The Washington herald., 1912-08-11
American Student Tourists
Meet With Experiences

The following is the third in a series
Of letters written for The Herald of the
experiences of jolly bunch of students,
who are working their way through Eu
rope. They left the United States as
chambermaids in a cattle ship:
London. July 5.-We are staying al
Georges clearinghouse and enjoying
ourselves tremendously at cost of
twenty-four shillings a week for living
expenses. Not only is it very nice
place, but there is also a very interest
ing lot of people here. England, Scot
land. Ireland. Wales. Canada, India, and
Australia are all represented here, not
TO mention Italy and Germany. so that
whenever a question arises for discus
sion. 1t is at once attacked from five
or six points of view. At the present
rate, shall soon know more about the
questions of the hour than the average
British subject
The English boarders are the most at
tractive of ALL I like the men particu-
larly. but have been making love to an
English girl ever since my arrival She
year-old l ever saw
We dropped into a cafe by way of cele-
brating the Fourth, and met up with
four young Virginians,- who were doing
the same. They are roughing it pretty
much as We are. but came over steer
age instead of punching cattle, and in
tend travelling third-class by rail instead
OF on wheels. We got very friendly
with them before the afternoon was out,
and exchanged addresses. We shall prob
ably see more of them before leaving
London.
Last night we took in a musical show.
and all our prejudices to the contrary,
we were forced to hand England the
palm for pretty girls and good voices
ir1or VIA Cate
ridges. a large department store con-
Quoted on American principles, where
We were continually torn between the
desire to invest and the fear of running
short in the future. In my case the
former overcame the latter to the ex-
tent of two English suits. one 50 and the
other SO. Here We bought our bicycles
which were equally cheap and good
looking. They cost us about $50. with a
complete outfit for touring, including
baggage carrier, cyclometer. lamp, and
bell, and II they last only half as well as
they look they will be the best invest
ment We ever mdae. Tomorrow we start
on little jaunt around England before
crossing to the Continent.
Maidenhead, July 9.-We are less than
a days ride from London on our return
journey, and in the short space of FIVE
days have seen enough famous towns
and castles to last us the rest Of our
natural lives. We started out by getting
stin and sore. and were satisfied with
covering the twenty-odd miles from
London to Hampton Court the first day.
This last is the most beautiful place we
have yet seen-all castles and gardens
and fountains and deer-hlled parks. Also
one Of the most beautiful stretches Of
the Thames winds about the gardens and
is lined along the south bank by null
titude of 1ower-covered houseboats.
Sitting on the terrace. we could watch
the pretty English girls pass up and
down the river in long. fat-bottomed
boats. chatting vivaciously with their es-
corts or watching his strong strokes with
languid approval.
Oxford did not greatly interest us.
There is practically no campus. and what
little grass there is they guard with ex-
cessiye vigilance. as Jack discovered
when he tried to cross Christ Church
College quadrangle. and was waved on
by an official-looking person in black
robes The same Individual objected to
our looking in students rooms as we
passed the windows. and altogether We
were glad to shake the dust Of Oxford
from our tires. Stratford -on-Avon, Ken
ilworth. and Warwick compensated hand
somely. however and being now hard
ened by work, we have to-day covered
eighty-one miles from stratford without
any difhcuity at all.
Chantilly,- Depot St. George, France
We did not stay long in London on our
return. but hastsnsd on 70 Paris. cycling