The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-10-05
4 Wzaeb Travelled Woman GIves
valuable 'P0lnte1S' On The Subject
Mrs Asa Rounree Talks Interestingly of Experiences
Prefers An Upper Berth to Lower One On All
Occasions-Reason For So Doing
BY DOLLY DALRYMPLE.

During the summer months in these
columns the experiences of a very clever
woman were related in regard to travel
ing. Her startling statement of the fact
that she preferred an upper berth to a
lower one under all conditions and cir
cumstances was received with a great
amount of interest," and many comments
were made upon the ideas which were
practical as well as amusing. This par
ticular woman in question, however, re-
ferred exclusively to ocean travel. and
how she came to be converted to the
upper berth idea.
few years ago some other incidents
relative to travel were recorded here
which gave occasion for Mrs. J. Asa
Rountree to say to me that she had en-
joyed some little experience herself in
the matter of travelling, and I Immediate
~ asked her to tell me some of them.
The experiences of bright, clever
woman on a subject which is of interest
TO nearly every one, as travelling undoubt-
eddy is, are always delightful, and Mrs.
Rountree told me many that were most
unique,
Among other things she said in her af-
fable way:
II have been very much interested in
your articles on travel and travellers this
summer and enjoyed them immensely.
but, of course, 1 have been unfortunate
in missing some of them, as I have been
running around so much myself all sum-
mer, that home papers were at a premium.
The articles I read set me thinking about
all the different kinds of travellers, and
what they get out of trips and what
part of 1t they give to others. Now
there was your article Tuesday last on
the woman who was 'bored'-there was
a lot of truth and human nature in that
the guide book talk that people try to
run away from. and you can't blame them,
for you and I do the same While we
adore those who chat of out of the way
places, and sunny bits of life that most
people miss. But all this isn't what I
started out to say. 1 was thinking of
how people travel, and the comforts they
miss and now, don't look frightened when
I say that woman makes her first and
biggest mistake when she reserves a low
err berth
'"ThereI knew just how you were
going to look. But then you are just
like others. I've said this to many trav-
elers who cannot secure lower berth
for the night who decide upon delaying
their journey "a hours in order to do so.
And how did l find out? Well, like
many valuable lessons of life-I learned it
by accident.
"Of course, I've trotted around good
deal all my life for our family is very
fond of travel, and we count it in as
a necessary expense, and, of course, /
have learned ever so many ways to add
to our comfort-little things learned
only by experience"
But the upper berth? Oh, yes that s
the main point. OF course I always Sc
cure one as near the center of the car
as possible, SO as to avoid the wheels,
but 1t doesn't make half the difference
1t does In a lower berth for In the upper
it is smooth any place in the car-thats
advantage No. /. Then comes the ven
tlation, which is really the most inn
portant. The curtains reach only about
half way to the ceiling, so that you miss
the box-like feeling of the lower, and
the ventilators furnish ever-changing
fresh air.
1.-THE motion is so easy that as soon