The record-union., 1894-08-23
TRAVEL IN GERMANY.
Hotel and Railway Accommodations
in Europe.
Immense Sums Spent Annually by
Americans in Foreign Countries
Interesting Details.
Irregular Correspondence REcoRD-UNIos.l


very largely on ones ability to DO II
simply. and that again is possible only
for those who will inform themselves OF
the railroad arrangements for tourists anu
the habits of the Germans themselves.
Unless these conditions are fulhiIeo
touring can be misery for, as 10 most
European countries, thing is done only
in one way, and any attempt to lndl-
vidualize confounds the German and DIS
tracts the tourist. AS there is an absolute
lack OF comfort everywhere, pleasure
smoothly and easily got becomes a sole
and all-important end. Even instruction
and culture must take secondary rank.
But pleasure and not comfort IS the end
of most European travel. By most is
meant the majority of travellers; for those
who do the touring are not the rich
They are of that part of the middle class
of all nations which Is nearer the poor
than the wealthy extreme OF society. IL
is because European hotels and railroads
have recognized this truth that travel
abroad is 50 gratifying. From the begin
ming they have developed their accommo-
dations for second and third class pleasure
seekers, and they have them now very
highly developed. 1t is an old principle,
well known and successful IN trade,
which has been adopted and adapted to
transportation and inn-keeplng, and 1t is
TO be proposed in the United States by
one railroad official, the Vice-Presldent
of the New York and Lake Erie Rail-
road, who told me last year that ne was
convinced that cheap travel hao Deen
neglected in America. He was studying
the results OF the low-priced excursion
trains to Chicago for argument for his
orplu q Y
was a failure from railroad point OF
view, but Tor reasons connected with the
panic which are exceptional. recent
events Will postpone any new develop
ments for a time. But The attention
which has been given by railroad thlnk-
ers TO the increase OF speed and luxury
will some day be diverted to the en-
couragement OF the hum bier class OF pas
senger traffic. Then some of that enorm-
Gus business done here with Americans
may be kept at home.
How enormous and how humble that
business is was shown TO me by New
y York banker, who issues more letters OF
credit 10 travellers than any other
American firm. He put the total ex-
pended by us abroad in year, on letters
OF credit, at S50, 900, 600. He said he had
fixed the amount after discussion with
the principals of other firms and the ex-
tent of their business in this direction.
In the course of that discussion, how
ever, he was told that the average letter
of credit was for 500. Looking over his
own books he found that that was cor
rect statement, and he observed too that
the full amount was seldom drawn.
Later, while still curious about this de-
partment Of his business, he learned tnat
credit for lower amounts was often asked
for and, being refused, was followed by
request for bill of exchange, which IS
Obtainable at any price.
Even the great transatlantic steamship
companies, which has done SO much for
the American millionaire, are feeling the
demand for loWer-priced accommoda-
tions Yesterday in Bremen. when L
ordered my room for the return passage,
l was told that all the cheaper hrSt-claSS
places were booked for six weeks ahead.
There was a choice Of the grand state
rooms and on any steamer, but, though L
was willing to wait till the middle OF
September to sail, 1 could not get room
suitable for my social rank and hnanclal
position. And the clerk said 1t was al
ways so. People want to go second-class
because they are roped of in the view OF
others. But there is an unsupplied de-
mand for simple frst-class accommoda-
lions. As supplement to this expert
ence. that of any Atlantic Ocean
traveller will add that his passenger list
was COMPOSED of teachers, professors,
students, retail business men, preachers.
and women of small means. with three
or four rich individuals, one or two So
ciety families, and distinguished person.
ality, who sits at the right of the Captain.
And a little inquiry among the gossipers
will conclude the argument with the IN
formation that the rich are going some
where to drink the waters or to be IN So
ciety, while all the unknown names are
going to be registered all over one or
more countries; they are the names of the
real travellers.
In Germany the modest tourist finds
everything arranged for him; not indeed
for his sake, but for that OF the thousands
of Germans who are making their little
vacation journeys. There are prepared
''round-trip tickets" which are best de-
scribed by the French phrase for circular
tickets. They start and end in one town,
and make a circuit of three or more
places. One can get them to make tour
of all Europe as well as within any one
country. But If, as prepared. they do
not cover the ground desired, others can
be made out on the same terms. % to 335
per cent. of, for any conceivable itinerary.
All that is necessary rs to list the places
to be visited and to hand the paper to a
clerk. He will make out the ticket, or, If
one wishes to make his own ticket, so as
TO include or omit certain towns, accord
ing as they cost little or much more, the
traveller may have the schedule book.
This will give the distance and the re-
duced price for each of the four classes of
coupes between any two places, so that it
is easy to see, as one plans. just what the
cost will be.
When delivered the ticket is q booklet,
with leaf for each stage of the journey.
II the traveller should learn of the attract
iveness of some place on his route not
named for stop, he viii ind on the
margin OF each page the stations of some
importance and blanks for others. So he
may stop over at any place on his route,
aud, OF course, may make distinct trips
off his itinerary. The time OF the stop-oYer
is unlimited. The ticket is fixed TO ex-
pire at a certain date, and the period is
made proportionate to the distance trav-
eled. l have found the time allowance
always ample.
Beside the round-trip ticket, there is
another for journey between any two
points on the boundary of the country.
This may be from one port all around
Germany TO another port, or from and to
any other towns on the frontier. These
tickets are prepared to lit onto and round
ON foreign sold rOund-trip tickets. but
they are To be had on demand within the
country and are very convenient for
Americans who may enter Germany
from switzerland or France, and sail
from Bremen or Hamburg. They are
saving for those who know of them, for
travellers who 60 direct through the
country on straight line, even without
a stop. But the stop-oVer privilege is
very convenient. l have frequently used
it on long distances to rest between trains,
TO get a glass OF beer or a meal, and to
spend the night when tired. For il is not
necessary to say IN advance where one
wishes to halt. You may travel till
bored and then get out.
Another excellent arrangement on Ger
man railroads is the so-ealied ZuScitaqe
E,dlrkQrte. If one is going. SAY. from