New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-07-30
EX-SPEAKER REED RETURNS
CHAT ABOUT WHAT HE SAW IN EUROPE.
AMERICAN POLITICS WERE BANIsHED FROM HIS
MIND DURING THE VACATION.

AMERICAN POLITICS WERE BASIsHED FROM HIS
MIND DURING THE VACATION.
Elk Speaker Thomas p. Reed was one OF the pas
seDgers who arrived yesterday from Europe on thu
steamship city of New-York. When Mr. Reed waked
ashore he confidently expected that no one would be
there TO meet him. He had taken his passage only
the day before he sailed and did not know that hs
arrival had been expected Mr.. Reed was met how.
ever, by several friends, one OF whom had arranged
with George W. Lyon, Surveyor OF the Port TO havs
the exspcskers baggage expeditiousy examined. This
was done In order to enable Mr. Reed b catch an
early train last evening for HIS bone In Portland
A Tribune reporter asked Mr. Reed II he had keu&
himself informed about American politics during biz
absence.
81 don't know anything about politics in America
he answered In fact have tried forget for four
months all ever knew about them, and 7 think
have nearly succeeded. have not investigated any
OF the social problems that agtang the people
Of Europe know nothing about the effect of tho No
Klnley Act there, and have tried 10 keep out Of the
way OF newspaper men and 'notables.' I went a. q
tourist merely for pleasure. No. not for recuperaton
for that would imply tina. when went ] was In bad
health. was not suffering then, and / am not now
except with heat And Mr.. Reed vigorously wiped
the Precipitation on his face.
"what sections Of Europe did you visit"
did not go through Italy. 1t was at that time toe
late in the season / have always wanted TO know
something about that country. left here March 81,
and went directly TO Paris and aftervard 10 Italy.
stayed in Rome for time and tried to see every.
thing there OF interest. particularly interested
in the temples and ruins. ST. Peters / revisited trns
and again, and now meeting house will have to b
pretty big TO attract my attention. / afterward went
to Naples ard assembled vesuvius. I made the ascent
Of the mountain on cable The railroad al
angle of degrees and the safety Of the pas
senges in the depends solely upon the strength Of
little cable. 1 was mighty glad when I got
down"
"were any of the characteristics of the people Of Q
striking nnture?7
Rather. was much interested in how
the people Of Italy live, particularly in
and around Naples. They are half-clad and
go around barefooed but what liked TO see that
they all happy and cOntented, although most Of
them did not know where they would get their next
meal. They uneducated, and to them Ignorance
is bliss
was there much excitement over the lynching Of
the italians in New Orleans -
81 in Rome during the whole OF that contro-
versy, and did not notice bit OF excitement Every
thing appeared to be quiet. both In Italy and In
Sicily. The episode however. frightened away GOOD
many Americans. The hotels OF Rome and the other
cities of Europe kept up by Americans. and Is
estimated that at least S25OOOOoO Is spent by them
each year there. There has been great deal Of
paint because there has been such falling Of 10
American traffic. There was talk OF war or any.
thing of that kind. however. While was In Italy
bought good many books. Some were new and
Others were those | had heard about. Many OF them
were rare editions ] also bought some In Paris
suppose have about 200 altogether But that is not
a large number"
After visiting Italy and Paris Mr. Reed went to Lon.
dom lie the Parliamentary bodies in the three
countries he visited. lie was asked II any extraord
nary courtesles extended to him as member OF
Congress.
No. he replied. al went Just the same as any
other American citizen goes and looked on from the
galleries. The rules governing those bodies deny to all
foreigners the privileges Of the floor. We had
similar rule Cong in the House OF Representa-
tives and / know that rule at least was enforced:
There several Members of Parliament who visited
Washington during that time but they had q 90 INTO
the galleries. In the senate however. tney were
taken the floor. but they are always doing strange
things there
started for Portland the midnight train.