New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-01-24
AMERICANS IN EUROPE.
DANGERS OF THE PENSION AND THE
FLAT.


TO LIVE EcoNoMIcALLY-scANTY CON-
FORTS IN FOREIGN DWELLINGS
Inasmuch as the season Is now approaching
when the annual exodus from the New TO the o'o
World commences to pour into Europe an immense
stream Of American citizens and American ooha,s
a few words the subject OF habitation on W.
other side of the Atlantic may prove OF tmc'y ~
terest especially to those who are crossing tnS
ocean for the first time. OF course consideraoe
proportion Of the tourists will make their temp'-
rary homes IN the great hotels which owe ars"
degree OF their rHsperity TO American CUSTOM
But there also very large NUMBER OF ''s''o'''
who both on the score of economy, as well as CUM
fort and privacy will prefer a more quiet ho"e'
either In the shape OF a clearinghouse or pen
sion or else In a furnished house which they Ie"'
for term
THE HAPPY OF THE PENSION.
OF the pensions there is but little to say that u
good. With few OF the comforts or convenienceS
Of a hosiery OF the second or even the thro casS'
they nevertheless possess the same Disadvantages"
az regards the danger of meeting undesirao'e pe~
ple and making acquaintances that are question
able Indeed this peril Is intensified In the case vi
the "pens,on de famille.' the very name OF WHO"
suggests to the unlntiated sort or nome Gun.
Quoted on the lines Of family. and the inmates OK
which are supposed to be- II not on the same
terms of intimacy blood relations. at any fa'o
In the on tovment of an intercourse far closer ana
more familiar than would be likely to be the case
at any full-hedged hotel Aware or mis- coho'"o"
OF affairs the pensions on the Continent OF Europe
particularly those that cater to Americans. are
haunted by fortune-hunters and adventurers VINO
realize that they stand far better chance there
than at a hotel OF creating impression ana 10
curing the heart well az the money or impress
sionable widowed ladies and young girls from the
United States visiting Europe for the hrst time
Often the keepers of the pensions some or whom
bear sonorous titles of nobility. stand In VITA
the hunters. aid and aoet their matrimonial
projects In return. CT course. for the payment OF
handsome commission. II the match goes through
and few people, save the victims and their parents.
have any idea OF the extent to which theso
wretched pensions de famille' responsible for
the misery. ruin and disgrace that have darkened
American hearts and homes. OF course there are
some exceptions to this rule: some pensions the
proprieors Of which are really well-mcaning ana
trustworthy. But there are none OF them nfailible
as regards the selection Of the inmates OF their es-
tablishment, and its conditions no matter how
we'll managed and carefully supervised. involve
promiscuty that is always dangerous and some
times fata-a promscuity that can always be
avoided either by taking up ones quarters IN
bona ade hotel else By leasing fiat or house
THE CONVENIENT FLAT.
Flats preferable. easy TO obtain and far moro
convenient. In fact most people on the continent
live In fats. some of which are OF the most gor-
| description, ard II Is only the very wealthy
| the people who afford to keep up immense es-
adjustments OF servants, who go to the extrava-
| gance OF occupying entire houses Thus any fam
| ily which Is content with establishment OF three
or four servants would naturally be satisfied with
O fat rather than with an entire horse
1t is difficult speak with any degree OF decision
concerning tho prices of these fats. which at
| Paris and in other Continental capitals, as well as
on the Riviera always let furnished to Ameri-
| tens Furnished
| apartment OF eight or nine rooms in fashionable
locality may be put roughly at about 5000 year.
or part Of a year. though naturally. In small pro-
vncia towns and out-of the-way resorts not half
| that sum will be demanded. II 5000 seems a heavy
| price to pay, 1t must be borne in mind that the
| owners like the proprietors OF the summer hotels
| in the United States, expect TO make enough while
! the lasts TO keep them In comfort and lux
| ury during the remainder OF the twelve months,
| and hence little. II any, reduction on the plea OF
| shorter lease need be expected In the rent
| Whether one takes the apartment for three months
or for SIX the price is usually the same, and one
| practically pays for the whole year.
| 1t is Impossible TO caution people too strongly
against leasing apartments without having obtained
| previously, either through their Consul or through
| some trustworthy lawyer recommended by him.
| knowledge OF the people with whom they are dealing.
For the pitfalls that bese the unwary foreigner are
| numerous and strange. In some cases after the
| American has signed the lease and paid down the
first instament OF the rent. he will find that the per-
| son who leased the place has no title whatsoever
| thereto and that he himself only maintain pos
session II he pays over again for second time what
| he has already given in advance. Or else he may
| find that the in which the apartment Is situ-
| ated enjoys unenviable notorety. and Is even
subject police supervision Then. too. the most
preposterous claims always put forward with re-
gard to the wear and tear of the furniture. and unless
one happens TO have frstratc lawyer at ones back
G,J ,ho Of ho leQ
called upon to pay an absolutely phenomenal amount.
falling which the landlord can prevent ones DEPART
ure and even conslgn to prison until bonds for
the entire have been deposited. In this connec-
ton It must be remembered that Americans are con-
sdered fair game for every landlord and landlady.
In the eyes OF the European. especially In the sight
of the people the Continent. every citizen OF the
| United States Is necessarily a millionaire Such
thing as a poor American does not exist. and hence
even the most knd-hearted OF the tribe-good hearts
| and generous instincts among them-feel no
| conjunction in robb!ng an American.
SHOCKING CONDITION OF DRINKING
| WATER.
| The comforts OF these fats are in way on .
par with those OF the same price in New-York. ana
| while the furniture and decorations may be more
elegant and in better taste yet the convenences are
distinctly inferior. Bathrooms the exception not
the rule and travelling bath should form part Of
the equipment OF every visitor from the New World.
There are but few houses where hot water Is tap.
and in many OF the flats the cold water has TO
| he carried up from the ground floor Elevators are
likewise rare and steam heat Is unknown. the supply
OF warmth being entirely dependent on the open fire.
| places.
| Particular must be taken with regard to the
| hl.ering OF all water used for drinking purposes
with the exception OF Vienna. there is scarcely city
or town on the Continent or for the matter OF that.
in England where the water is not polluted 20 such
degree as to render Il totally unfit for drinking pur-
poses People drink little water in Europe that
no one pays much attention TO this branch OF SANTA
! ton and no attempt was made by the authorities to
remedy the shocking condition OF the quality or the
water supplied Dublin. until the leading distllers
| OF the metropolis officially complained that Il
l III he % fha