The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1871-08-19
comforts of American Life,

= n Europe, when asked how he
had enjoyed the tour. replied:
mot as much as expected to, for
!, vas raining a good part of the
lime. and / nearly froze to death,
hesides.5 And yet this was in the
months of April, May and June,
the quarter of the year when our
own country is most vernal and
beautiful, and when the discom-
fort of cold is scarcely thought of.
The European spring and sum
mer are unlike ours; the summer
is comparatively cool, and the
suring is really cold, and this dis
comfort is made serious by the
fact that they have no fires to warm
by. Not that there are no fur
usces, stoves and fire-places in
Europe; but that they are empty
AZ times when an American shivers
With cold. Fuel is scarce on the
continent, and the people have ac'
customed themselves by years of
experience, to do without fires, ex
cept during the winter season.
An American, therefore, who new
er knows what it is to save fuel,
and is accustomed to have fires in
spring and fall, as well as in win
ter, finds himself very uncomfort-
sble on a raw, cold day in Europe,
when the most expensive hotels
afford no cheerful fire to warm his
chilled fingers at. Another trav-
eler in Europe wrote to friend
in this country that strawberries
could be enjoyed where he was
then sojourning at the moderate
price, reduced TO American cur
rency, of sereutg, tfue cents q dozen.
Perhaps this change was axcep-
tional, and in the hight of the sea
son the berries may be quoted at
half the above rate. Probably,
also, other Injuries may be pur-
chased at more reasonable prices.
But the general fact remains un.
disputed, that fruits, which are
considered in the United States
common articles ofdaily consump,
ton, are in some other lands re,
garded as luxuries. for occasional
and limited, and quite expensive
enjoyeRt. And, many things
which we class as Injuries, and OF
which, notwithstanding almost
everybody can partake, are almost
unknown to a great majority OF
the people of maRy countries
Only those who have resided il,
other parts ofthe world, or who
have travelled with their eyes open
can appreciate. the profuse plenty
Of american housekeeping,
There is, indeed, no other par
of the globe that yields such {
variety of excellent fruit, in sacl
unstinted affluence as ours. There
aretropical fruits that we hav,
not; but there are better fruit,
here that do not grow in the trep
Ns Europe possesses larger
supply of grapes than We have
buteFeB this advantage viii moi
assmany years, forgrapes already
sell hi st. Louis at five cents :
pound by the wholesale, aud ths
supply of them is constantly in
creasing. Probably the very
finest fruit in the world is tht
peach; its beauty and its flavor
find no equal irr the cornucopia O
fruits. In Europe they are grown
only in hot houses aud on south
ern walls; and, even then, ar,
small, hard, and comparatively
havor!ess; yet they are so highly
esteemed that only the wealthy
eat them. Here, on the contrary
they grow to great size, and -four
lsh all the way from the Gulf t.
the Lakes; they are sent TO mar
let In cargoes, and there are few
families so poor as to be unable t
eat them in their season.
We do not always value tn,
riches of our favored land, and
particularly the affiuent blessing
OF American. housekeeping; onl,
those who have been in Europ
know how to appreciate them
Inc Old World hasits attractions
1t has ruins and has architecture
and works of art, and scenery, tina
cur land has not; but when i
comes to the matter of deliciou
irsats, cheap and excellent food
home comforts, bright fires, an,
henseheld advantages, the New
World is far ahead. This is prov
60 oy the fact that all the thou
sands Of wealthy Americans VIII,
go to Europe TO see the sights, til
ieveSt nnmhor ramain m sneD,