Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1914-08-25

shall never want to be without again
when travelling anywhere in the world.
England was very kind to Ameri-
cans. In London the hotels took in
strangers with no money and without
baggage, giving them the best rooms
and fare.
Pathetic Sights in London
1t was a most pathetic sight in
London the first few days of the
month of August. War was declared
on Saturday, August /, the bank holi-
day fell on Monday. the Sd. and Lon
don was emptied of its citizens, but
every train coming brought thousands
of American refugees from the CONT
nent. The banks did not open, and
the express companies, of course,
could not obtain money to redeem
their travellers checks. The serious
ness of the situation justified the ex-
tension of the bank holiday for three
more days and while the American
Express Company in London paid out
what money 1T had 1t was unable to
satisfy the demand until Friday.
I cannot speak too highly of the
treatment accorded Americans by the
American Express Company both in
Paris and In London. Every courtesy
was shown, and until the 1st of Au-
gust they were cashing travellers
checks issued by other companies.
They did a great deal more than the
United States government did to re-
lieve the situation. This company is
wonderful concern and has done
more for American trade abroad than
any one other American institution.
Form American Relief Committee
An American relief committee was
formed on Sunday, the second of Au-
gust. Mr.. Theodore Hetzler was made
President, Mr.. Kent of the Guarantee
Trust Company, vice-president, and
William c. Breed, treasurer. Quar-
ters were given in the white room of
the Savoy Hotel. and that became the
storm center of the American tourists.
The destitute condition of American
tourists still in Europe has been great
ly exaggerated. The majority were
not seeking financial assistance, but
rather an opportunity to get a book
ing for an early sailing home. I could
not feel as much sympathy for the
wealthy Americans as with the army
of school teachers who appeared to be
perfectly helpless. They stood in the
rear of the crowds assembled at the
booking offices asking questions of
every we'll dressed American who
came their way, but they were not able
to get early passage.
Slept ON Deck
We came over on the Americcn line
steamer st. Louis, our regular reser-
vations home having been cancelled by
the British government taking over
the vessel for which we were booked.
We were on the main, or lowest deck,
ana there we're three other men in the
cabin with me and two ladies in q
cabin with Mrs. Watt. The coal, which
the company was able to procure, was
of such poor quality that it required
the utmost effort to provide sufficient
steam to make eighteen knots an
with
ventilating system on the boat was
bad, and, therefore, the thermome-
ter registered around 100 degrees in
the lower deck cabins, which made
1t impossible to stay in them. We
were allowed to sleep on the deck and
the officers permitted second cabin
passengers to bring their mattresses
and bedding from their cabins onto
the deck, an unheard of proceeding
in ordinary circumstances.
Americaps Panicky
l see the New York papers are full
of criticisms made by people who were
unable to get every creature comfort
and / want to say that l was heartily
ashamed of many of my fellow coun-
trymen for the way they acted In
Europe, becoming more panicky even
than the French people themselves
and on the steamers acting wholly
without any reason. When a person
buys second cabin passage he cannot
expect Hotel Knickerbacker service,
and those who bought third class pas
sage and came home in the steerage
knew beforehand what they were GO
ing up against; they had been told
that they would have clean bedding
but that the regular food would be
what was always served and that
they could expect nothing else. A
committee on our steamer tried to in
duce the captain to divide the menu
of the second cabin with the third
cabin, but he soon proved that was
impracticable from the physical stand
point of service. The ball room on
the boat was turned over by the cap
tain to the ladies and children of the
third class. and this was filled with
steamer chairs given up by cabin pas
sengers The women and children
slept there from the second night out.
The food was as good as one could
expect for the price paid, and II was
ample for all The last dinner served
on Saturday night was much better
than some of those served in the earl
ler days of the passage.
Caution Against Stecrage
The Americans remaining in Europe
should be cautioned that none but the
StuFuleSt ana nafdleSt can stand the
rigors of third-class passage home.
OF course, one heard more favor
able news from the side of the allies
in Paris and London than for the
Germans and Austrians. Predictions |
can be freely made that the war will |
not last Il great length of time. Any
man who has had to do with a com |
department of our militia or /
army Will Vouch for the statement |
hat neither side can for a long period |
provide sufficient food for such mon
itrous aggregations of fighting men.
In the early days of the month we
'ead of German troubles at Liege
where the soldiers were footsore from
he new boots they wore, and had no
ood. Men who claim to know say /
hat this will cause one or both sides
o welcome the signing of peace be-
ore Christmas
The Business Situation
In the meantime business men in
he United States are getting over the
lrst shock and are settling down to
'repare for what is sure to become a II
prosperous period for America. A
English manufactures
aid to be in London few days before
sailed that they realized they had
tough job ahead of them that they
we're going at it with n determination
o see 1t through, and then compli-
hented our country on the great op-
'ortunity for prosperity that must of
.ecessity force itself upon us. All of
he South American and Oriental ,
rade, which has been English, Ger
nan and French. will now come to us