The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-02-01
BOOK REVIEW

The following is from the Los An
geles News: Although books and let
tiers OF travel have been produced in
almost every conceivable form, yet
refreshingly different scheme has
been employed In DAILY Notes of a
Trip Around the World" by q. W.
Howe. editor Of the Atchison Globe,
and author OF that provincial classic,
The Story Of Country Town"
These are actual notes written daily
and sent back to his own paper by
Mr.. Howe as he tourneyed around the
world with his daughter, to whom he
a1ludes as the Bureau of Education
because of her graduation from a
fashionable girls school. Their trav-
tine. Egypt and their flying trip
through Europe are told In the most
delightful, intimate and unconven-
tional manner, which resembles a
family talk more than a dissertation
on foreign lands
style. The writer describes what he
saw in q series of sketches and adds
detached observations about the peo-
pie and customs in the drollest fash
| ion. The informal and conversational
character of the notes admits of
the discussion Of an unlimited variety
of subjects, and one learns in
breath Mr.. Howe's opinion of paja-
| mas and his views on foreign mis-
sions. The descriptions. in which the
reader Is spared sunsets. are graphic
and entertaining, with fund of in
formation skillfully concealed In the
| homely, matter-of-fact terms. There
| is not a dry. cold, hard fact In the
| two volumes.
But the greatest charm of these
Guide books tell the sights to see but
here the traveller is told how he will
| feel when he sees them, which Is a
vastly different matter. Mr.. Howe Is
neither q set traveller with a set pur-
pose, nor a delving historian, but
his eye open and with a sense Of hui
NOR that saves many q day. He OBJ
jects to being cheated by a fakir in
Cairo as much as he would to being
swindled in New York and he Is Just
as uncomfortable when he is cold and
hungry in Rome as he would be when
cold and hungry at home. There is
nothing of the humbug about him. No
number Of Baedeker's stars could
make him rapsodize over picture
he did not enjoy. 1t is refreshing to
find one who does not feel constrain-
ed to admire a sight which really,
down in his heart, he considered hid
eous. Many an American tourist
when reading these notes will say,
There, that is just the way I felt,
L
WEAKNESS of seeing too much and be-
ing satiated with sights, Keeling ev-
ery one that has Travelled extensively
has experienced, is most truthfuiiy
and expressively described, as for ex-
ample:
TRAD OF being a tourist; OF having
queer natives rush at me and squawk
i1fstory. I suppose all this will do me
good in time-that it will all be useful
tx,er q q
to me in my fa ssusae reS When Il think
that I have still the Holy Land to see.
I wish could make an arrangement
to be loaded in cannon ana snot
through Palestine. l nave spoken
of being surfeited with sight seeing :
man without a head. or with two
heads, I should glance at him YEARLY
While out today, two running
men appeared. preceding z carriaEe IN
and I did not turn my head, although
the guide was greatly excited; am
living In the khedive's palace and his
sister does not interest me. II the
khedive himself should call should
not pay much attention to him: he has
been whipped so many times that
might be tempted to try It myself"
Unnattering as Il may be. the cree-
ture comforts obtrude themselves In
most convincing fashion even in the
most marvellous countries Strange
foods and strange customs make the
sturdiest heart quail. The author was
genuinely hom esick and voices the
sentiments Of thousands Of tourists
when he remar1ks: TT you are dis
posed to pay any attention to what
say. let me impress you with this:
There Is nothing in travel as enter
tanning as you have been led to sup
pose. - And when I get home
there will be no more travel for me
and no LONGING for II :"