from New York to
I,iveTDooI. was sufficient TO carry all
the tourists that could afford to make
tho Journey. Each packet could ae-
sommodate only thirty or forty first
cabin passengers. Arriving In Liver
poo!, the tour of Great Britain was
made generally in mail coaches, or
sometimes IN post carriages. The
channel was crossed in wretched lit
tie sailing vessels, and landed on the
continent, the old fashioned diligence
was almost the sole vehicle. Such
was the machinery OF travel fifty
years ago. and it was all that was
needed. q few hundred Americans
managed by 1t to make years jour
Dev abroad very satisfactorily.
At the present time there is a daily
average of one large steamer leaving
American ports for Europe. The
average number of passengers Is
about three hundred, so that the an
nual number of tourists IS not less
than one hundred thousand. They
-fy over Great Britain and the CONT
nent by steam, aud see as much IN
two months as their fathers did in
wears. Of course they do not see
things as we'll, but the great aim of
the age, rapidity of motion, is attain
ed. The post-earrlage, the diligence,
and the chdise q pOTteWrS, that figure
IL of
travel. have become extinct institu-
tions nearly everywhere. And if they
existed they would be seorned, espe-
cially by the goahead tourists from
America. These must not only go in
the express trains. but they must
travel first class and lodge at the most
expensive hotels.
Under the stimulus Of American
extravaganza, travelling In Europe
has made a more expensive business
than it used to be. The English
MILFORD" and the Russian prince
were formerly considered the richest
and most liberal of all the tourists
that visited France, Switzerland,
Italy and Germany. But the modern
American type of extravaganza en-
his travels far suFpasses the old Eng
ish or the Russian. The American
drinks the most costly wines, drives
in the best carriages, pays the heavi-
est wages and fees to cutters and COM
missioners, buys the dearest pictures,
statues, and brOnzes, loads his wife
and daughters with the richest fneTy,
and generally lays himself out to be
swindled by everybody with the most
charming grace, and with perfect
complaceney. Hence the American
traveller is the faVorite among hotel
and shop keepers.
The number of Americans settled
down in the chief European capitals,
either as permanent residents or as
soj0urneTs for year or more, is large.
There are not many in London, be-
cause the aristocTatic society there
rarely opens it's doors to our country
men. But Paris, Dresden, Berlin,
Rome, Florence and Naples each
have quite largo American colony,
with a club, church and other fea-
lures of organized society. The
American colony in Paris is noted
for its wealth aud luxury, and it in
eIudes women as we'll as men who get
their names In the newspapers and
glory In the notoriety. As the impe-
rial court and most of the French
fashionable people rather glory in
being considered pdrUeRu, the rich
Americans are on an equal footing
with the best society outside of the
exclusive circle of the Faubourg st.
German, which recognizes the Count
of Chambord as its only true sover-
eign. But the Americans get along
very we'll without the favor of this
"old nobility" aud in general they
are able to surpass it ia their equip
ages, their furniture, their dress and
their entertainments.
tits rather an incoDgruity that the
people of a great American republic
should vie with those of imperial and
regal capitals IN splendor aud luxury.
But money is all powerful on the
continent Of Europe, and no people
spend money SO rapidly as those who
have acquired it rapidly, as is the
case with most of our travelling COM
patriots. If they would all come
back wiser, better and more refined
than when they left, the people at
large would not grudge the money
wasted In European Injuries. But
unfortunately many Of them return
less patriotic and less republican,
and bring with them French vices
and foliies which are fast destroying
the best qualities of American society.