The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-10-03
FIVE WEEKS ABROAD.

We liked London so well that II was
about as difficult to get away from it in
reality as it has been to leave 1t in this
series, but we had to be moving accord
ing to the relentless schedule which
must be followed under the limit as
we could not allow less than a week in
Paris just before the steamer sailed.
On the morning of the sixth day we
repaired, being in some need of mend
ing our fast ways. to that mecca to
which am sure all European travellers
are drawn at some time during their
trip. This is the Office of Thomas Cook
& Son. Their branches are to be found
in every country visited by foreigners.
Their principal place is in LONDON, at
Ludgate Circus. The concern here fills
several floors with every convenience for
travellers. Here may be bought at reg
ular and special rates railway, steam
ship and hotel tickets: letters written
and received; extra luggage expressed or
stored. The banking department is Oh
an extensive scale and exchanges the
money of any country into that or any
other. There is a large clerical force
and all principal languages are spoken.
There is a man for different journeys.
Planning a trip to some portion of
certain person who knew all about
that country. Going to one part OF the
continent you would see another inci-
vidual who knew all about the trains,
timetables. hotels and necessary ar
rangements for tour of that Darticu-
lar territory. Going to Palestine, RUS
STA, South Africa. Australia, or Amer
lea, you would consult the experts
knowing about these lands
There is prevailing opinion that the
Cook patron is a tourist who goes with
a party personally conducted to fixed
places to which are allotted fixed times
with a guide who tells each about the
same story and the same jokes, a sort
of Seeing Washington" or Seeing
Denver" excursion. Some day we will
have Seeing Topeka cars. That may
be soon if the present aggressive street
car company keeps up its reputation for
progress. Most of the travellers who go
to Cooks office, 1 am satisfied, go there
with the intention of making their own
trip in their own way and own time by
themselves and not in any aggregation
One needs only to tell the man at
Cooks where he wishes to go and he
can be accommodated, take any route
any train, any boat any time and stop
anywhere. We wished to go to Inver-
ness, Scotland, and return, stopping
briefly at Edinburg. round trip to
cover about three days. The distance
from London and back was eleven hun
bred miles. The railroad tickets cost
just nine pounds for the three. This
was $44.00 for thirty-three hundred
miles, or about one and one-third cents
a mile. This was third class, there be-
;x,- i
dations given were not perceptibly diff
ferent from so-called first-class; the
cost was little more than one-half.
was told a special rate was then in
force the regular rate for first class
being about three and one-half cents
per mile and for the class we took two
cents.
Cook also sold us hotel coupons. which
were found of the greatest convenience
in Great Britain and later, almost es-
sential. on the continent to travellers
not understanding other than the Eng
lish language. These hotel coupons
are good for a bed room, a meat break
fast and table d'hote dinner at hotels
in any city, the coupons varying in
price according to the kind of accom-
modations desired. We concluded to
three people, for three days, four
pound, fourteen shillings and sixpence,
that is $500. This made the rate ten
shillings and sixpence. or about s2.5s
per day for each person. There was an
other series which we could have taken
for about one dollar each per day less.
Our experience everywhere in Europe
led US to the opinion that a traveller
with these coupons was given prefer
ence over one with merely cash. Special
attention seemed to be given to those
with the coupons. On a number of oc-
casions when the hotels were greatly
crowded, I am satisfied we were not
turned away, because we held Cooks
endorsement. At times we were given
rooms, for which 1 am sure an extra
charge was generally made, but were
assigned US because the ordinary ac-
commodations were evidently all full.
For three shillings the cab took us to
London's ST. Pancras station of the Mid
land Railway OF England. the best rail-
way. in our experience, of the four we
met with in Great Britain. We were
given most comfortable apartment in
through car to Edinburgh and for the
most of the distance were alone with
practically the comforts of drawing
room on Pullman.
The journey from London to Edin-
burgh, a distance of Just four hundred
miles. kept US on the train from 1880
noon until 9 O'Clock in the evening.
The ride northward was similar to that
through southern England, already de-
scribed, with the exception that there
was more land devoted to grain and
somewhat less to pasture. further along
the hedge fence disappeared supplanted
by the stone wall. In England it is all
hedge in the north. all stone in the
south.
Notable was the sparse settlement
between the cities. The people flock to-
gether around large eenters of popula-
ton, six million being in the neighbor-