Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-11-16

TT has not been very many years ago, certainly within
the memory OF many of us who getting gray
headed when trip to Europe the 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 was undertaken with many misgivngs,
embodyng, did, long journeys railways where
frequent changes necessary, and a still further
trip across what considered very wide ocean. We
had read many tales OF storms at and OF ship
wrecks that a sailor to most of minds, a
of reckless adventurer who daily took his life in his
hands, and looked with landlubbers The ships
small not overcomortable and rather irregular.
Also the price OF passage, money values went IN
those days. nearly enough to stagger any other
than one OF financial independence. Again, those of
who had been brought up the interior of vast
country and had never seen body Of water SO large
that could not it had deadly fear of
sickness This, in itself, terrible bogy. 1t
neck and neck with the motheraw joke in all the good
old comic weeklies. that of us would
not have preferred hour torture chamber to that
dreadful week Of illness that quite certain
sailed all andubbers when Drawing the mighty deep.
There was still another feature connected with the
Journey across the water that rendered such
dertakng extremely difficult, which the strange lack
of obtainabe information concerning almost everything
pertaining cost. There tourist agencies that
could advise to railway fares timetables, hotel
rates the handling Of baggage. An excursion to
Europe meant sort of adventurous scurryng from the
moment one left home until his return and furthermore,
IN Europe Itself IN those days. there was lack OF
system. The convenient hotel courier the marvellous
polyglot that he is today not often IN evidence.
1t 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 frequently engaged in the verge of war;
mstruStul of one another and did nothing to
courage the sightseer. They made it difficult for
the traveller their boundaries They made diff
cult for him to wander at will throughout their domain.
France, marvellous treasure house chat 1t is for the
traveller abroad, decidedly unsafe; for it recov
erlng but slowly from the trying times of with Ger
many, and in almost perpetual revolt. Germany,
repee with objects of interests for the traveller disked
Americans, and distrusted any who came across the
borders OF her late enemy; although she had conquered
the latter most efectuay and stripped her of of her
first provinces. Italy, which all Of who had studied
Roman history eager to see, likewise in tur
moi and not altogether safe from bandtti The rail
ways OF Spain were worse, If possible than they
One dared venture into Greece with its allurng
ruins and to go far Turkey was wander far
ahcld. Switzerland out of the way, and hard OF
Only in "merrie 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 and