New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-11-16

TT has not been very many years ago, certainly within
| the memory Of many OF us who are getting gray
headed when trip to Europe was the rare privilege
Of the wealthy the hope Of the prosperous and the i'm
possible dream for the vast majority of Americans 1t
was trip that undertaken with many misgivngs,
1botvn1 as It did long journeys railways where
frequent changes were necessary and still further
.~n across what was considered very wide ocean. We
had regt many tales of storms at sea, and OF ship
wrecks .a sailor TO most of our minds, was a rare
sort of rockies, advcnturcr who daily took his life in his
hands and looked with Scorn on andlubbers. The ships
were small. not uncomfortable, and rather irregular.
Also the price of passage, as money values went in
those DAYS nearly enough to Staggcr any other
than one ~ financial independence Again. those OF us
who had been brought up in the interior Of vast
country anil had never seen body OF water SO large
that we could not across it. had deadly fear OF sea-
sickness This in itself, was terrible bogy. 1t ran
neclant re. with the mOthcr-inaW joken Ill the good
old comic Heeklies am not sure that some OF us would
not have preferred hour in torture chamber to that
dreadful wce, of illness that quite certain
sailed all antu5bcrs when Drawing the mighty deep
There was still another feature connected with the
Journey across the water that rendered such an
dertakiug extremely difficult which the strange lack
OF obtain lie information concerning almost everything
pertaining % cost There tourist agencies that
could advise as to railway fares or timetables, hotel
rates or the handling OF baggage. An excursion to
Europe meant sort Of adventurous Scurrylng from the
moment one left home until his return, and furthermore
in Europe itself in those days there sad lack of
system. The convenient hotel courier, the marvellous
poyg1t that he is today, not often in evidence
Il was quite possible for the traveller to have great diff
Guilty in finding anyone who spoke his tongue and could
give him friendly advice. European countries them
selves So frequently engaged in the verge Of
were r,~ls-.ul Of one another and did nothing 20
courage The mere sghtsccr They made it difficult for
thetravee~t cross their boundaries. Thcymadeit diff
cult for him % wander at will throughout their domain
France marvellous treasure house that 1t Is for the
traveller broad was decidedly unsafe; for it was rccov-
ering bu. slowly from the TRYING times Of war with Ger
many and was in almost perpetual revolt Germany,
reuec with objects Of Interests for the traveller disked
Americ.r- and distrustcd any who came across the
border Oh. her late enemy; although She had conquered
thela--- cTectuay and stripped her Of one Of her
first provinces. Italy, which Ill Of US who had studied
Roman history were eager % see, was likewise IN tur-
MOL and no., altogether safe from bandItti. The rail-
ways o Spain were worse, if possible than they no"
are OueGtct not venture into Greece with It's alluring
ruins and % go as far as Turkey TO wander lar
afed. Sutherland was out Of the way, and hard Of
access Orv in "rncrrie old England could the traveller
feel secure and enjoy his holiday
THAT IS the way trip to Europe appeared some
forty or fifty years ago. 1t took lot Of time ana
small fortune in money in those days and was therefore