The Big Stone post. (Big Stone Gap, Va.) 1890-1892, 1891-01-16
Hints to Novice Contemplating Euro
pean Tour.

Hints to Novice Contemplating Euro
pean Tour.
Ny DEAR JAcK:
Hearing that you were about to make
your maiden trip across the ferry, oth-
erwise the Atlantic, and to travel OH the
continent, it occurred 10 ME that few
practical suggestions would not come
amiss, and might serve to smoothe from
YOUR path some of the many stumbling
blocks and disagreeablcs, which the tyro
is sure to encounter on his wanderlngs.
l will not weary YOU with elaborate de-
scriptons of countries, or routes to be
chosen, as in these days OF Badckcr, Muir
raw, Cook, Gaze and Raymond. all this is
purcha sable for few shillings in more
condensed and much better form than |
could possibly give you, and should feel
with DR.. Hale's double" There has
been so much said and it has been so well
said, that | will not further occupy the
time" These aids to tourists, however,
write descriptvcly and largely OF generali-
ties, while | shall deal with minor de-
details and personalities, seemingly trivial
matters often, il is true, yet the ones
most constantly overlooked and not inirc-
quenty Il sias qua no" to the travellers
comfort and enjoyment.
| wish to point out to YOU, rs the result
of three years living in Europe and the
East, and numerous passages across the
pond" some of the fallacies and miscon-
ceptions which have inscnsibly taken root
and grown in the mind OF the travelling pub
lie, and are too often the cause OF needless
discomfort, loss OF temper ana sometimes
illness. You will find it however blessed
TACT that the petty inconvenience CO.
existent and unavoidable with foreign
travel, fade and sink into insiSnifcance,
in the retrospect OF after days, white the
novel sights and pleasant experiences
seem enhanced as thug slips by and even
endowed with a-5eauty not possessed by
the reality when before us.
AS to your time of starting-if your
pleasure rather than necessity is to settle
this, the late spring is probably most de-
sirable; your chances are better for a
smooth voyage, the world is accompany
ing you, London is at her gavest, and gen
orally tavors one with sunny smiles in May
and June instead of the rain or fog which
prevails in much of the interim from
November to April. Indeed this will ap-
ply to all Europe; sight seeing there in
winter loses much OF its charm and in
wolves added discomfort. A prevalent idea
obtains, that in the season OF greatest
travel, viz, during spring and summer,
stateroom accommodations are TO he had
only by bespeaking them weeks or
months in advance. While it is unques-
tonably wiser to secure them early fpar-
tcular ones are desired. it is rarely i'm
possible to obtain good rooms within even
few days of departure, rs parties are not
infrcquently compelled to change date OF
sailing ut the last moment.
As to the different lines-for some years
the Cunard steamers had practically mo-
nopoly of the best elementofthc travelling
public. 1t has even been their boast
that they have never lost passenger
OF late years, however, dating roughly
from the period when the Germanca and
Brttanc OF the White Star, and the Trave,
Allcr, and Saale of the North German
Lloyd we're new boats, both these, and
the Transatlantique and lninan lines
have disputed successfully the supremacy
OF the CunarderS.
Much dissatisfaction has been expressed
of late with the methods and acc0mmoda-
tions of the latter. On their finest boats.
viz, the Umbria and Etruria, six to seven
hundred cabin passengers have been
crowded at trip, nccessitating. from
lack of room, the serving of two sets OF
meals, one Immediately following the
other.
Under these circumstances, if one eats
at first table be is hurriedly and made
quately served, while. at the second, you
are apt to find supplies giving ont. not to
mention certain lack in the immaculate
ness OF the table linen, which to sensi-
tive stomach assumes an exaggerated i'm
portance, and on shipboard an appetizing
condition of things is an essential.
Again, on deck the steamers chairs are
legion, the space narrow, walking difficult
and attention from the deck stewards
wholly inadequate, unless you ruin your
self by preposterous fees, which the aver
age traveller is 10th, even if able, to do.
The state-roonis are also necessarily
contracted to accommodate such q multi
lude and service poor; while reports OF
trouble from vermin grow more and more
frequent. The North German Lloyd boats
are somewhat smaller than the best
White Star, Cunarders or Imam liners.
They are, however, staunch and stesdy
vessels ut sea and well-officered and
manned, the Germans ranking next to the
English ia seamanship. Their best yes
ttnIf
The chief objection many have to this
line is that German is spoken on board for
the most part, but few of the stewards
having more than an unsatisfactory smat-
tering of English. The cooking is distinctly
German in character; of quantity there is
no lack, but deIicacy or an appstizing ap-
pearsace of the food, is thing un-
knova.
These ships aEorass eight days on tho
usssogc to QueenstUwnS tho Lahu somH-