The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1898-01-12
A CLOSE OBSERVER.
THE YANKEE ORUMMER's STRAIGHT
TALK ABOUT EUROPE.

Greater New York is going to be
bigger than London, remarked tho lit
tie man in the cross seat with an air of
wisdom.
No. Stree, it ism TIP said tho big red
haired man who sat alongside of him as
he busted an invisible specl1 from his
new coat. 1T won't DO marker to
London. I've been there"
What-to London?"
Sure. l have. 1t was three years ago,
and know what I'm talking about
Now. it's q strange fact that there are
some fellows in our business that'll
travel all around and never SEQ any
thing. l always keep my eyes open i'll
strange towns 1t gives man things to
talk about and it broadens him."
The little man began to eye his COM
panlon with new interest. He pondered
his sage words for minute aud said:
How'd it happen?''
why. it came about Just after left
you at st. Louis. l returned to New
York and brought back with me $50, 600
worth of orders That pleased tho firm,
can tell you, for no one was doing any
business i'll those days. Our foreign buy.
or was i'll and as l was pretty we'll post
ed OH what the trade wanted tho firm
said to me-
Here, Jones, you go over to tho
continent and do our buying this win
ter. Did go? Well, does duck swim?''
Where did you go?" asked tho littlo
man.
London, Paris and Germ NY
Say, what kind of town is London
anyway? I've always wanted to know"
well. I'll tell you on the level It's
a bum, two for u cent place It's no
good. and that's straight. I've been
there. Don't you let anybody fool you
about it. You can read all of this iubi-
lee stuff you want. and if any one tells
you London is any good you just tell
him that Jones said it was OH the bum -
The little mans fnce frightened up
evidently from tho delight of getting
authoritative statements first hand, and,
with the air OF n man who wanted to
Improve each shining hour and add to
his stock OF knowledge. he said:
Tell me about London. Is it any
thing like New York;
mot bit | know all about the
town It's 20 years behind tho times
It's like New York was before tho war
Why. honest. now, there arc whole
rows of houses that look like they were
falling down The streets are dirty and
crooked. and all houses arc built flush
with tho street. couldn't do any bust
ness there at all. They arc saving
lot, those English. -
Did you SEQ any fine buildings?"
Not one, except Il church OF two
Now what Pm telling you is honest
There isn't building in tho whole
town worth seeing. and if there was
you couldn't sec it half the time. It's {.
dirty. foggy place and not fit to live in
It's an old apple woman of n town Ev-
crybody i'll London drinks ale or gin
I'm telling you straight. it's OF the
bum.
Paris is bigger. isn't it,"
"Well-er-no. Not exactly bigger
London is a whaling big place and
don't You make any mistake rode
right straight ahead ono day from i'll
tho morning until i'll the afternoon,
and was in London all the timo. Par
is is different L got some great bar
gains there.
Did you take your wife with you to
Paris?"
NO she staid in New York because
l was going Oh business. L can tell you
all about Paris. and you can rely OH it,
for I've been there. -
Tho little mans eyes frightened III
anticipation, and he said:
'hrpl1 mo I'll ohOJ1f
Paris" said the big man in tho
tone of platform orator. sis all right.
and you can say that said So You
can live there and see the town on l6
francs day-that is $2-good living
too Sleeping costs you i g cents night,
and you get room that would cost you
ST. 80 in New York. Interpreter? Now,
that's nonsense that you've read. There
were four of us in tho party and when
we started out wo hired an interpreter.
When we'd taken about two Of them
French drlnls-cognacks they call 'em,
sort OF brandies they are-we gavo the
interpreter tho grand bounce and we
didn't see him again. Three of those
cognacks will make you talk French like
a native. Fact, becahso tried it. -Four
vi tHen VIII Il;lke you Ieel as II you
had taken "a $4,000 order for goods
that the firm wanted to get rid Of -
Did you see any interesting build
ings or places?"
Saw the whole outfit. and it's no
great shakes. The Paris boulcvards are
pretty fine, though.
Tho little man looked disappointed
at his friends meagerness of detail
Then he remembered Germany, and he
asked his friend What he had senn thnrn