Omaha daily bee., 1907-02-10
We MAZE The MONEY FLY
Americans MARKED Up a. an Bxtnordinary
Race Of sPsndsrA
People On Pleasure Bent at Home and
Abroad Reduce Their Rolls
auiekIy-ssms Of the
ways IL Goes.

The Americans are the most extraordinary
race Of spenders that ever lived Having
more money than the people Of any other
nation. We proceed 70 suuander Il IN a
way that makes foreigners dizzy. There Is
no question but that we spend more money
IN the evening for fun than the rest OF
the world lives on during the day. Our
unheard-of extravaEances take innumerabIe
forms. During the racing season We bet
n.oo0,0o0 every day-and lose most Of II
Our women spend about s4ooo.aOo a year
for feathers 20 wear on their hats and
our small boys set an early start as spend
thrills BY squandering sl,OOO,0OO a month
for peanuts and popcorn.
The people OF Chicago spend 100000 every
week in going to their theaters. and they
spent more than that sum last fan on the
series Of championship ball games. A New
York firm reports the sale Of t25000o worth
OF rugs for one mans house. PhiIadei-
phia 1ewslsr sold a 100000 ruby 70 com
plste one woman's collection Of Jewels,
and now comes New Yorker who spends
C,so0,oo0 for a site for a private residence.
The annual expenditure in this country for
little things IKE golf sticks and balls IS
szo0O,00O. and golf Is a new game with US,
When 70 cores 70 speculation We are the
easiest lot OF "mariks'' that ever drew the
breath Of lie. During the last twelve
months the set-rich-quick element In the
United States has Invested enough money
IN wildcat mining schemes to pay on the
government debt.
Extravaganza In Travel.
The Atlantic liners have suites OF rooms
which cost 5000 per voyage IN summer,
and these sumptuous apartments never
lack for occupants. Americans are excep-
tionally extravagant in their travels. When
was in Cairo Egypt the manager OF the
largest hotel there told me that 70 per cent
of his guests were Americans. Fully 50.ipo
OF our people so to Paris every year. The
keepers Of the great shops and resorts OF
the French metropolis would think dull
times had struck them II the easy money OF
the Yankee spenders should stop failing
pon their counters. Uncle Sans tourists
are so generous In their expenditures that
IN most parts Of the world the natives ask
than Just as much again as they do trav-
elers from other countries. Bead sellers
and curio vendors IN the West Indies know
that Yankee will readily pay 81 for an
article that Britisher will hesitate to pur-
chase for a shilling.
And Americans squander untold millions
on travel In their own country. Los An
geles has over 5000 rooms for rent. and
they hII up every season It Is estimated
that the tourists spend Us. 900 IN south
ern California every winter. The number
OF people who visit Niagara Falls during
an ordinary year Is between 100000 and
10000. ana during years when many ex-
cursions are run from distances the num-
Der OF visitors to the scene of this great
natural wonder run over a million. The
amount OF money spent here by the tour
iafa t. Fura Lob all
way from 50 to 5000 apiece. The last esti-
mate may seem high. but when people
come with a retinue Of servants. and take
whole suites, or several suites OF rooms in
the big hotels, and make large purchases
OF bric-a-hrac- fura and curios at the
bazars. q thousand dollars doesn't last
Tong.
sfEhtseers' Haunts.
The Yellowstone National para. with It's
natural wonders and beauties OF nature,
attracts upwards Of 1000 visitors a year.
the majority OF whom come from east Of
the Alieshanies. Railroad fare to and from
the park TO such siahtseers means almost
a. much expense as a trip to Europe.
The Yosemite valley. inaccessible as II is. Is
visited by 5000 sightseers yearly. nearly
All OF whom come from great distances.
The volume Of travel to Colorado has In
creAseo 20 rAploly curing the last rev years
taat. although carpenters have been busy
through the entire winter building new
hotels. each summer the capacity Of the
state IL taxed TO its utmost. During last
year some sixty conventions were held in
Denver, Thousands Of travellers go down
tho St. Lawrence every summer, and
thousands more flock to Florida IN the
winter. Although AshevtIle. N. c., ID not
looked upon as one OF the great national
show places. II II now attracting la00C
visitors every year.
Our people are great enthusiasts for en-
nnaitiona caIahr-affnna ana nnn,rant fnrn A