The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-07-21

should have seen her glare at him when hs
made hat awful breaki
Deed I can't for the life Of me under
stand why people should be so silly about
the first trip they make to Europe. but
most of them tell the foolishest stories
about It, don't you think. my dearp Die
you ever hear how Sallie KeepstiIl and her
husband wentf Well. you wouldn't think
that Sallie Keepstill would be so non
s~ensical. for she really isn't pretentious
at all. As a matter OF fact, she didn't say
in advance just how she and her husband
we're going but pretended not TO know the
name OF the steamer when we asked her.
We thought that was funny, of course-a
woman not knowing the name Of the steamer
that ives to carry her on her first trip to
Europe-and 10. naturally enough. we were
just dying OF curiosity. and 30 several OF
us suggested to her that WI go down to
the pier and see the Keepstills off on their
voyage. But Sallie wouldn't listen to this
suggestion. saying that she hated part
ings and hat it always made her feel 80
badly to bid good-by to her friends and
all that. Well. Sallie had a good reason
for not wanting to have any of us see her
of. the poor sensitive dear. for how do
yOu ruPPOpt tury whit why, my OtHTs
on a cattle boat. as sure as ! live and breathe.
Her husband has something 10 do with the
packing houses. or something like that,
and he got passes on the cattle boat, and
that's the way they wentl My brother.
Mr.. Knockerino. heard about il somewhere
and he told me. When l saw Sallie after
her return I asked her il there'd been good
meat on the steamer she went over on.
Just for a little joke. you know. and not to
be mean-I wouldn't hurt the poor things
feelings for worlds-but she pretended not
30 hear me. although her face grew fright
fully red. and 80 l didn't rub 1t In on the
poor dear. But wasn't 1t funny-going
over on q cattle boat. and coming back
that way. too, and having to fight us or
when We offered to 60 down to the pier to
see them sailp
And some folks do tell such terrific
whoppers about what they do and zee and
how they lived on the other sidel The
S~tickblufs, for instance you remember
that uppish Mrs. Stickbluf that used to
get her ostrich feathers for nothing, be-
cause her brother wns In the ostrich feather
business out in California and how she used
to try to lord it over people Just because she
bad a lot Of plupes that couldn't be bought
in the shops9 Well, she and her husband
went to England-first time either of EN-
had ever set foot on a steamer, I p
"A couple OF years ago and mercy on
usi the tales that oma brought back
about the way they lived while in London.
She said they'd had four rooms at the finest
hotel in London and all that, and she had
suoh a plausible way about her that folks
we're actually believing her In spite Of her
b~rseginess. when a friend OF my husbands
comes back from London. where he'd spent
half a wear, and he told James that the
Stickblufs spent their entire stay in London
at a mean little boarding house Of the
Ramsgate Strand or Piccadilly Seven Dials
or Whitechapel Circus or some such place.
My husbands friend had caught them right
In the net Of going into the house, and so of
course they couldn't get out Of II.
Really, il isn't such a wonderful thing
to go to Europe, is il, though some people
actually seem to think that any old kind OF
a voyage to the other side sort Of sets them
apart from the rest Of humankind that
haven't lone the trip. For my part, I
think it's ridiculous for folks to 60 abroad
who have seen scarcely anything Of their
own country. don't your Oh. excuse me,
my dear, l remember now that you have
told me that you've never been any further
west Of New York than Buffalo and no
further south than Philadelphia. But you
know I never speak except in general terms,
my dear, and IL really is wonderful what q
lot there's to be seen right here in the
United States, although. Of course, any
really comprehensive tour of the United
States is a great deal more expensive than
a prolonged tour Of Europe, so that not
many ever get the opportunity to see this
country thoroughly. James and I were
lucky enough to make the grand tour OF
the United States long before we went
abroad, and so. of course. we really felt
a great deal more comfortable in our minds
about doing the European tour after having
seen our wi country thoroughly.
-Of course when we went to Europe IL
was quite a distinction. for there weren't
anything like as nan Americans visiting
the other side then as now. 1t has become
the thing in the world to 20 to
Europe now, al I dare say you've noticed,
my dear. As a matter Of fact, I think
there's a tendency on the part Of the better
class OF Americans nowadays to remain
In the United States during the summer
and to do their touring abroad
during the winter months. You see, in the
summer they know they'll lave to mix up
with The ragtag and bobtail Of Americans
who are plunging through Europe at top
speed in order to get their moneys worth
and to get back to this country within
their vacation time limit. whereas the more
leisurely crowd defer their de-
from this side till they know thew
have to meet up with this rather
er-famboyant and vulgar element in the
European cafes and theatres and hotels
md such places, don't you think. my dear?
IF l were going across this year I'd
What, are you really going. my dear? Well.
do hope you will nave a glorious time
I am sure the sea air will be good for your
and you do look just a teenchy
bit yellow under the eyes. dear. You
must be sure to come and see me the very
minute you get back and tell me about
everything you saw and did. And do give
my regards and goodbys to that perfect
lear Of a husband Of yours. and tell him for
me that he must guard against getting too
on the other side-I thought he was
just a leetle bit-er-well, fat.
last time l saw him. and fat doesn't