Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-06-30

| seven hours distant from Havre and the many
lines terminating at Liverpool, from which
| port the 200 miles to London may be covered ir
| five hours and thence the journey to the
| French capital accomplished by several routes
ranging in time from 81 to 10 hours. AS 9
matter OF information the approximate cost o.
these routes is appended below.
New York to Antwerp. To Paris
f1rst-class.. 6O w %
! Secondclass. .............. 4O w u
New York to Rotterdam. To Paris
First-class. Y 0O@s5 90 50 e
Seconu-claSS. ..... ........ oV w ot
New York TO Havre. To Paris
First-class. 90 and up. s6 0G
| Second class. s.............. 6C
The cost of the round trip is twice as much,
less 10 per cent. Having decided on the route
the next matter of Importance is to arrange for
supply of money, and this is best accom-
plshed by obtaining through your banker a
circular letter of credit for the required
amount It is best to have it drawn on London
instead Of Paris, as the exchange favors the
former.
This is infinitely preferable to carrying notes
OF gold, as either may be stolen and used, while
the owner alone can draw on the letter of
credit, and drafts made on 1t Just as required.
The traveller should also procure a passport
from the State Department at Washington, as
it will be very useful In identifying the owner
and save him, perhaps, little trouble should
on whom they had been requested to bestow a
little polite attention. The less baggage a
traveller takes with him the greater will be his
peace of mind, and he should see that his
cabin trunk is SO shallow as to fit under bis
bunk. else he will find his wife or his cabin
mates ardently wishing he had forgotten to
come on board.
WATCH THE BAGGAGE.
On the French and Belgian railways each
passengers allowance of free baggage Is so
pounds; he will find it is carefully weighed and
that he is charged for every ounce of excess at
about cents per pound. 1t is not of infrequent
occurrence with unwary travellers on the Conti-
nent to find themselves billed for excess to the
cost Of their own transportation. Therefore,
prospective travellers cut down your paraphe-
rnalia TO the lowest limit. Neither should You
forget that your trunks will be subjected to a
rigid inquisition on landing; and If you propose
to take along supply of cigars or q box or SO
of the fragrant tthought-inspiring toby, take care
that you break them else at the English ports
you will be required to pay duty of somewhere
about 81 25 per pound. though, with regard to
the tobies, it is questionable if the officials
would recognize them as coming under this head
as the duty is demanded only on cigars made
out of tobacco. The six-shooter may be left
behind, as it is not carried there, and 1t might
be contiscated by the English authorities, who
profess great anxiety for the welfare of their
cousins, and in their opinion it might injure the
owner.
Should the traveller be bound for London, in
the first instance, 1t will save him considerable
trouble to have his trunks shipped eight
through, as on passing the customs at Liver
pool they will be looked after by the railway
company over whose system he travels. Ex-
cellent saloon and sleeping cars are provided
between these points, andspecIal arrangements
as to the comfort and convenience OF people
travelling in a party are made by the railway
company.
Here the tourist will find himself initiated
into the mysteries OF the ''tip" and before he
have thoroughly familiarized itself with him.
If porter carries his valise to the cab he will
remind him of his existence by touch of the
cap and the extended palm, outstretched to re-
ceive anything from shilling rs cents) to
pence i6 cents). Should he desire information
from the station inspector 1t will be immedi-
ately furnished and the preferred gratuity
pocketed with dexterity betokening long
practice, and SO on through all the grades of
the serving class A similar state of adaptable
ity to receive will be experienced on the con-
tinent, only more so.
A CHOICE OF HOTELS.
Arrived in London, the traveller has the
choice of dozens of hotels at prices from 81 so
per day for a room in the top regions of such
palaces as the Victoria. Grand and Langham,
down to the modest and quiet yet comfortable,
smaller hostelries and private boarding houses
and inns in the streets running from the Strand
and Fleet street to the embankment, and in
which good rooms can be had from rs cents per
day upward, and board and lodging combined,
served in ones own room, if desired, at from So
to $40 per week. The neighborhood of the
Strand, embracing the hotels mentioned, is the
most central quarter in which to locate, having
within easy reach the Houses of Parliament,
Government offices and Westminster Abbey
on the one hand with the theaters-20o of which
are within radius of few hundred yards
Oxford aud Regent streets, Piccadilly and
Clubland on the other.
The most direct way of reaching Paris is by
way of Havre, the traveller stepping from the
boat into the train. and If he is booked through
he will not be troubled by the customs until he
reaches his destination at the st. Lazure sta
ton. Here he will make acquaintance with
the glib-tongued. polite, but sometimes POM
pous French official, and be directed to enter the
Sale des Bagages, where the duane or custom
officials will quickly overhaul his effects in
search of jewelry or cigars (the manufacture
of the latter being monopoly OF the French
Government). He should at once produce his
play a decided antipathy toward kickers, whom
they will detain on some trivial excuse for an
unlimited period, IL they show any impatience.
Guards will be observed at the exits, and no
one can pass them until the customs examina-
tion is done with,
Another kind of search, which, where for
eigners are concerned, is performed by duane
officials is on account Of the octroi or munich
pal tax. This is a tax levied on market stuffs,
ETC., coming into the city, and is the source
from which the main revenues Of the city are
derived. The traveller will have secured infor-
nation as to hotels, etc, from the agents of the
line at Havre, and gathering up his baggage,
with the assistance of a few sous and . porter,
he is prepared to be conveyed to his lodgings.
No attention should be paid to the would.be
guides, chevaliers d industrie, and other yaga-
bonds, who conceive every stranger to the city
to be their legitimate prey.
A CENTRAL POINT.
The st. Lazare station Is In the immediate
of such prominent thorough !