Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-10-08
HOME FROM EUROPE.
Hon. N. B. Scott and Wife Returned to
Wheeling Yesterday,
After Three Months Spent in Tour
ing the Continent-Favora I'M
pressed With What He Saw in
Russia-PoCr Railroad Accomo-
dations-How the Poorer Glasses
Live-Other Matters.

Live-Other Matters.
Hon. N. B. Scott and wife returned
yesterday about noon from an extended
tour Of Europe. Both were in excel
lent health, and expressed themselves
as much benefited by the trip. The
return voyage was very stormy, and
after landing in New York, Senator
and Mrs. Scott decided to rest for a
few days before taking railroad jour
ney. They were kept busy yesterday
afternoon and evening in shaking hands
with friends, and in answering ques-
tons concerning places and objects of
interest which they visited. They
made the journey through the CONT
nent as members of the American party
who were attending the session Of the
International Medical Congress. The
Congress meets every three years, and
this year the convention was held in
Moscow, Russia.
Senator and Mrs. Scott sailed from
landing at Naples, Italy After visit
ing points of interest in Italy, the party
visited Switzerland, part of France,
Austria, portion of Prussia, and then
passed over the borders of Russia.
They visited Moscow, st. Petersburg
and other large cities, and had abund-
ant opportunities during their stay
for studying the manners and customs
of the people, the method of govern
ment and in a measure the resources
and industries of the country.
Il will confess that left America
with a strong prejudice against Rus
sia," said Senator Scott in conversa-
ton with Register reporter last night
II am convinced now, however, that
Russia is as good as any other of the
European countries. The form of gov
ernment is the best for the people.
There are so many serfs of such low
grade of intelligence that a strong form
of government is required. The pres
ent Gar is a young man with liberal
Ideas, who appears to have gained the
love of his people. They simply idol
iZe his wife. He has issued an >edict
requiring compulsory education, and
he has offered a reward to every child
who graduates at the age of fifteen
years from the village schools. The
percentage of illiteracy In Russia is
said to be very large, but it will GER
tainly decrease if the plans of the Gar
are carried out. The Russian officers
with whom we came into contact were
uniformly courteous and ubliging. On
account of being members Of the med
ical party we were of course accorded
facilities Tor sightseeing not accorded
to the ordinary traveller, and we avoid
ed many of the inconvenience incident
to unfamiliarity with the languages in
the countries which we visited Dur
ing the entire trip there were two
couriers in the employ Of the party
One was always with the party while
the other was always in advance ar
ranging for looking after baggage,
hotel accommodations, etc. They oil
ternated with the party, and saved us
a great amount of annoyance
But there was annoyance, neyerthe-
less. I will venture the assertion that
the American who grumbles about
railroad accommodations in his own
country is silent upon that subject af-
ter he has Travelled abroad. Railroad
travel is nuisance in Continental Eu-
rope. The cars are poorly constructed,
with but four wheels, and accommoda-
tons for from forty to sixty persons.
The seats are rough and there are no
lavatories or other conveniences. The
ordinary American day coach is the
finest Pullman car compared with their
boxes. Their arrangements for carry
ing baggage are wretched. There was
some improvement in the service in
Russia and Sweden, but nothing COM
parable to the American service in any
respect"
While in Russia Senator Scott saw
the Car and President Faure, of
France He was in st. Petersburg
when the latter paid visit to the ruler
of TIE Russias, and Senator Scott and
wife occupied seats near the two rulers
upon the reviewing stand when the
army passed before the dignitaries Of
the two nations. He was also permit
ted to go through the imperial palace.
81 will no longer be impressed by the
tales of great things seen abroad which
are told by American tourists of Eu-
rope" he said. "They have no build
ing to compare with structures in
America. There are more fine granite
and marble buildings in New York city
than in all Europe. The European cas-
ties are constructed of brick with an
outer surface of cement, and they are
nearly all alike. They have many
methods of WORK, and many customs
which were out of date here at the be-
ginning of the century"
Senator Scott described a street
sprinkler in the city Of Stockholm for
example. The water came from a sort
of sieve which was attached to rope,
and man walked behind pulling the
sprinkler from side to side of the street.
After leaving Russia the party visit
ed Sweden Norway, Finland, Denmark,
Prussia, holland, Belgium and France,
and then sailed for New York without
visiting England
OF all the countries we visited" he
said, "the people of Sweden and Fin
land appeared to be the most advanced
and the most contented. While their
condition would not compare with that
of the American people, it was much
better than that of the people of other
European countries. I observed par
ticularly the home life of some of these