The herald., 1896-10-11
WHY AMERICANS TRAVEL
Curiosity and Pleasure Are Gratif1ed by
Visits to Historic Scenes


Never before probably have so many
Americans gone to Europe as during the
last summer. The annual hegira or
Americans to Europe has, in fact be-
come an event of far-reaching import
ance to Europe itself. Its tradesmen
grow prosperous from the patronage
of wealthy Americans Its health re-
sorts find their best customers in Amer
leans who have wealth but not health.
It's railways are able to declare .afge
dividends because so many thousand
Americans travel on them as ffrst-class
passengers. OF course, If it were not
for Americans many fourishing hotels
would have to close their doors, and
small army Of guides and couriers
would have to go into some other busi-
ness, while, last but not least, the some
what unconventional ways of few
Americans are an unfailing source OF
amusement to our European cousins.
Not only are there f1ourinshing Ameri-
can colonies in the larger cities of Eu-
rope, but they are found In its most re-
mote corners so that many of them re-
turn home knowing much more of the
old world than they do Of their own
country.
Nor is there any prospect that this pre-
ference of Americans for Europe will
die out The Daily Messenger of Paris
estimates that during the last summer
Americans have left 100000, 900 in gold
believe that this enormous expenditure
will continue to increase in the future.
For the desire to visit the old country
is not confined to the Atlantic seaboard
or to people of large wealth. People OF
moderate or limited means, in remote
settlements of the west and south, are,
If possible, even more eager to go
abroad than citizens of Boston, New
York or Philadelphia. 1t is safe to say
that if they had the choice, at least
seven out of ten average people in the
country would choose to make a trip
| through Europe rather than cross the
American continent. The very people
who, according to Mr.. Bryan, hate Eu-
rope and all it's works would be among
| the first to cross the gangplank OF a
steamer to Europe if they had the
chance to make the trip.
| What is the reason for this wide
| spread desire to visit the old world?
| We dismiss at once the theory that 1T
is due to lack of patriotism. Such a
| theory will not hold water for a mo-
ment Among the great multitudes who
find delight In visiting Europe there
| Americans and who do not return bet
ter Americans. If possible. than they
were before. The little residuum of
recreant Americans who go abroad to
cry down their own country and it's in
| stitutions need not be considered here.
Neither do Americans go abroad to see
| fine scenery; their own country will
not suffer by comparison with any
country in Europe, or, in fact, with all
of them combined. This is so much the
case that Europeans are often aston
| ished to meet Americans abroad who
| have never visited the famous scenic
features of this country, that most Eu-
ropeans would make almost any sacri-
flee to visit.
1t is, indeed, neither lack of patriot
ism nor love of scenery that induces
so many Americans to visit the old
world. Outside of the curiosity and
pleasure of visiting places of historical
and personal interest, Americans have
an intuitive feeling that they may
learn something of value to them from
| the old, settled political and social in
| stitutionS of Europe. The time has gone
| by when Americans believed that to be
patriotic they must hate the old world
and maintain that their own country
was absolutely perfect. That sort of
| thing is only heard now when some dem
agogue seeks to ride into power by ap-
pealing to the prejudices of the igno-
rant. Every intellectual American, be
he a citizen of Kansas or of New York,
| knows that this country can learn a
great deal from the old world In every
| country of Europe there is some individ-
ual good thing, the adoption of which
in this country would be beneficial, or
it has some evil feature, a close view
of which will serve as useful object
| lesson. Americans are patriotic; no
people are more so. But just because
they are patriotic they desire to edu-
cate themselves by travel and observa-
ton, and in educating themselves so
| far forth raise the standard of intelli-
| gence and culture in their own country