The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1907-03-20
AMERICA EXTRAVAGANT
MONEY SPENT IN A WAY THAT
AMAzEs FOREIGNERS.

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Trips In CaIifornia-Huge Sums
for CeIebrations-New York First
In Extravaganza.
Having more money than any other
nation, Americans proceed to squander
1t In way that makes foreigners dizzy.
Their extravagances take innumerable
forms.
During the racing season they bet
million dollars every day-and lose
most Of 1t. American women spend
about $4,O00,00O year for feathers to
wear in their hats, and small boys get
an early start as spendthrifts by
squandering $1,000, 600 a month for pea
nuts and popcorn.
The people of Chicago spend 100000
every week In going to their theatres,
and they spent more than that sum
last fall on the series of championship
ball games. A New York firm reports
the sale of s250000 worth of rugs for
one mans house, Philadelphia jewell
Ter sold 100000 ruby to complete
one woman's collection of jewels, and
now comes a New Yorker who spends
$2,50O,OOO for site for a private resi-
| dence.
The annual expenditure in this coun-
try for little things like golf sticks and
balls is $2,000,000, and golf is a new
game here. When it comes TO specu-
lation Americans are the easiest of easy
| hA
months the get rich quick element in
the United States has invested enough
money in wildcat mining schemes to
pay off the government debt.
The Atlantic liners have suites of
rooms which cost $4,000 a voyage in
the summer, and these apartments nev-
er lack for occupants. Americans are
exceptionally extravagant in their
travels. In Cairo, Egypt, the manager
OF the largest hotel reports that 70
percent of his guests are Americans
Fully $4,000 Americans go to Paris
every year.
] The keepers of the great shops and
resorts of the French metropolis would
think dull times had struck them IL the
easy money of the Yankee spenders
should stop falling on their counters
Uncle Sans tourists are so generous
in their expenditures that in most parts
of the world the natives ask them just
as much again as they do travellers
from other countries. Bead sellers and
curio venders in the West Indies know
that a Yankee will readily pay half
dollar for an article that Britisher
will hesitate to purchase for a shill-
ing.
| And Americans squander untold mil
lions on travel In their own country
1t Is estimated that the tourists spend
$25,000,000 in southern California every
winter. The number of people who
visit Niagara Falls during an ordinary
year is between 100000 and 800, 900, and
In years when many excursions are run
from distances the number of visitors
exceeds a million.
The amount Of money spent here by
the tourists is incalculable. They spend
all the way from 81 to $4,000 apiece. The
last estimate may seem very high, but
when people come with their retinues
of servants and take whole suites, or
several suites of rooms in the big ho-
tells, and make large purchases of brio
a-brac, furs and curios $1,000 does not
last long.
The Yellowstone National park, with
Its natural wonders and beauties of
nature, attracts upward of 10000 visi-
tors a year, the majority of whom
come from east of the Alleghanies.
Railroad fare to and from this park to
such sightseers means almost as much
expense as trip to Europe. The Yo-
semitic Valley, inaccessible as 1t IL, Is
visited by 5000 sightseers yearly, near
ly all of whom come from great dis
tances.
The volume of travel to Colorado has
increased so rapidly during the last
few years that although carpenters
have been kept busy through the entire
winter building new hotels each sum-
mer the accommodations of the state
are taxed to the utmost. During the
last year some sixty conventions were
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held in Denver.
Thousands Of travellers go down the
st. Lawrence every summer and thous-
ands more flock to Florida in the win
ter. Although Asheville, N. c., is not
looked upon as one of the great ma
tional show places it is now attracting
10000 visitors every year.
| Americans are enthusiasts for expo
sitions, celebrations and conventions.
At the st. Louis exposition one morn
ing group of newspaper men and Of
ficials were talking about the money
that has been squandered in this coun-
try on expositions. A reporter asked
an exposition official If it would be
possible to estimate the sum and COM
pare it with something. This was
the reply:
Just say that If all the money that
has been thrown away on expositions
in the United States was gathered to-
gether and put in a heap it would
make pile so high that you couldn't
fly a balloon over it,"