The Meeker herald., 1896-09-26
AMERICANS ABROAD.
The Tremendous Tide Of Trave.
OF the Present Year.
Thirty HillIoa Dollars Paid for Steam
ship Passage Alone-Lavish Outlay OF
short-rrippers In London
and PARIS.

and PARIS.
1t is estimated that in 1889 at leat
,e3. 900 Americans came to Europe,
most of them to see the Paris exposi-
ton. This year the number Will be far
greater. For the last two months the
steamers from the various American
ports have been landing from 1000 to
q, 900 passengers each week. Since
early in April the liners have been car
rying up to their capacity. Before that
the travel had been unusually heavy,
| considering the season OF the year.
Nov, at the end of July, writes Lon
don correspondent OF the Chicago Rec
ord, the tides of travel balance each
other. The greatest rush from the
states has ended and the homeward
movement has set in strongly. The
steamers in each direction are filled,
but for the next two months the arriv-
ing steamers may have berths to spare,
while the departing steamers will be
absolutely iammed. 1t is now prac-
tically impossible to secure place on
any steamer sailing for America be-
tween August Is and October Is.
Estimating that the arrivals will con-
,inue in the ratio Of other years, the
number of Americans visiting Europe
in 1895 will be about 200, 900. This is
an estimate based on figures given by
Mr.. John Wilkie, who has charge OF
Lows exchange, in London. and who
has kept account of the number OF
Americans landing at Liverpool, South
ampton, Glasgow and Queenstown, and
who knows, in general way, Of the
steamers for Hayre, Antwerp, Ham
burg, Genoa, Naples and other conti-
mental ports. He says that 10000
Americans have already visited Eng
land this year.
Accepting 200, 900 as . fair estimate,
some handsome guesses may be evolved.
II the steamship ticket in either direc-
ton costs &75, and that is rather below
the average cost of a ticket, then the
travellers of 1895 will pay s3o,oOo,ooo to
the steamship companies alone. As
only one of these companies is an
American concern, this money, Al
though paid out wholly or in part in
American cities, is really expended
abroad.
It would be very difficult to estimate
tiIv average anuuut expended by on
American in Europe. While it is true
that an extended tour in Europe can be
made at small expense, it is more true
That many Americana scorn the virtue
of economizing. They stop Mt gaudy
hotels, pay all sorts OF overcharges and
establish the precedent of large tips to
servants.
Perhaps the most extravagnnt trav-
clcrs are the short-trippers. They have
only n month or less to spare, and they
spend it in London and Paris, paying
e,;orLitant hotel bills, buying English
.lothcs and crowding all the sights OF
Paris into few expensive nights. A
frugal traveller for the same amount
expended by one of these could make q
long tour on the continent.
The best sights - galleries, parks,
churches. museums and monuments
..st nothing, and the travellers who de-
.ote themselves to what is set down In
ne guide books undoubtedly get
arough sometimes for $500 or even
800 each, and have q good time in the
oarS;,in. For each of these there is a
woman who patronizes Worth, or q
.:.in who has fancy for original pic
lrcs. One traveller will carry letter
ii credit for 500. The next man to
he window will carry s2,50o. Putting
lem all together, our assorted coun.
.rynen and countrywomen - school
III, ans, hciresses, students, professors,
farmers, actors, giided youths, New
Workers., Ncbraslsans, millionalres and
what mott is pretty evident that the
average amount expended between
landing and sailing would be more
than $500. AS matter of fact, it would
probably be SO much in excess Of this
amount that readers would doubt the
estimate.
So let it be $500. II there are 900, ,o0t
American visitors and each one spenda
$500, the total would be AZ even $780,
)00. 900. Then add the $50, ,0O0, 900 Of
steamship fare and there would be q
horrifving grand total of $3.50, ,0oo, 900
1t is doubtful If any method of calcula
ton would make the amount less. This
huge sum has possible effect in the
balance of trade, but it never enter
int, fha xvf11 s,iu1 rorNcrfa