The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1914-09-09
SIGHT SEEING
IN LONDON
Conner Party While Marooned in Lon.
don Spend Most Profitable Time
in Sight Seeing.
TIPPING SYSTEM IN PERFECTION

People Crowd Streets for War News
Little Realized Embarrassment
to American Travellers.
Editor of Review:
In my account of our trip abroad in
last weeks issue OF the paper, we
found ourselves IN London after a
most sensational departure from
Paris. We spent two weeks which we
had hoped to devote to Switzerland
and Belgium, in London. While we
were in the latter city. Immediately
preceding our return to the United
States, we were practically killing
time waiting for an opportunity to sail.
But it is not to be inferred that the
time was spent without advantage for
there were great many interesting
things to see and the opportunity was
not neglected. A number of trips
were taken to points away from the
center of London, going as far as
twenty-five miles out to places of
interest, in various directions. The
pleasure Of our trip was greatly en-
HANGED by the delightful weather
which we found both in England and
in France. In fact, from the time we
sailed from New York on June q until
our return on August "a, we exper-
fenced but one intentionally warm
day. that being August first, the day
we left Paris for London 1t may
have been the difficulty of getting out
of Paris that made it appear much
warmer than it was in fact. Perhaps,
it was due to the cool weather that
we were not troubled with flies or
mosquitoes, at least. we did not see
any except in one instance and that
was in hot house at Hampton Court.
London has great many large
stores, but we think Chicago and New
York excel them. The largest and
best store in London is owned by
a party by the name of Selfriege, an
Marshall Field & Co. store in Chica-
go. He keeps high grade of goods
and panders largely to the American
trade. Like Marshall Field & Co.,
OF Chicago, he is able to secure
good prices for his goods. He
is a prince to advertise and his sue
cess in business is due in large
meaure to this one fact. There are
number of American drug stores
and shoe stores in both London and
Paris. was told by druggist that
about one fourth of his trade was
with Americans. We know that the
American shoe is more popular in
both London and Paris than shoes
manufactured in England and France
One thing that impresses traveller
in London is the politeness of the
help with which he comes in contact.
1t makes no difference whether he is
a bank cashier clerk in store, a
porter in hotel, conductor on
a street car. or a laborer upon the
street, you are impressed with his
courtesy and politeness. If you
purchase the most trivial article in a
store. when you leave you are &C.
cOmpanied to the door and thanked
and invited to come again. The con-
ductors on the street cars are al
ways ready to answer questions and
to volunteer in formation such as
they think would be appreciated. One
certainly feels. after having been in
London. that there is no occasion to
complain of the treatment that he has
received by those with whom he
necessarily comes In contact. This
is true with other nationalities we met
but not to such an extent as in Lon
don.
The system of tipping is found in all
its perfection in both London and
Paris. We heard of but one hotel in
London where the system was frown-
ed upon. The Strand Palace hotel has
notices posted up that tipping is pro-
hibited in the dining room or for serv-
ices rendered by any other employee
in the hotel. There is but one way to
meet the demands and that is to fill
your pockets with small change and
dole it out right and left. A smaller
donation will satisfy than in the Unit
ed States.
1t was our misfortune to find the
National Art Gallery closed while in
London. This was not on account
of the war; but of the militant suffra-
SPJtcS WIN lOOA duNdhtoSC VI thoii
privilege to visit the gallery and cut
and practically destroyed some of the
fine pictures. 1t is a sad commentary
on community like London that
there is no power to control few
belligerent women whose enthusiasm
to serve their cause makes criminals
of them. The agitation for universal
suffrage abroad is apparently con.
fined to England because in no other
place was any reference made to it.
The all absorbing topic now is the
war. The most intense excitement
prevailed during the few days immed.
lately preceding the declaration of
war on the part Of England.
During the week that war was
declared the streets in London and,
especially those about Trafalgar
square and leading down to the House
of Parliment, were blocked at night
with thousands. If not hundreds of
thousands, of people waiting to hear
the next thing to happen. Speeches
were made by prominent speakers,
and the war feeling developed to the
highest pitch. 1t was surprising to
see the enthusiasm on the part of the
English people which was developed
in so short a time. The leaders did