Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1915-04-27
New Englands Year for Summer
Travel,

Later evelopments in the European
struggle have tended merely to confirm
earlier impression that this is to be nc
year for European travel. Whatever
may have been the hopes of those whose
trips abroad were rudely interrupted OF
deferred last summer, they must have
been dashed lately. Even the seas about
Europe are now included in the wal
zone. Except in cases of the most ur
gent necessity, trip abroad now or fol
some time to come, either for business
or for pleasure, appears to be clearly out
OF the question.
This being the case, what q chance
there is this year for America, for its
beautiful lakes and forests, the witchery
Of its mountains, its wonderful water
ing places and luxurious hotels, yes,
and for even the humblest sort of sum-
mer boarding house nestling in New
England hills or near the sea. For this
truly is the year for "seeing America"
not "first," as the injunction always has
been heretofore, not for reasons of pa
triotism, but because this year one has
got to see IL, or stay home altogether.
Despite all the charms which this coun-
try has had to offer, thousands OF Ameri-
cans in other years about this time have
begun planning trips abroad, picking out
European spas and resorts 10 which to
spend their playtime. They have gone
abroad to the tune Of about 500, 900
every year. And they have spent much
money also abroad. The amount has
been variously estimated at from $780,
900, 900 to 5000, 100000. But 1t is Ameri-
cas- chance this time. No other place
is in the running, now that the seas un-
safe aud Europe's shambles.
Americans are the best tourists In the
world, so say the foreign hotel keepers
who have been catering to their wants
They like comfort and luxury and they
spend their money freely, but they are
also discriminating. Barred from Eu.
rope this year, they are likely to select
for their vacation period that region Of
the country and those places which can
come the nearest to affording that meas
ure of comfort and charm which they
have been accustomed to derive In Eu-
oper. And here is the great opportunity
for New England.
NEW ENGLAND's GREAT OPPORTUNITY
New England is distinctively the sum-
mer playground of the eastern portion
of the United States. No people are
more experienced in catering to the COM
fort and pleasure of tourists, no region
of the country can offer such variety OF
charm and facilities for enjoying all that
nature has to offer. Each of the six
states is a natural vacation resort. The
wonderful hotels Of this region can vie
with those of Europe. Indeed, through
out New England this business OF cater
ing to tourists and summer visitors is
just as much of an industry, just as care
fully managed and organized, as it is
abroad. For one thing, these New Eng
land places have been at it longer than
most places in this country. They are
thus the more experienced in anticipat-
ing the wants of travellers, in making
them cozy and comfortable. 1t is
business which is said to mean over
800, ,0OO, 900 year and New England be-
lieves in retaining 1t.
This fact alone should suffice to bring
to New England very large proportion
of this army of travellers which is de-
barred from European travel this year.
1t is safe to say that nowhere else in this
country could they obtain anything
more nearly resembling Europe than
what New England from the shores OF
the sound to the lake and woods OF
northern Maine can offer.
For New England, chief among Amer
ica's summer pleasure grounds, vying in
its charms with much that Europe has
had to offer, the signs surely point to
season that will outmatch anything in
the past. And it would be we'll II New
Englanders prepared now for the on
rush.