The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1877-04-25
YANKEES IN EUROPE.
A True Pen Picture of a MiIkman Inter
viewing An EngIishman.

line cheap excursion UCkeG 10 Europe
have been the means Of presenting some
foreign eyes. Curtis Guild, in his lively
book of European travel Abroad Again"
gives pen picture of some of these char
acters met in Europe-stern realities, de-
scriptions of which have hitherto generally
been deemed caricature:
Foreign travel is doubtless most valuable
instructor, and few Americans of average
common sense can travel to any extent,
either at home or abroad, without adding to
their stock of knowledge, and receiving a
certain amount of practical instruction of
real value. But certainly have met Amer
lean parties abroad as unfit for foreign travel,
and who would receive as little intellectual
benefit from it as a student in mathematics
who has advanced no further than simple
addition would from week instruction in
a calculation of logarithms.
The cheap excursion system has enabled a
large number of this class of travellers to
visit Europe; and, although not for a
moment denying that it has enabled many
worthy and well educated persons of limited
means an opportunity for foreign travel and
sightseeing which they might never have
been enabled TO enjoy, yet many of the most
Outre and verdant specimens of humanity,
that even in our own great cities would have
excited observation FROM all, and even ridi-
cule from the unthinking, attracted by the
wonderfully low figure of Cook excursion
ticket to Europe and the Vienna exposition,
scraped together their $500 or $500, or with
drew it from the country savings banks, and
swarmed into the old country like crusaders
after this new Peter the Hermit who
preached the attractions of the distant capt.
tai to them which they were to advance
upon, and painted the journey in glowing
colors. There were men from Vermont who
had never seen the Green mountains from
western New York, who couldn't tell you
the-height of Niagara falls; an Illinois farm
er who had never been in any oity,in his life
but Indianapolis
Great tall fellows, with mourning clothed
finger nails, who chewcd tobacco and spat on
the marble floors of cathedrals, and were the
very types of character which English writ
ers have described in their books on Ameri-
ca as representatives of our country-descrip-
tons which may have vexed us, and caused
more than OIL avow them to be carica-
lures, overdrawn sketches, or malicious mis-
REPRESENTATIONS Yet here they were in
proprid persona stalking through the Vienna
exposition, sticking their boots up on rail-
road car seats, or stumbling over kneeling
worshippers in St. Peters
One of this class came into our railway
carriage between Munich and VIENNA tall,
somewhat ungainly looking man, with the
national characteristics of the American
countryman as prominent as if the word
had been painted upon his forehead. In
the railway carriage, besides ourselves, was
an Englishman and his daughter, our pleas
ant travelling companions on both whom
the new conner soon opened fire, beginning
with the usual fusillade OF questions.
"You amt an American, are yep
mo, sir, am not"
English, 1 s'pose?'
Eyes"
Going to viennyF'
Il s'pose We mean TO go to the worlds fair
there, don't YEP
81 think we shall go to the exposition
while we are there"
"What hotel will you put up at?r
I'VE shall go to the Hotel Metropole."
The Metropolitan hotel" i volunteered
in explanation tor my English friend, who
was beginning to be amused. The dialogue
was resumed.
ooh, all Yes. dor I understand French;
but our party-we're the educational excur-
sion party-hev an interpreter who goes
long with US all the time and translates
everything"
Yankee-Yaas. Whole trip from America
and back only four hundred dollars.
Eng-yery reasonable.
Yan.-Big pile of money fur some on us;
but / was bound to come. Ever been to
Vienny before?
Eng.-Yes. .--nf n
Yan.-How big place Is it?
Eng.-Its city of six hundred thousand
inhabitants. fHiH
Yan.-You don't say sol By the by,
Vienny is the capital of Orstrey, amt it?
Eng.-It is hta.f
Yaa.-which way are you goin' when
you leave Vienny7 &.
Eng-North.
Yan.--Travelin' for pleasure or business?
Eng-Principally for pleasure.
lThe reader will please to recollect that
this is no fancy sketch, but the report Of
conversation which actually occurred as here
set down. st-ilI-'' ltl
Yan--What part OF England do you come
from? .s.....-.'.'f.'t
Eng.-The city OF london.
Yan--In business there7 49,. VI.
Eng.-N0, sir, am not Fl.