The Detroit times., 1910-06-25
SAYS SWISS ARE
COMMENTED PEOPLE
None Very Rich and None Destitute,
Declares William B. Campbell, Home
From Rambling in Europe.

IF had an established business In
Switzerland, don't believe l would
leave 1t for any other country under
the sum-" says William B. Campbell,
treasurer OF Burnham. Stoepel & Co.,
home, after an eleven-week trip
abroad. THAT does not mean that
want to leave America. After skim
ming over the countries Of western
Europe, l think more Of the United
States than ever, and IL were to
start entirely neutral, should choose
this country. But If were a resident
Of Switzerland, and well established
there, / should not want to leave.
Switzerland does not seem to have
any extremely wealthy class, but on
the other hand, no one Is destitute.
Every one has some occupation. There
is one city which leads the world for
machine made lace, and the pastures
on the mountain sides are responsible
for great condensed milk factories,
The cities and villages also produce
watches and toys and many other ar
lticles which have a sale over tho
whole world, and every one has en-
ployment at a wage which enables
comfortable living. II is. the most
contented country one could imagine.
1t is in hotels, however, that the coun=
try leads any other CT the same size.
In feeding and housing tourists from
all parts, the bonifaces of Switzerland
reap large harvest. Within 16 miles
Of the little city of Luzerne, there are
400 hotels. some of them having as
many as 600 beds. These hotels
housed 100000 people last year.
"A country that surprised me was
Ireland. You seldom hear of the
Emerald isle except in connection
with stories OF poverty and desola-
ton. went to Belfast, where I had
some business in connection with the
linen trade. The mills with which we
do business are managed on modern
American lines. | expected to find
possibly 600 employees at work, but
found plant employing 5000 hands,
equipped with the latest and best ma
chinery In the world. There is power
ty in Ireland, but IL is no longer the
land Of desolation we once heard
about.
I'VE took only hasty tour over the
regular guide-book routes, bur II was
wonderfully interesting experience.
To see Europe properly would require
life time. We landed In Naples,
and then took in the principal cities
Of Italy, stayed little while in Swift
zerland, went across France to Paris,
and thence to England and Ireland.
France Is a beautiful country, but
Il does not look as prosperous as
always had been led 10 believe. The
French peasant may be thrifty. but
the houses we passed on the railway
were not as comfortable looking rs
the old log cabins OF Michigan.
I'm England, every one is talking
tariff. London has peculiar custom
Of allowing a speaker on any subject
whatever TO set up a little rostrum in
a corner OF Hyde Park give a lecture
and the people turn IL into sort of
debating society. Wherever the tariff
was spoken OF. the speakers referred
to America. This country seems to be
the great object lesson for Europe
The laboring class docs not favor the
tariff, declaring that II will be imposed
mostly on food stuffs. which are not
generally produced there, and that
there will be no corresponding in
crease in wages What saw OF
rural England convinces me that N
might be made much more OF food
raising country than 1t is. n the peo-
pie would go into market gardening
the way they do in Holland, they could
raise large part Of what is eaten
there Instead they turn their lands
to pastures.
ct think Europe as whole must be
much more prosperous than formerly.
and think It Is largely due 10 the en-
terprise learned from this country"
In the party with Mr.. Campbell
we're Mrs. Campbell. Mr.. and Mrs
Ralph Wilkinson and Mrs. r. NJ
GrIndley Mr. Grindley joined them
Just before the Campnells left for
home, and is now on the continent.