National Republican., 1879-10-25
n SUMMER ABROAD.
How to Make tho Most of 1t.


with Gazette readers. Mrs. j. w. Somers, Of
the Mount Vernon Seminary, Miss Anna B.
Wilson, Miss Lizzie Bryan and Miss Mary
Landers were of our party which took the
name OF our conductor" DR.. l.. g. Looms, Of
Washington, ID. c. The latter is "A cultivated
aud Travelled gentleman, whose life has been
mainly spent in teaching, but whose latter
years have been given up to travel and the
study of art aud artists This was his fifth
trip 10 Europe. We clip the following from the
Cincinnati Gazette of the 10th instant: We
lett New York in thc steamer Italy, of the Ma
tional line, June 81, and returned September
II, making eighty-fve days Of journeyng
over nearly 10000 miles of sea and land We
were week in London, another week in
Scotland, few days in Belgium, others upon
the Rhine, and at the cities of Cologne Frank
fort, aud Heidelberg in Germany, more than a
week among the mountains aud lakes of Switz-
erand, three weeks In Italy July % to August
1l). This with week at Paris aud vicinity
occupied our time, except TIL twonty-one days
on the ocean.
am often asked such questions as these
How do you like travelling in parties? Is
conductor any real bene6t2 Is Italy COM
Portable or safe in summer2' SO many persons
arc happily determined TO take European
trip, and so few comparatively have auy cx-
percnce, that / venture to write briefly on
the points above suggested.
First-HOw do l like travelling in partios2
OF course there are pros and cons, but on re-
viewing the matter am convinced Of several
things: l. Expenses are lessened. 2. Care is
reduced to minimum and comfort augmented
by just as much. 3. Eiucative opportunities
are multiplied. 4. Time is saved. 5. More is
accomplished than could be Tor tho same
length of time in any other way.
Second-Expenses.-- eau travel in Eu-
rope either alone or with single friend. or in
II very large p1rty-such as Mr.. Gaze of Lon
don, so successfully sends out under guides"
somewhat cheaper than in a personally
conducted party of twenty-five or thirty. In
the former case the saving is made by personal
economics that often cost thought, time and
strength that are worth moro than the money.
In the latter case the greater number pre-
cludes personal attentions, but makes cheap
ness possible, as goods at wholesale cost less
than at retail.
Third-Caro or worry.-There is enough of
that at home. One wants TO leave IL all
behind when he steps aboard the steamer, if
he would get the most possible rest and recrc-
alton. We travel to enjoy and to learn. 1t is
better for both purposes to give ourselves up,
for the time being, to the individual pursuit
OF that which will add to both our nlolma-
tion aud pleasure. Well, to feel that your
route is fixed in a wise, perhaps the wisest,
way by an experienced aud cultivated man
that your hotels are chosen beforehand by one
who has tried them that your tickets are
purchased, baggage checked, carriages en-
gagged, waiter feed, bills settled with no dispute
| or annoyance to any one but your friend
| the conductor; the art galleries, museums,
castles, palaces, cathedras and ancient ruins
are all open and waiting for you and espe-
cially rs in our ease, to feel certain that your
welcome is assured because the responsible
head of your party is known, recognized aud
respected wherever you may gO-all this is
worth more than money to Il weary, a lazy, or
| q peace-loving man or woman. And all this
LOOMS party" enjoys
-Educaton.-One would hardly bo
anything better than u FrenChman or Ger
man to confess that recreation aloue-i e., -
good tme"-took him anywhere or cost him
| anything. The American conscience needs to
be paciiied by ut least IA show ot practical
profit Well, wo had twenty-lour chances to
| learn about things that we did not personally
see. The chats ut the table, the evening drives
and walks our conductors and our own con-
| versatlOns in drawing-rooms, aud during long
days in compartments of railway ears, Afford
| cd these multiplied opportunities to give aud
| receive the fruits OF our personal observations.
| Pleasure we had in congenial society and II
common language, but profit we did not lack.
| Professor LOOMS was the meek good-natured
| aud cheeriully responsive object OF constant
| fire of questions which puzzled him far less
to answer than they would Joseph Cook aud
Bronson Alcott Besides this his evening dis
| courses on art and artists, and his kindly and
discriminating criticisms III the presence Of
| the worlds masterpieces, were Invaluable. We
| had round OF Object-lessons with wise but
unObtrusive comments by u cOnnOsseur rs uu-
| like professional guide" us nightingale is
unlike u parrot. To be responded to in plain
| English, with n spice OF Yankee idion, is II
luxury which one must 30 to Italy TO appIe-
| ciate.
Sixth-Time.-Thi is best estimated when
| we contrast the work to be done with the few
weeks appropriated. One wants to suffer as
little Us possible from the inevitable LAW OF
waste" Whatever triles consume time or
exhaust strength arc to be avoided OF
course. If one had more time, he could
leave the prescribed route TO profit. If
lie knew foreign tongues, he need not
be an hour breaking the shell aud picking tho
sense out of aphrase. As with most people,
the saving of time from frivolous and worri-
some matters to devote to things beautiful,
| grand aud instructive, is prime consideration.
1t seems to me- in review, almost impossible to
employ eighty-iive days TO greater advantage
than in filling out our Itinerary" under the
guidance of its author.
Seventh-The work accomplished either rec
reative or instructive, depends on the c0nsiderl-
tions | have mentioned and few others.
| We rested nights aud Sundays, rs Il rule,
never breaking that rule except from neces-
sty, but we lost on account of weariness more
than we gained in time. We were well in
Italy and experienced less Inconvenience from
heat than usual in midsummer ut home Tho
ancient ruins and damp cathedras were more
comfortable aud less dangerous to health than
in winter The hotels were less crowded aud
our welcome more assured. We saw every
thing in the cities with less difficulty aud bet
tor on account OF the summer absences. There
was enough 10 see, though some galleries arc
closed in midsummer. The country in Italy
during harvest is not so beautiful rs in May
but il is as instructive. We saw the gathered
grain and partOok OF the marvellous variety OF
rpened fruits.
would like to 90 again in the same way,
but feel more fully prepared to 90 on my
own responsibility and visit obscure places
because / have been in this way, 70 ladies
without escort nothing eau be compared to
such party as respects safety, health, econo-
my and enjoyment, Tho majority OF our
party were OF this class, and confidently re-
Ter to them to confirm my words.
The ocean voyage is never perfect delight,
but il is unique, rcstiul and preparatory 1t
ought not to deter any one from the riches Oi
nature aud art that wait for inspection over
the sea,
FOR THE LADIES.
| Thu 4 or1aot ond Enact hccnrtr,a ~