The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-09-01
FROM EUROPE.
A Well Known TOpekan Returns
From Abroad.
H. A. Auerbach, of the Palace,
Home Again.
INCIDENTS OF TRIP.
Impressions Made on a Close
Observer.
INCIDENTS OF TRIP.

OdCn lett topeka the UllQQl6 Oh u ullE
and sailed from New York on the Cum
| ard steamer Lucania, July I'd. This
sailing was at the same hour as that
of the Inflated Bourgogne and the
friends of the Topeka merchant were
greatly relieved when they learned that
he had not taken the French steamer.
Mr.. Auerbach is looking exceptionally
well and says that he has derived great
benefits from the trip not only in the
line of rest and recreation but in in
struction and experience. He is firm
" convinced that every man should
take a European trip and comes home
full of new ideas in business and social
lines. In response to a Journal repre-
Sentatives questions about his trip Mr..
Auerbach said:
I went with my cousin, Mr.. Roths-
child, who is manager of the Palace
Clothing Co., Minneapolis, Minnesota.
We concluded at the start that we
would spare no expense so far as thor
ough enjoyment of trip of this kind
was concerned as 1t IS an opportunity
that does not come to all people even in
a lifetime. 1t is an education in itself
On the ship we were fortunate in having
as fellow passengers number of diStin-
guished people, among whom were VIM.
X Vanderbilt, Richard Mansfield, the
actor; A. Frank Richardson, the New
York representative of the Topeka
State Journal, and other well known
passengers. Our ship generally makes
the trip in six days, but in mid-Ocean by
an accident to one of the piston rods of
the engine we were delayed so that we
were nine days out of New York before
reaching Queenstown.
''FollOwing on the news of the disas-
ter to La Bourgogne, of which we of
course knew nothing, the delay caused
great anxiety to the ships people and to
the friends of the passengers on board
We suffered no inconvenience, however,
but many miles out at sea we met the
powerful steam tugs sent out by the
Cunard Co., to ascertain if any accident
had befallen US. We encountered no
rough weather in going over. The
ocean was very smooth. Coming back
it was trif1e rough at times.
In our travels we visited London.
which is indeed a great city and merits
the statement that the English are a
nation of shop-keepers. For miles and
miles in every direction in London there
are stores and stores, and shops and
shops. Paris we found all life and show
and activity. Life is the WatchWOrd
of the Parisians. Spending six days
in London, we passed eight in Paris.
We visited all the great department
houses, or as many as we could cover,
in Paris and the various large cities of
Europe within our circuit. The great
store of Paris, and indeed of the world,
is the Bon Marche. This is a marvel
Gus business enterprise and far out
classes the big stores of Chicago and
New York.
THE Bon Marche does a business of
$50, 900, 900 a year and it was interesting
to me to learn that this one concern
spends thousand dollars a day in ad-
vertising, that is, one per cent of their
gross business.
In Paris all the streets seem to be of
asphalt and the French capital undOubt-
eddy leads the world in hOrseless vehic-
les of all kinds These motorcycles |
are seen everywhere and are as COM
mon in Paris as ordinary cabs and car
ria ges in New York. Along the streets |
the public hacks and buses of the
horseless variety stand by the score.
which country I would say is a dream
realized. 1t is a paradise on earth and
its lakes and mountains mingle seren-
ity, simplicity and grandeur
In Austria, at Vienna, we found |
the great exposition in full Roadway. |
Though magnificent, it was not to be |
compared with our own Worlds Fair. I |
was deeply and most unfaVOrably inn |
and conditions imposed upon women in !
Austria. The king, Francis Joseph, is |
putting up a magnificent new palace |
but be it to the shame of that country /
the women are the hod-carriers. In |
some portions of Austria and Germany |
we saw women harnessed beside dogs I
pulling carts and the men walking be- |
hind smoking.
Germany is one vast army Soldiers |
are everywhere. The people seem to |
reverence their emperor but through |
fear. I have a doubt about the Ger |
man rulers entire sanity. His educa- |
ton has been that of a military man. |
The brains of Germany died when |
Bismarck ceased to breathe. There may |
be others, however.
I'VE took a side trip up into Belgium |
and enjoyed some sea bathing and also |
saw the manufacture of the famous
Dresden chinaware.
I visited my birthplace in Germany, |
near HOhenzOllern, and was told that |
the house in which I was born was |
practically unchanged during the thirty
odd years of my absence
on a
we had to tip everybody, however in
small amounts generally. I was so ac-
custOmed to fleeing that since my ar
rival in America again last Saturday |
find that it has become a fixed habit
upon meeting anyone ready to do me
service to Immediately explore with my
right hand the recesses of a trousers
pocket for a half franc, centime, pfennigs
tuppence' or shilling.
In regard to tipping, it is very diff
cult to avoid, if you intended to do |
so, and if you do avoid it you are sub
ected to many annoyances and incon-
veniences tenfold more to your dfsad-
vantage than if you gave the tips. You /
have a constant gauntlet of extended
palms to run everywhere.
4 was much Interested in the condi-
ton and life of the working men of
he various countries I visited and in |
general I must say that the American
working man is in every respect far in
advance of the same class in Europe.
He enjoys as a rule more privileges,
more luxuries and is by far more in
-eIIigent. The English working man,
however. seems contented. They love |
Queen Victoria and admire the Prince |
# Wales In talking with one of the
working men on the streets of London
asked him why they were happy with
heir lot and he said: Because the
Iueen gives US every liberty and Op-
1ortunity for US to enjoy and improve |
ourselves. We have the great botanical
gardens, parks, museums, etc, for our
rec use. These, too, are all thrown
open to US on Sunday, day we have to
n1lrspIvRs |