The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-08-11
Americans Abroad.

A writer from London to the Toledo
Blade remarks that many Americans,
desiring to show their disregard for
money, have been doing it so long and
so extensively that they make it incon.
venient for those Of limited purses to
get along decently. All over the Con-
tinent they have spoiled the servants
and thehotel keepers. and caused prices
to be advanced about fifty per cent on
all their countrymen. A hotel keeper
looks upon IN American rs a treasure
chest, out OF which he is at liberty to
extract as much money MS possible, and
he is not backward in making the at.
tempt. And when an American en-.
deavors to travel economically he is
subject to n variety Of sights and an
noyauces, and will occasionally be told
that he does not behave rs literally rs
his respective countrymOn. London
used to be better in this respect than
Paris or Rome, but it is now quite as
bad. The hotels and lodging houses
put on all sorts OF "extras" and out
rageous charges, and frequently the
managers donot hesitate to lie unblush-
ingly in order to extort money from
their patrons / am quartered at re.
spectacle hotel, overlooking COyent
Garden it was recommended to me as
comfortable house, and one where the
charges would be Just and correct. !
called for my bill, and told them Ipre.
ferred to pay weekly they endeavored
to induce me to let 1t stand until l was
ready to go away, but | insisted, and
the bill WIS brought. There were extra
charges for things which knew Inever
had, and they had put on an extra shil.
ling for each mornings breakfast, nfter
telling me that could order anything
on the bill Of fpre. They charge three
pence dny for stationery, and make
every man pay for it whether lie writes
u letter or not. protested, but II was
no use. II was their custom, they said,
to charge three pence day for sta.
tionery, and a man might use Us much
Us lie wished. Up to that time / had
not used sheet Of their paper, but
henceforth they cannot complain that !
neglected 1t. l find it maRep good cigar
lights, and when go away from here it
will fill up the loose cornersof my trunk
very neatly. II they make anything out
OF me on the stationery swindle they
must be wider awake than l think they
are. paid their bill under protest and
remained.
Why didn't you go away2 somebody
will ask. What is the use in moving
I have had row with them, and though
l couldn't get that bill reduced l con.
WINGED them that they would not make
much by trying it on agaiu. l gave
warming that would not pay for an
other extra, aud have been careful to
have none for which any charge could
be made. II l went to another hotel l
should have the row to go through over
again. They are all alike in this re-
sEect, and will cheat without compunc-
Tim Of conscience. am in the position
of the railway superintendent who re-
fused to discharge conductor known
10 be dishonest, on the ground that the
man had already bought watch, dia-
mond pin, horse and other things out
OF his stealings, while the new man to
take his place would be obliged to equip
himself in the same way. 1t is better
to bear the ills we have than fly to 9th
ers that may be worse, and are certain
to be Just as bad.