Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1908-09-11

surge Of people, we are in our hotel.
where are found many Americans.
among them two Virginians from the
Southwest, and right glad are we 10
unpack remember We are living in a
suit case each) and adjust ourselves for
something like a weeks stay. One
could not see London if he stayed here
year, and lots who have never lived
anywhere else do not yet know the city.
But what two vigorous Virginians will
compass in week would take volumes
to hold if told.
London Is rightly called the metropo-
lis Of the world. Here In represented
every nationality on the globe-'from
Greenland's icy mountain and Indis's
coral strands" from the BushmaR OF
Africa to the Digger Indian of the
American plains (these latter mostly
in shows). the high and low. the rich
and poor, and the middle classes Of
every cline. Paris, the second city of
the universe, eclipsesit only In brilliancy
and viciousness, and New York exeels
London in high prices and quick trans
portation, The puzzle % us Is how
this great city carries on IT'S wonderful
trade when It's manner Of living Is con-
sidered. Nobody Is at his place Of bus
mess before 9 a. M, closing at 5 or 9
p. m, darkcping the stores and pulling
down curtains In front Of show win
dows. Nobody seems TO be In Q harry,
yet there 10 an endless, nntifing stream
Of people and vehicles between those
hours. While the days at this season
are longer than ours, twilight ne longer
blends into the break of day, 90 far
ther north, One cannot get Q break
fast at snail or big cafe before $50
or 9 O'Clock, and you are locked by
massive doors or port cullis from your
hNtel after midnight, porter answer
ing the bell call and opening doors as Of
a feudal castle. He has to be clipped"
Of course, as does every one ia Europe
that does as much as answer you a |
question, from the cashier of bank to
the newsboy on the street. The Tip"
is perquisite allowed every employee,
and many servants pay the proprietor |
for job where "tips" are expected |
bountifully. This is one Of the rotten
est and most disgusting features OF
travel in Europe. made largely so by |
the foolish and lavish Americans who
travel here. It Is even more outrag sous
on the Continent. In England while |
the tip is expected, 1t is never urged,
the Englishman being very decent in
this respect. After one has traversed
France and Italy he is glad to return to
England. A cabbie takes the fee Pre-
scribed by law aad brazenly adds about
25 per cent for the tip. In some places
the hotel clerk will hand you your bill,
with scheduled tip added for waiter,
chambermaid, bell-boy. boots" por-
ter and other employees. To leave q
cafe without handing the waiter q tip
of about 10 per cent Of your bin will
bring you into alteration and the pro-
prietor, and police when appealed to
nonchalantly remark that it 10 part of
your bill. One would not mind these
tips IL regularly included In your bill,
but to be at all times surrounded BY .
hungry pack and TO not know exactly
what Is proper to give. wears on ones
nerves. 1t also requires q poskstfui Of
loose change. Information from O
street car conductor means penny or
two in addition to your fare-and 30 the
endless chain of nauseating rsceptaeles
yawn at you on every hand. The "tip"
however, is . small fee compared to
what our American people lavish on
walters in cities or summer resortS and.
considering the low prices Of most
things and travel ever here. Goes nos
make ones bill run up a. fast as might !
be expected. A dinner OF lunch that
one pays dollar for In Amsrlea ssn 1
be had in England or France for forty
cents and ten cent tip. In Holland or |
Italy II comes still less. and about every
thing else but fruit and shoes are in
the same cheap proportion. None but
the wealthy In England eau afford 10 |
eat any fruit save bananaA Peaches
are from 10 to Is cents apiece. spples
to 10 cents, cantaloupes so cents to
one dollar. and grapes 10 cents pound. |
On the Continent grapes and the finest
plums can be bought for 5 to 10 cents q
basket, but peaches. pears and apples
are ''out Of sight" thsrs also. Clothing
is about one-half the cost II 10 Ia Amer
lea. 4 penny 1.-TWO sents) Is street ear
fare, and 20 cents a mile (for ono per-
son or four) is hack fare, registered BY
automatic machines. inspected by the
authorities.
The American who 10 used 70 he
cream, soda water, chewing gum, si-
gars and chewing tobaces had better
bring his rations with him. In London
you will walk all day and rot find IN
ice cream or soda-water place. Coca
cola is unheard Of here. To chew gum
is something they have never seen, and
affords the natives some amusement,
and while they have chewing tobacco
and cigars In obscure stalls, the Ameri.
can cheweri cannot relish the product
and the smoker must pay fifteen or
twenty cents for ''hve cent" eigsr.
England, . free trade sountry, has an
almost prohibitive tariff on tobacco and
whiskey ga pious idea" you readers
viii doubtless remarl). The Britisher