Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-08-18
HOUSEHOLD HELPS.
A Novel Reason for Travel.


A Japanese lady en- voyage recently
gave a novel reason for an extended
| tour in the United States and Europe.
| When questioned by a visitor as to
| what she had seen in America, she eX-
pressed great interest in a visit to
| Mount Vernon, to Arlington, and to
! the White House, where she had spent
| an agreeable hour with the President
and Mrs. Roosevelt, adding in her slow,
carefully worded English, when / go
back TO Japan I shall have some
| topics"
"Topics!" calculated her listener.
what do you mean, madame?"
"Topics!'' repeated the Oriental
lady, with strong emphasis upon the
last syllable. when my husband
brings friends to the house and wishes
me to say something 1 shall not talk
about my children all the time. 1
shall tell them about Mount Vernon
and Arlington and the President. I
shall have topics!" exclaimed the lit
tie lady of the East in a triumphant
tone.
Are American women travelling in
search of topics like their sister from
the land of the chrysanthemum?
When they meet together at an after
noon tea or luncheon, it seems as if
they had found more subjects for con-
versation than the hour would con-
tain. And yet, if we contrast the con-
versation OF a group of women
twenty years ago with that of their
latter-day sisters who have enjoyed
the advantages of travel in their own
or in foreign lands, it will be found
that the travelled woman of today has
enlarged her repertoire of subjects
immensely, even if she is not, like the
naive Japanese lady. frankly voyag-
ing in search Of "topics."
To furnish another reason or induce
'ment for travel is not unlike present |
ing caviare before dinner to appetites |
already sharpened by the tonic of a |
brisk walk in mountain air, yet are |
not our magazines offering us caviare
in the form of charming articles about
every place in the known and I'M
known world? And does not each mail
bring us fascinating itineraries from
steamship companies and tourist bu-
reaus to Whet appetites that need no
encouragement? For is not this the
age of travel par excellence, and does
it seem to make very much difference
where one goes, SO only one journeys
somewhere? Nor need the most in
veterate traveller weep because there
are no more worlds to conquer, when
new vistas are constantly opening be
fore HIM.
Dalmatia is looming up as land to
be explored, and travellers, stated by
the wonders of Europe, Egypt, India
and Japan, are already turning eager
faces toward this classic land and the
adjoining pripcipality of Montenegro
while others are straining their eyes
toward Iceland. A New
York clergyman recently entertained
his neighbors at continental table
d'hote by an enthusiastic recital Of the
charms of sojourn in this island of
lofty headland and deep bays, and it
MAY be predicted with some measure
Of assurance that Iceland, like Nor
way, may become a favorite resort of
the tourist in search of novelty in
'ugged and picturesque garb.
Perhaps we, in these western lands
need reasons for staying at home rath-
ar than incentives to travel-such a
'eason as a. c. Benson gives in his
AT Large" when he says Gravel is
essentially distraction. l do not
want to be distracted any more.
Like the lobster in the Water Babies
cry, Let me alone, want to Think"
Travel without time for thought is
ike reading or lecture going or any
'ther occupation without reflection, a
mere ripping of the surface Of life. /
t is only when thought stirs the a
lepths, as the angels visit stirred the e
)ool of Bethesda, that true and lasting l