New-York tribune., 1912-01-07
CTITl.
London, December 10.

His experience may be painful or pleas
ant but ii must be an experience. Among
the passengers Of the Mauretania who
landed on the morning Of October 18th
there was the usual panic. Americans
who are so unpatriotic as 10 prefer Eu-
ropean travel TO the greater attractions
Of South Dakota and oklahoma know
well what sort of penalty awaits them
on their return. Uncle Sam seizes on
their possessions, turns their trunks In
side out and upside down, and levies
upon all dutiable articles, and upon
some which are not, such ransom as the
uniformed myrmidons of the Custom
House think proper. The declaration the
passenger Is required to sign on oath
seems to have no particular value cX-
cept as a basis for future accusations of
defrauding the revenue, since it is rot
accepted as even prima facie evidence
Of the facts TO which he swears. Once
on the wharf the appraiser or inspector
or whatever he is, begins his inquisition
as If the declaration did not exist. Each
American passenger is treated as a pos
he be an Englishman he is let off on
easier terms than the American, so far
as baggage is concerned, but is required
to answer a string Of insulting inter
rogatories; whether he has been in
prison, whether he is a polygamiSt or
anarchist, and the like; and SO the
international balance of discourtesy is
redressed
But /, as an American, was not asked
10 unveil my guilty past and. as having
| lived three years abroad. came in under
The more favorable terms granted in res
! spect Of luggage TO the foreigner. More
than that. The first friendly greeting |
| had was from one OF these uniformed
myrmidons, very polite and kindly
myrmidon. In him the sentiment Of
| nationality, or some other good-natured
| sentiment, was so strong that he shook
| hands with me and welcomed me to New
! York. This from a man l did not know
| ! thought good omen, as it proved to
! be. Such formalities as he was obliged
10 observe he did observe, but in the
way easiest to me, with an evident wish
to smooth the path the arriving traveller
has to tread
| My experience, therefore, may be set
down as a pleasant one by comparison.
At the same time every trunk or other
piece of luggage was opened and over
hauled. but it was done civilly and with
no avoidable annoyance, and took no
very long time. ! will only add that
| landing in Liverpool on the return voy-
age the customs officer looked over my
| possessions, picked out the least of
them, said smilingly, Perhaps that will
be easiest for YOU to open; shut it as
soon as opened, and so the "examina-
tion" was completed
| There were other contrasts between
the ways of New York and the ways Of
Liverpool From the Cunard pier |
drove in cab to the Pennsylvania sta
ton, mile or a few yards more. and
for this Journey was required to pay So
plus 81 80 for luggage, by what is called
in New York express" In Liverpool
there being that morning no special from
the Riverside station because most of
the Mauretania's passengers had landed
at Fishguard. the London & North West
ern Railway sent Omnibuses and lug
gage vans TO the landing stage. perhaps
two miles, and there was no charge for
either, an example which | respectfully
commend to the Pennsylvania Railroad.
If / had taken a cab the fare would
nave been at most 30 cents, or one
quarter the New York charge for half
the distance. Luggage included, the
New York rate is seven times the Liver
pool or London rate. Inestimable are
the blessings of liberty when it means
Iiberty-to plunder.
| During my three or four weeks in
America l had many more proofs Of the
prevalence Of this particular form Of
freedom. 4 taXiCab from the Ritz
Carlton to 32d street at 81 50 gives
good enough average The London fare
for the same distance would have been
- cents. For three trunks from the
Hotel Wocott. in 31st street, to the
PENNSYLVANIA station, in 32d street.
81 10. London price 10 cents The ask
ing price for a baggage wagon from
West 18Th street to the Cunard pier was
81 as against 10 cents i'm London by
cab passenger and all his belongings
included. That l might not embark
penniIess. my host sent them and me by
motor to the ship.
Beyond all this is the systematic delay
. in express" deliveries. Arriving in
Washington at 4:2O p. m. was prom
ised by the Union Transfer agent that