Semi-weekly herald., 1914-09-21
REv. BuRGOON TELLS OF
EUROPEAN EXPERIENCES


trip replete with interesting feat
ures, regardless of the fact they had
to abandon their travels over CONT
mental Europe.
The Rurgeons sailed for Europe
July Ia and landed in Liverpool on
the goth. The journey was pleasant,
but uneyentful. When they reached
that city instead of going direct to
London us nearly all their fellow
tourist travellers did, they made their
first stop in Chester, the old Roman
walled town, where they spent three
days covering things of interest,
which, of course, included the famous
old cathedral
The next stop was at Stratford-on-
Avon, where they followed the beaten
pathway Of all tourists to the haunts
or said to be haunts of Shakespeare.
| During their three days stay they
\ made the acquaintance of an English
physician, through whose courtesy
they enjoyed an interesting auto tour
of the surrounding country
After a brief sojourn in Oxford,
the travellers were off for London,
arriving there July 2s. Here they
first commenced to hear rumors of
war, but though it the sort of war
| talk we hear in America on occasions,
and did not take il seriously. But
| fhn
made a trip to the general office OF
the Cooks Tourist agency to deter
mine II there was any possibility of
cncountering trouble on the continent.
He received the assurance there was
not the least, so he made arrange
ments for their tickets and accom-
modations for n journey to commence
the following Monday and which
would include week in Paris, short
stay in Belgium and Holland, visit
to portion of Germany and Switz-
erland and brief stays in Rome and
Venice, and sailing for home on Au-
gust 90.
| Saturday morning the rumors of
war became so persistent that he
deemed it advisable to make another
trip to the Cooks agency to deter
mine if real danger existed This
time the information bureau was not
so confident, but it stated they could
make the trip to Paris with safety,
/ and at that point the agency would
advise them as to further moves. So
certain were they that they would car
ry out their plans that they inten-
tionally ridded themselves of all their
English money but a sum equal to 81
in ours. They provided themselves
with French money that amounted to
about $5 in order to have tip funds
for their journey to Paris.
During the course Of the morning
they decided to visit the American
ambassador. When they nearer the
embassy, they were surprised to find
the house, yards and street surround
ing crowded with excited Americans,
and learned that every one of the
number was seeking for passport.
This action on the part Of the fell
low country men made them consider
they should make similar provisions
for themselves, and they decided to
four long and weary hours, Rev. Bur
goon was admitted to the secretary's
office and without much delay secur-
ed their passports.
War was declared by some of the
continental countries on that day. In
the afternoon American refugees from
the continent began pouring into the
big city, and all were wrought up tt
the highest pitch. Women became
hysterical and men paced the street
in anxiety.
When the Sabbath arrived the sit
uation had become so tense Ameri
cans realized that an emergency wal
at hand, and that it required
immediate action. So meeting wa
called at the Hotel Savoy, which wa
attended by nearly 1000 of our peo
pie. Oscar Strauss and other promi
nent Americans delivered addresses
and led in the movement to provid
, relief for the Americans stranded il
the city. Committees were appointe
to furnish financial aid, informatio
and general care for all who coul
: claim protection under the stars an
stripes.
The English, regardless of the tel
rible strain under which they We're Ia
boring, were not unmindful Of tn
plight Of their visitors and extende
y every possible courtesy to them, eve
a to the point of offering financial a
= to entire strangers.
G The first Monday in August
known as bankers day in Englar
and is observed as legal holiday |
: all institutions throughout the coul
d try, and all are closed. Parliamel
Q on that day passed an act extendir
=. the holiday until Friday. This vi