The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-10-03
By STERLING HELLO.
PAR1s. Sept. Is.

WENTY-FOUR charming young Dan
ish girls, from the Olympic games
at Antwerp, accompanied by their
physical instructress, descended the River
Meuse from Dinant to Namur in the little
steamboat
This girl troupe Of beauty, youth and
athletic fitness-girls from we'll to do Danish
famiies-had just won prize for ensemble
stunts at Antwerp Young Dianas with a
touch of Venus), they had viewed, with
bubbling JOY of living, the denominations of
German barbarism at Dnant; and now well
worthy of being viewed in turn, they were
bubbling some more on the boat
Did the good Belgians see them? No, non,
MET The boat was full of Belgians, Dutch,
few French business men, English and
three Americans. The cliffs and meadows
of the Meuse were as lovely as the girls;
and yet these Europeans were too busy
counting money in their pocketbooks and
talking business to view either attraction.
They did not know who was on the boat
This, take it, is the present attitude of
Europe with regard to tourists. The Olympic
games were VIGOROUSLY a failure, in this
sense, that the benches We're empty. The
good folks of Antwerp We're too busy hus-
Ting. Can you blame them?
How to Gain Attention.
You can get their attention only by col
liding with them--as in demanding room
at the hotel a meal at the restaurant or
merchandise in shop.
Before quitting Paris found a new yalise
is dear. well known shop asked 295 francs
for an unpliable near leather bag with enam-
elled metal frame and second class nickelled
fittings. and $50 francs for something bet
tel. The real thing, all leather and heavy
fittings. runs to LOO francs
II shall buy in Belgium" I said, "the adj
vantageous free trade land." All right At
Namur. town for natives and unspotted by
the tourist (its bookshops have not even a
booklet describing it's numerous objects of
irterest), valise between the first and sec
end qualities / have just described was
marked 1916 francs, and the woman shop
keeper said could take It or leave it, A
plain all silk knit jacket for my mother cost
$50 francs in the Bon Marche at Busssels-
exactly the price in Paris. Knit silk ties for
men, 80 francs real, II u francs mercer
t. ed. They were the same lot from the same
Lyons maker which my haberdasher of the
rue St. Ferdinand had been showing me in
Paris at the same figures.
The only cheap thing i saw in Belgium
berry, of elegant cut, with graceful collars.
if made by a good dressmaker. as low
ITO francs in Namur. Now at that mo-
II ent the dollar was at 1910 francs at the
National City Bank in the historic Brewers
Guild House of the Grande Palace, Brussels
At the Hotel dHarscamp which is the
aistocratic one of Namur, as opposed to
the big commercial hotels around the Care,
they were full up with a wedding envile
which. by its Importance. brought guests
fstaying three nights) from far lying cha
teaus; and all they could give us was old
Ltyle wooden beds, &c, without BATH at Is
flames a day. in tiny rooms. and food rate
without wine of 80 francs a day
Eating la carte and sparngly (the
cuisine being superior, nevertheless), we
gained not a whit this proffer, our aver
age being $3.50 francs apiece for food and
1880 francs including room. When we de-
sired towels had to ask for them. One
OF those Chateau folks" rooms with bath
would have cost us IS francs apiece a day
with wine which was excellent
Prices in Brussels.
At Brussels. desiring to be near friend
Melot of the Foreign Office, in the Upper
Town. we took top floor rooms OF the
astoria, advertised as the newest and most
siegant, as 1t is. Indeed half the rooms are
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