The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-07-04

and feel well satisfied with what I ac-
complished in the two months hurried
visit"
Mr. Wilder was not much inclined to
talk about the munificent gift which he
is planning to make to the people of
Topeka, through the public library.
Time enough to tell about that when
In general, however, Mr. Wilder con-
scented to state the nature of the col
Election. He said:
Il have tried to collect a representa-
tive assortment of choice glass and
chinaware. The workmanship of the
different countries I visited will be
shown. did not purchase any Dresden
ware or other ware which is commonly
imported to this country, but confined
my attention to the varieties which are
seldom brought over here I greatly
enjoyed making the purchases, and [
believe the collection will be of some as
sistance to the people of the city, espe-
cially the literary clubs.
I'm regard to the pictures which
purchased, the collection consists most
" of photographs of the more modern
paintings. did not secure any of the
old masters. because they have been
photographed to death, and are familiar
to everyone. I purchased only one oil
painting It is a battle scene which
bought in France. Ny plan is to have
the photographs mounted in albums,
and put where they will be accessible
to those interested in such things. They
viii be loaned to the library. However,
IN TINS case the loan amounts TO Tue
same thing as a gift.
D1r. Wilder was accompanied during
the whole tour of the continent by his
son, Walter Wilder. of New York Mr.
Wilder speaks highly of the assistance
rendered him by his son in arranging
the tour, and selecting the articles for
the library collection.
Speaking of his general experiences
on the trip Mr.. Wilder said:
Il would like to make one fact conspic-
uous above all others. It is this. During
one unken man. And that was in what
we call the wine drinking countries.
visited I saw no drunkenness. It was one
of the most impressive experiences Of
TALLY because OF difference in tempera-
ment between foreigners and Americans
pressive influence of the foreign govern
ments. The police and military systems
the Young men are trained by army life to
abstain from excessive drinking But IN
England it is all different There is as
much drunkenness in England as there IS
in America
the railways of Europe. And by the way,
it might be observed that in Europe Mr..
one of the biggest railways in the worlc
and became a. plain citizen on foot He
did not ride in special cars, and says that
he even lodged the sleepers because the
sleepers charge SIS for the same accom-
Pullman. Mr. wilder says that he did
not talk to a railway man on his entire
railways for a while However. he tells
some interesting things about European
railways
s'There are some good things and some
bad things about the railways OF Europe
he says Il like the compartment feat
ure of the cars And the roadbeds arc
simply marvellous The railways have
built their roadbeds to stand for cen>
turtles. Everything is brick and stone
They have steep grades Ihey br1ng
everything down to a level, regardless o.
expense They have an immense number
of tunnels. and because they have either
better engines or better coal, there is no
dust or dirt the trains There was
more dirt my trip from New York to
Topeka. than during the entire two months
on the continent I think that the trains
there average as high speed as the
trains in America. though We probably
have a few record breakers. But the for
eign railways have some very slow ways
of doing things. It takes i've men aDous
five minutes to couple two veSt1pule cars
together. In America the same work
would be done by one man in few sec
onds. The employees of the railways are
more considerate and courteous than in
America 1t seems to me the railways
there have more employees than ours in
America One reason for this is, sup
pose. that common labor is SO cheap
Common Labor can be had for 3 or 30
cents a. day almost everywhere on the l
continent In England wages are higher.
The dining service on the continent IS noe
as elaborate as that on American rail-
ways but it is very satisfactory die
not hear any community OF interests