The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-01-02

many TOURISTS, VI DOCH SeNeS, WIO i've al
distressing ignorance Of the beautiful art
Of exercising a friendly condescension OF
manner when among strangers. They have
sharp, domineering way with hotel SER
wants. steamship stewards. and railway
employees. and an icy stare for the un-
known who dares intrdue with word or a
smile upon their splendid isolation.
These are the men and women who give
a tip with grudging and are lamentably
unaware that their reputation lives behind
them and that their road Is rendered
doubly hard to travel because of their own
readiness to administer snubs and their
failure to give thanks for services rem
dered. Now the really fine art of travel
is shown by the individual who Is unfan-
ingly ready to say please" and thank
YOU" and whose presence and expression
breathe an air Of gracious AVAILABILITY.
l know to my sorrow the travelling COM
panion who gave the chambermaid a Sc
we're scolding because her bedroom window
cord was broken who wrangled with the
hotel porter over the tardy appearance OF
her trunks, and had warm words with the
cab driver as to the amount Of his fare.
She was a clever woman but an abomin-
able traveller and our way thru Europe
was strewn with thorns because she con-.
sidered it beneath her dignity to be ami
ably patient with those whose business 1t
was to serve us.
| She 1t was who snubbed severely and eff
fectually the gentle old man in a working
MANS blouse who volunteered some in
formation concerning a famous chateau In
France which we were visiting In the ca
pacity Of tourists. He looked amused at
her naughty acknowledgment Of the favor
and turned away. Later We learned that
ne was one of the most famous architects
in France, director Of the restoration of the
chateau, and 1t was in his power to show
US much of the building of which we
wished to catch q glimpse but from which
the general public was barred.
My companion had. thought him a COM
mon workingman haughtily met his re-
spectful civility with the chilling glance
that had sufficed to make her progress
thru Europe anything but one Of triumph.
The Traveller We All Avoid.
An unmistakable earmark Of the in
experienced, wrong-minded and egotistical
tourist Is his loud and disguised surprise
that he does not find everywhere: at his
disposal the comforts and conveniences
he is accustomed to enjoy at home. He is
selhshly willing to destroy every ones
. plea sure in a days or summers outing
because the hotel coffee was none Of the
strongest, because there was no porcelain
lined bathtub in which he could take his
! matutinal dip, because somebody over
charged him for something, or the sea air
injured the varnish on his boots, or his
paper ba cked novel was stolen. He Is the
traveller with grievance and too obtuse
or self tered to realize that his grum-
blings hardly interest or amuse his fellow
l passengers, and that because of this dis.
agreeable habit and lack Of adaptabilitA
e he Is laughed at and avoided.
l -E% Americans Abroad.
> Now regret to set it down in staring
black and white that the average Amer
= ican when travelling abroad, does not dis.
play an agreeable manner He does MOI
hesitate in a foreign country to indulge
= in the odious habit Of freely comparing
the life and luxuries in other lands witt
what he knows and enjoys in America
|, and invariably to the disparagement o
u the strange customs and comforts.
. Now this Is at once stupid and Ill bred
| for more than half the charm and bene
:. - fits of travel lie in seeing and exper
~ fencing that which is unlike our domestic
= ! ways and scenes and to show unfail
= ing consideration for the feelings of other
+. Is to invite reciprocation in our owl
- behalf. The American who Is kindly an
polite, eager to charm and facile In tao
r travels abroad in noncritical spirit.
~ He eats German ind Swiss, Eng
q lish and Italian cooking without par
~ TALLY or recommendation Of the superio
!, charms of the hot breads and coffee an
= ice cream of which his cook at HON
y makes a speciality; he bows to everybod
# at the pension table d'hote because tina
=, is the civil custom Of the country !
: which he finds himself, gives good morn
ing to the restaurant waiter and than
you to the dry goods clerk, and is vote
1T an agreeable man and an expert travele
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