Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1920-05-13
OUR|STS DO NOT
FIND It PLEASANT
IN EUROPE NOW
transportation Facilities Cramp-
ed-P ices Extortionate-
Strikes CommOn-Industrial
Unrest General-GOOd Food
Scarce-Typhoid and Spotted
Fever in Poland
by DAVID LAWRENCE


Copyright 1900 by Free Press
Washington. May 1O-Disquieting re-
|rts have reached the United States gov
nment concerning conditions In F,u-
pc that should discourage American
items from going TO the continent.
hese reports have not been made pub
because the government here has al
ady been pressed from evry side TO lift
e restrictions on passports and there 81
reason why the American government
Bould court the displeasure of those
lropean countries which are eager to
I've American tourists come abroad to
end their money.
The writer has obtained survey of
nditions in Europe as revealed in Of
tial reports and while France and Eng
hid are much better off than other
untries, nevertheless, transportation ia
tiles everywhere are crowded to the
nit and American tourists are finding
uncomfortable to move around.
Fortunately France and England are
Pt in as bad shape as Eastern and South
IN Poland and parts of Germany. Ty
Ioid fever and spotted fever have come
Fer the borders of soviet Russia into
bland and while the Poles are striving
I'd 10 care for the patients, there are
UIlCuIIleS SdlOTf III HHnullIlS the Sllud-
bn. Food IN Germany is hardly of the
|st and anyone who needs care and
punishment ought not to risk his or her
balth in the central empires. The de-
rtment Of State Is not issuing pass
rts to any Of the central European
untries. but at the same time there is
restriction upon Americans going in
Germany when once they are IN France
England or Belgium
Perhaps the most embarrassing phase
the whole situation is the way the Eu-
peans are increasing their prices and
terminating against Americans. This
most noticeable in Germany where tho
opposition that all Americans are
salthy Is the basis for higher prices
r meals or rooms or goods wanted by
e American traveller, than the English
an or Frenchman. 1t is not an uncom-
on occurrence to find an American pay
Il fifty marks for something which tho
hglishman is asked eight marks for and
q Frenchman forty, and possibly ev-
ybody else only thirty
Much Of the same discrimination pre-
Ills I'm England and France though in
pth countries the governments are doing
cir utmost to keep it under control.
hey realize that American tourists will
nd Europe is too anxioust to have Ameri-
ms come abroad 10 spend their money
carry the game too far. On the other
Ind, accommodations are difficult to
ft and the law OF supply and demand is
some extent responsible for the high
ties being charged. Then, too, there is
common impression that every Ameri-
n who comes abroad gets lot Of mon
when he changes his dollars into
arks or francs or English pounds. For
any months Europe has suffered from
Q effects of the unfavorable rate of
reign exchange in endeavorng to buy
unmodities in the United States, and the
merican tourist is now paying some of
at deficit. Aside however, from physical
bnditions OF travel with hotels crowded.
aims taxed to the very doors and
Isles. and good food scarce in many
arts of Europe" there are certain dan
ers of a blow-up that may any day
huse American tourists Inconvenience
obody can foretel the future but tn,
lumber Of strikes and industrial disturb
noes is increasing. In one case Ameri
ans who went from Paris to a sea port
bwn to get their ship for America foune
dock strike and inasmuch as the sail
hg of the vessel was postponed the,
headed with the steamship officials t.
Il them board the ship. There wer'
bsolutely no accommodations in thu
oteIs of the little town.
New York Americans are said to hav'
alked the streets all night in a vaii
fort to fnd lodging. The usual red tap
reverted relief from Paris. Somebod!
lth discretion enough to permit thu
mericans to live on board the ship whil
waited for the strike to end woult
ave saved the prospective passengers
no had already paid for their passage
o end Of trouble