Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-12-16

say was that I was glad, II such sad
events VIII happen, that had the facill-
ues Tor knowing about them, But the
JOY eNpertnced on getting the news
paper was nothing IN comparison with
that / felt an hearing the news from
home ] was always 80 eager to get the
udings that IL made me angry IL they
didn't tell me what each fly AT the old
homestead was doing. And, be II said 10
the credit OF the dear ones in Richmond.
that they kept me well posted concerning
All details. Witness this extract from
one OF their letters:
We have 'ce-cream every Sunday and
curing 'ne week we do without sugar in
our conee to meet the expense. We wish
you were here TO meet the expense.
presume-The Idler and miss Won so
much. The baby ls rotting smarter every
day. He has learned 10 open sardire-
boxes win your razor, and draws such
pretty pictures on the walls Of your room
which you had whitewashed Just before
You LETT. Our family has been increased
by i've Kittens. We found the dear little
things In your silk hat In the wardrobe.
Willie counted seventy-two moths in your
dresS-suit last week. We are going to Iet
them stay there 50 you can see for vour-
seh. Bring US all present when Won
come back. Don't forget the French
novels nor the Royal Wore ster china.
Don get seasick coming back U wouldn't
l. couil nave helped 1.-THE Idler).
WIN hiuch ICVe. The Home Folks"
Now. DO you suppose. dear reader. tba,
ahyihins IN Europe. from the Tower OF
London down TO the Venus OF Milo. could
have afforded me as much ioy as tbat
letter? No, indeed when 1 read about
those Kittens l felt that life was worth
living again.
Ihe individual who isn't willing to own
k.nShip 10 Americans who go abroad
HheWlse make the following aspersion.
"A male tourist gets careless about his
dress. makes one suit do for all occa-
sions. and grows even an ugly beard
rather than shave. The female tourist
actually droops from the crown of her
head 10 her heels. She wears thick shoes
and looks az II she had been Ill. There
are no curves in her outline. She is al
ways in gray. and looks like an olon-
gated pyramid"
What ne says in this respect Is partially
true, and anybody with a decent amount
Of common-sense ought TO appreciate our
reasons for leaving some Of our ward
robes behind. ! suppose my enemy (who
fttt+ 4NtAA AAtAAiF'ii ~ ilil It SEES ne mas
offended mel thinks we ought to travel
over the continent with q dress suit. a
smoking Jacket. riding habit. and eight
or ten ordinary suits of clothes. And.
then, too, II we are on n train, and we
feel our whiskers growing. l suppose
W. ought TO stop a train and get a
shave. And well DO it. too-"when
Johnny comes marching home" The ave-
rage American who travels on the Con-
tinent very sensibly leaves the bulk Of
his baggage on his steamer when he
starts out on his touring expedition, or.
If he is foolish enough to start out
with IL. he drops il at the first place
he can. When you get down towards
italy the languages are so numerous
that you fel proud If you know your
own name, much less how TO take care
of trunk. An extract from my dairy
on this subject, dated Rome. August -,
says: Left four shirts in London; three
in Liverpool: vest. fourteen collars and
pair shoes in Paris: abandoned cravats
In Milan; stopped wearing cuffs in Venice;
discarded my coat and substratum of
clothing In Naples; am here with negliFee
shirt, trousers, and russet shoes. We
have been here a week. Spent two hours
al st. Peters, and four days looking for
American soda-water fountain. Their
mometcr above par"
Oh. dear people, let me tell you-if
YOU want 20 love America. go abroad.
Nothing so strengthen home ties (whether
they be four-in-hands. ready-made. or
Ascots) as to travel. Happy, indeed. was
that day when l landed in New York
and telegraphed my dear father as fol-
lows:
meet me at the suburbs Tuesday eve
ming at $50 with n blanket 7 have a
hat" THE IDLE REPORTER.