Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1909-09-02
wHJTE,s TRIP ABROAD.

Emporia gave William Allen White
royal reception when he returned
from Europe todsy. A feature Of the
affair-and one that could be con-
ceiyed only in Kansas-was the ap-
pearance Of a number Of Emporia
citizens dressed to represent char
acters in Whites new novel. "A Ger
tain Rich Man"
No Kansan who has been abroad
has gained from 1t more than the
Emporia author and none has writ
ten more Interestingly Of his Jour-
ney. In his closing letter ne tells
what the trip cost, and that is inter-
esting, too, to lot Of Kansans who
expect to go abroad some day If
they live--if they don't live
they will see wonders that will make
Europe seem tame and so won't care
Mr.. White says:
80, after night Of it, we went
10 the boat at half past six in the
morning and put our journey in
Europe behind us. We landed in
Naples on Saturday and embarked
for America on Sunday, having been
ashore something like eighteen
weeks; we followed the lilacs from
MADEIRA in April to Berlin in June
to anyone who loves lilacs. a most
delightful experience, that kept home
and the old-fashioned common things
of home always with US. We have
taken our time and even including
the mad, wild two weeks chase in
to Germany and the Netherlands, we
have slept in less than two dozen
beds since we left home. Six weeks
in italy, three weeks in Switzerland
and Germany, three weeks in Paris,
five weeks in London and week in
Ireland-that is all. And so long as
Emporia people, in one way and an
other, have paid for the "trip and con-
sidering that we carried the Emporia
viewpoint through Europe, 1t is only
fair to give Emporia people an ac-
counting Of the trip. To begin with,
the railroad fare in America for the
five of us to New York and back,
with Pullman fare and railroad incl
dentals, will cost $zI5; the round
trip steamer trip is $500; European
railroad tickets cost $500; our hotel
bill has been $1,100 including tips,
washing and all hotel expenses OF
any sort; another $500 spent on
seeing galleries, places and
palaces, which includes street car
fare, cab hire, and all of that sort
of thing, there is the sum of the
necessary expenses of such trip.
We travelled first-class on the steam
er and on all boats; second-class IN
Europe and third-class in England
and Ireland. We have had our Sun
day clothes ON but little less than
half a dozen times. We presented
only one business letter Of introduce
tion-that to a London publisher,
and two social letters-both from
William Dean Howells, one to Larkin
G. Mead a sculptor in Florence, and
another to Henry James. We were
not out for a gay round. We were
out to improve our minds. So, ex-
cepting the two gentlemen referred
to, some Kansas people in Paris and
some acquaintance in London, we
did not see the best people" any
place. But we saw the folks; The
people In trains and buses, and in
hotels, walters, servants, working
people and the general view Of men
and women who have to go to work
at 8 O'Clock. Therefore, If these
travel letters have seemed" COM
mon," II we have not taken 30 high
and serious view Of Art and OF
the worlds Aspirations as we should,
remember that we have taken the
color Of our environment. If We had
moved in higher circles we might
have had higher and nobler thought:
But what's done is done and that's
all there is to IT,"