Los Angeles herald., 1907-07-20
RETURNS FROM
TRIP TO EUROPE
COL. LANKERsHIM GLAD TO GET
BACK
Hotel Man Says Los Angeles Has
Many Points of Superiority
Over Any City He
Visited

A broad smile that spelled See America
first accompanied j. B. Lankershim on
his return yesterday from stay OF four
months abroad.
The colonel alighted from his car at the
main entrance of his own hotel, surveyed
the rotunda, approached the desk, shook
hands with a friend and exclaimed:
"There isn't q hotel in Europe furnished
as decently or kept as well as the modern
hotels of the United States"
Then the colonel heaved sigh OF salts
faction at being on native ground once
more, and went to lunch.
Col Lankershim visits Europe once IN
two years as regularly as clock work, and
although he has frequently returned with
stories Of progress abroad he made the
sweeping assertion last night that the old
country Is still taking lessons from
America. Moreover, he went into details
Were l asked" said he, what i'm
pressed me most about Europe my answer
would be the general prosperity OF the
continent. In fact the whole world Is
prosperous. We have plenty of prosperity
here at home, but we certainly have no
corner on 1t. I visited the more important
cities OF Europe, accompanied by my son
John, and in every one of them trade was
furnishing.
Much Building in Progress
within the past two years there has
been a wonderful improvement over there
There seemed to be nearly as much con-
struction work going on In most OF the
cities as there is in Los Angeles. Old
tumble-down stores of two years ago,
many of which I have visited several
times, now have elegant plate glass fronts
and are gorgeously decorated
"Still they are behind the times. / made
a special study of new buildings going up
in Paris, London and Vienna and, believe
me, they are of the class that we We're
putting up fifteen years ago. Very little
iron Is used, and you could not find sky
scraper with the Lick observatory ap-
paratus.
america is teaching Europe the art of
building as rapidly as possible, but l be-
lieve 1t will be twenty years before they
will understand the value of concrete
structures
why" continued the colonel, they are
only now beginning to appreciate the YES
tibuled trains. Only the highest class
trains on the continent offer better accom-
modations than our most ordinary locals
And when it comes to hotels-well, say
there isn't hotel in Europe as well fur
nished as the high graders we have at
home.
Los Angeles on Top
Nor is there street car system to
compare with that of Los Angeles and
compared with our lighting system all the
noted cities of the world might as well be
using tallow candles.
mo use of talking" said Col Lanker-
SHIN proudly, "a trip abroad makes a man
a better American. 1t teaches him to
appreciate his own country. could not
find a city in Europe possessing such at
fractions as Los Angeles-ocean, noun
tains, groves, parks, climate, etc. And
yet because every city of any conse-
quence on the other side throws out the
tourist sign millions flock to Europe be-
fore they know what is to be seen in this
country. L am certainly strong for tbs
See America first idea"
Col. Lankershim and his son were for
tunate while in Rome in obtaining an in
terview with the pope, whom the colonel
describes as a man bubbling over with
hospitality, geniality and kindness.
From Rome they went to Florence, then
to Venice; after that, Vienna.
And just then the orchestra in the lobby
of the Lankershm started Strauss
waltz.
Vienna's New Opera
'In Vienna" said the colonel, I'VE heard
the reigning sensation, a comic opera as
beautiful as any ever written, called The
Merry Widow. We attended the 427th
performance, and 1t has since entered
upon a run at Days theater in London
The piece has taken Europe by storm.
I'VE did Switzerland and France, and in
Paris witnessed Massenet's new grand
opera, 'Ariane,' which, in my opinion, IS
the peer of La Boheme' and 'Rusticana'
"Still more fortunate were we in attend
ing the performance at Covent Garden
commanded by King Edward in honor Of
the king of Denmark Caruso and Melba
sang the first act of La Traviata,' and
Caruso and coming international celeb
rity, Mile. Destin, sang in Madame But
terf1y.' Caruso on this occasion was
decorated by the king of Denmark. About
80 per cent of the auditors were in uni
form-the rest of us In evening dress.
Somehow we seemed to get in at the right
time to take in all important events.
II have never enjoyed trip abroad rs
much as, this one, believe me, but there is
no place like home"
Hotels Are Crowded
Col Lankershim states that although
there is a great amount of building going
on, and new hotels going up in all foreign
cities, 1t was with the utmost difficulty
that he secured good accommodations.
Americans who have never been west
of the Missouri river" said he, tear off to
Europe, believing that there, and only
there, can the atmosphere of vacation be
found. The result is that on the principal
thoroughfares of Paris and other cities
you find as many people speaking English
as speak the native tongue"
Then what is the prospect for the
tourist season in Los Angeles?T was
asked of the colonel.
Great! Every foreigner I met going
over had been here, and everybody l met
while over there is coming. And another
thing 1 noticed" said the colonel before
stepping into the elevator, American
made shoes are sold in every European