Evening star., 1919-12-14

Any observer who has
watched the closing of windows and
green blinds Of the great houses in
to be important. Europeans say that
the constant opening and closing OF
our houses. no matter in what climate
they are situated, is the significant
symbol Of our national restlessness.
Probably this is true. 1t Is symbol
of other traits, however, one of which
Is to pay for health and comfort. at
whatever price demanded.
There are insular nations, like
France and Italy, who think of us as
vagabonds, beloved" or otherwise.
They like this symbol of restlessness
when 1t brings money to them. They
have deplored our recent lack OF
travel with gnashing of teeth. for their
fair lands have always been the play
ground Of our millions and much oe
their industry was spread to catch
our careless dollars.
X X X X
That we are self-constituted vaga-
bonds all of us are aware. We are
the great vacationists. No other ma
tion, with the possible exception Of
England, has such tolerance for the
spirit of play or the desire to improve
our vitality so that we may produce
more as has America. We have gone
back to the caravan age, our cara
vans being the Pullman car and the
motor
Thn nf w
this country's prosperity was used to
boasting that they worked without
vacations for twenty years at time.
No man would admit such fact to-
day, even If it were fact. He would
be ashamed Of his potato existence.
The doctors aid and abet this cara
van life. Possibly they started it.
Fifty years ago the medical men ad-
vised a change Of scene for every all
ment. First they offered different
parts of our own continent as cures
for whatever sickness resisted their
skill, then they suggested places out
side OF this continent; and far-flung
spots Of the world. seeing their
chances for money, built up seductive
sanatoriums. followed by pleasure re-
sorts.
Few places on this whirling planet
have escaped the tourists purse by
reason Of rapid transit. Morocco is
linked to Alaska, Manila to Nova
Scotia, Athens to Hawaii, Toxic to
Bagdad. No star of empire has pene-
trated into the farthermost recesses
of land and sea-and mountains as have
the Americans in search of something
they call health. recreation, curiosity
or pleasure. No matter what the name,
the pursuit of new lands goes on. the
national desire for change driving us
on from heat to cold, from snow to
pine, from moist to dry air.
If one took a census of the opening
and closing of city houses, and fol-
lowed the itinerary of most of our
people for one year one would easily
come to the conclusion that the ma
jority of. US are running from the
climate. We might appear to the Mar
tians as weaklings. as humans who
could not stand any degree of the
thermometer.
Our rich have a variety Of houses
to which they can escape when any
phase of the weather Is against their
liking. Most Of us escape the heat by
going north in summer, the cold by
going south and to the Pacific coast
in winter, the wet autumn on the
eastern coast by going to the Virginia
and Carolina mountains, the humid
spring by running to the dry lanes.
Nothing in the way Of climate suits
us more than two months at a time.
How the very rich stand the strain
of quickly and constantly shifting
their habitation is the query of the
lazy ones. They whirl about the eartn
like motion picture films. and they
must feel this rapid action a necessi-
ty. or they could not go on with 1t.
In their train come the people with
moderate wealth; the movement less
ems as the money decreases: and. as
the tail of the comet. come the semi
annual vacationists.
All in between is an unceasing whirl
of atoms seeking a few weeks of va
riety in various climates, some wher-
ever certain sports are seasonable.
Once upon time we stayed put" Now
we copy the birds and the fish.
Does the constant movement i'm
prove us? Would we give 1t up even
II 1t were proved that we deteriorated
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