The Washington herald., 1909-02-21

LlLE LlaL may % Hlot-tANNS-- ON~~-
questions should be addressed 10 The
ArbIter, care The Washington Herald.
NOTE-The Arbiter vii be glad 20
answer any question OF social na-
ture that may be submitted Such
questions should be addressed 10 The
Arbiter. care The washington Herald
Every now and then a newspaper article
appears recounting the difficulties q wo-
man travelling alone meets with The
tales they tel Of the misadventures OF
women whom business. necessity. or
pleasure takes about the country, are
sometimes entertaining and sometimes
,zrotesoue. but they are usually born in
The brain Of the person who writes them.
TO the Initiated traveller they furnish
some amusement, but 10 the provincial
about 10 make her first trip they sre
often alarming. and sometimes deter her
from undertaking a journey or extended
travels long planned out We no longer
live in the days OF stage coach robberies,
or Kidnapping Of defenseless young wOm-
Aen by their ardent SWANS, and It IS per
fectly safe for woman 20 travel. not
only in the United States, but anywhere
sn the world. IL she only understands the
science Of travelling
Long columns have been written Of the
dangers that beset q woman in endesvor-
ing 10 obtain accommodations In the large
cities, New York being generally taken
as an example, but g person OF some
imagination can almost make any circum-
stance appear possible. 1t IS surely true,
and can be proven. that no hrst-class
hotel IN New York would refuse accom-
-modations TO a lady, Il her carriage, her
dignity, her saToir faire compel the
respect to which she Is entitled II les
entirely withs herself. An experienced
woman traveller does not go TO the Office
OF a hotel and ask the clerk IN trembling
accents II he viii accept her as a guest.
that she is travelling alone without bag
gage. and she would be much obliged
Il he would. but she presents herself al
1he desk, conscious Of her dignity secure
IN her own position, registers her name,
describes the character OF room she
wants hands in her baggage check. and
requests that IL shall be attended 70 on
errIval. goes 20 her room, gives her
orders. distributes the proper fees 10 the
serving people, goes 10 bed and goes 70
sleep.
The person at the desk. no matter how
big his diamond or how many jeweled
rings he wears OF how pOmpOus his atti-
tude. is 10 her only a servant OF the
hotel 10 take her orders. No hotel would
have a right 10 accept d woman who
begins by giving her private history. in
forms the attendants as 10 her previous
and present condition announces that
she is without baggage and hopes they
viii be very nice 70 her. Such behavior
betokens some reason for excuse and
"cui s'excuse, s'accuse- 4 person IS
apt 70 get Just what they expect, and the
reasons for this are obvious
Il is rare anywhere in the world for
2 woman 10 receive discourTesy unless
her manner invites II. and though the
hotel management in America. whether
fortunately or unfortunately, Is not on as
broad lines as IN Europe, a woman trav-
cling alone is sure TO be net everywhere
IN this country with the treatment that
her demesnOr warrants Innumerable in
cidents could be cited to prove this For
instance a Young gfrl OF sixteen was al
the last moment forced 10 take quite a
long Journey alone and missing her train.
was stranded in Boston for the night. Il
was in midsummer. and she knew Of no
friend in town 10 whom she could tele-
phone her dilemma, but she was a digni-
fed well-bred girl completely sure OF
herself. expecting the same courtesy from
every one that she accorded She ac-
Cordingly took a cab at the station, drove
To one of the best hotels in town, and
explained that she had missed her train
snd would be detained until morning. She
registered. ordered room and bath, gave
instructions 10 be wskened in time for
her train, and begged the clerk 10 see
that a telegram was sent explaining her
delay 70 the friends who would be await
ing her The only baggage she carried
was 4 small hand sstChel. and yet her
position and her statement were unQues-
toned. The clerk took fatherly interest
fn her and her way was made as smooth
as If she had a dozen attendants. although
she confessed afterward that she never
had been alore at a hotel or on a railroad
train IL her life before, she was frightened
almost blue
There was another incident that was
quoted 70 The Arbiter in discussing this
subject the other day. It was the expert
eace Of two women. who went from the
summer place where they were stopping
10 a large city for q days picnic They
were TO attend luncheon, followed by
yachting party, but the plan was that
EneN SlOlll IELuAlL " tA4EAA AlD-4-G1 AiAcN
afternoon. The yacht touched al cOun-
~ seat, where g big ball was 10 be held
the same evening. TO which the yachting
PARTY were persuaded 10 stay On their
return to town Ii was too late 10 make a
train. and these ladies went 70 the chief
hotel. They made no explanation Of why
they were there at midnight. or why they
carried no baggage. simply registering
---.--- p
In the morning they found that between
them they had not money enough to pay
the hotel bill. one Of them, therefore,
wrote out a check. and again offering no
excuse or asking even If il would be ac-
ceptabie. presented Il in payment Of the
bill, took q carriage, and went Of.
This paper does not mean 70 discTedit
any Of the incidents mentioned in the
articles setting forth the perils that
threaten the unprotected women, but 10
give some practical rules for the guild
ance Of those inexperienced in travel, and,
shall We say. the ways Of the world
When z woman starts out on a journey
she should 20 with a purse as full as her
means allow, as simple, yet as attractive.
a wardrobe as she is able to afford, stout
heart. and an absolute belief in herself
Thus equipped. she can travel 10 the snds
Of the earth
Then she should not anticipate trouble;
she should not cross bridges until she
gets 10 them. and she should not regard
every man whom she meets as having
some Interior motive She should. too,
in transacting the business Of travel
never say an unnecessary word. The man
who sells tickets has no time 10 listen
10 explanations or give directions il is
the travellers business 10 know exactly
as expeditions 4 way as possible. If a
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