Evening star., 1920-02-21
TOURS IN EUROPE
VOID OF COMFORT
Correspondent Tells Pro-
Spective Travellers to Post
Up on Difficulties.
BY GORDON STILES.

by tabIeEr1m TO The star ana thf
Chicago Daily News, Copyright. 1920.
LONDON. February 16.-Americans
centemp .ating trips to Europe THIS
year would do well first to ascer-
tain the travelling and hotel condl-
tionS in the countries they expect to
visit. Ii is safe to assume that such
of them as have not been abroad
before will encounter what will seem
to them to be hardships. The least
that can be said is that there are
few spots on this SIDE where traF
cling is not much to be aNoioe'
nightmare.
The first disa agreeble feature is the
number of regulations with when
the tourist will find himself sur
rounded In practically every couh-
try he must report himself 70 the
police. whom he must keep inforn'ed
of his movements. Days are often
consumed standing in line waiting
for vises on passports. or some otner
form of rubber stamp operation. NJ
merous photographs must oe kept
constantly on hand. for they are de
handed from all quarters, and usual.
" when the victims supply mas run
out.
Hotels "FilIed to Bursting Point"
Hotels everywhere are fun to the
bursting point. AS a rule. they have
blithe custom of informing YOU
that they have received your wire
for a reservation all right but there
- no room. and they have practically
no hope of ever Givin" YOU one:
The war has left Euronean oispo-
sitions badly warped and the cour-
tesy of the old days is largely an
sent. You may encounter II orca-
sionally. but not as rule. Sendlhg
out a suit of clothes to he pressed
/ II lrH nt
o cept perhaps. in Berlin. The man
ner in which baggage is delayed and
handled in transit makes it often
necessary to have the apparel over
hauled in a hurry. Iaundries nave
no idea of quick work and the best
nateria rapidly succumb to their
processes.
First lass Ticket Meaningless.
First class tickets mean nothing if
he trains are crowded, as most of
mem are. I have often been wedged
nto a car with ten or a dozen holders
If third and fourth class tickets. In
most countries the trains are bitterly
old because of the lack of coal. and
his condition also prevails in many
tCtels Some of the London hotels are
easonably warm. while others are
old and dismal, and a room with
'rivate bath IS exceedingly hard TO
ind. Both in England and on the con-
ertain foodstuffs are scarce. while
such $ you can get is dispensed with
"rudging hand at towering prices.
Summer. of course. will remedy the
ola weather aspect, but to make up
for it there will be plenty of others.
s for instance. being crushed into
;tuffy railway compartments with the
solder spirits of the unWashed who
object to third-class accommodation
md soap. That hardly holds good in
'ections of central Europe where the
surging throngs are comprised of
mixture of nationalities.
Exchange Rates No Guide.
Then too, il is bad plan to reckon
on how far dollars will go based on eX-
change rates because the great mass of
European purveyOrS to public discom-
fort are not the last to learn the value
IF real money and raise their prices ac-
cordingly. To find soap and towels or
even water in railway car washroom
would be regarded as miracle. while
drinking water long ago ceased to have
acquaintance with the rusty and dirty
tanks which still may infrequently be
seen clinging hazardously to dusty cor
ners. Outside of a very few of the best
hotels the lavatories are miserable dirty
affairs which would not be tolerated by
the board of health in any American
town of more than 5000 inhabitants.
watery beers are vile, only the French
champagnes and various coIdials re-
tanning their former virtues.
Plenty to De Seen.
OF course, there is plenty to be
seen. The distracted inhabitants of
Europe have not yet hammered off the
tops of the mountains or stopped up
the rivers. I do not suppose they will
do that for some years yet. so aspir-
ants for a European trip need not
worry in that respect. Those craving
excitement are likely to find it, 1t is
very exciting to give up your hotel
to an eager claimant and to have
your trunks conveyed to the station
and then find that a strike of railway
employees is on. You might even have
the good luck to be caught in a revo-
luton.
With the recollection of more than
a years steady travelling over the
greater part of Europe fresh in my
mind and with the prospect of more
of it ahead, / am not advising any
body who is not driven by urgent ne
cessity to undertake a Joy ride on
this side until conditions are substan-
TALLY improved.