Pueblo chieftain., 1921-05-15
By FREDERIC j. HAsK1N

BY FREDERIC j. HASk1N
Washington. D. c.. May 13.-After
tertain the American tourist on a large
and lavish scale. School teachers.
| students, literati, and all the other
types of travellers are planning to
spend their money abroad this sum
mer.
| The reasons are several. To the
usual cultural advantages of European
| travel there are now added the at
| fractions Of alcohol. and of rates of
| exchange which make the American
dollar look considerably larger than it
| does In this country. Also. Europe has
| changed in the years of war. and many
people who would never care to view
the same landmark or scenic effect
| twice are going over again to bring
| their converse ton up-to-date. Finally.
business men are said to be less rushed
with work this year, so that they
have time to run over to Europe as
they used to do in the days Of norm
| alley.
Altogether. Europe is going to be
| popular again. 1t is difficult row to
book passage on the big steamers for
any time this summer. In fact, far
sighted people tell us they began to
make arrangements for this years va
| cation soon as they unpacked their
trunks at home last September.
The steamship companies go so far as
to claim that Europe will receive more
tourists this summer than in 1913. And
even at that the number will be limited
by the shipping facilities. The COM
panies are not in position to add to
their passage fleets materially this
year. They, as well as European busi-
ness men. have had reason to regret
the suspension of tourist transporta-
tion. Their ships have been used as
cattle boats, freighters. and transports.
almost every case before the ship could
be used for passenger accommodation
again. To take one instance. the
Aeolus. which was converted into a
freighter. is said to have been laid up
nine months in dry dock for repairs
aggregating 100000.
| Passage. High
Those prospective tourists who are
promised passage this summer are no
doubt concluding that Europe may be
cheaper to travel in than this country,
but an ocean voyage tends to Sobblc
up the difference First class passage
that once cost $40 now sells for about
see0. and other rates are correspond
ingly elevated.
Passports. too, seem TO have acquired
lasting favor with governments as
revenue material. and are still de-
manded Of tourists at the remunera-
tive rate. to the government. of $40 per.
, red tape thrown in. Passport red tape
Is not so rigorous and tiresomc as II
has been. tho it still takes two or
tnree weeks 10 OBTAIN papers.
. Once the tourist gets TO Europe. he
may or may not be able to save any
tsi.>zpsaeA nov, vven' With the English
pound worth = little less than three
dollars instead Of Its notmal s4.ss.. Ac-
merce., living costs in England have
not fallen to any extent since the war
few commodities tend to drop as in
this country. but to offset tho reduc-
I \
more expensive with no immediate
prospect of much lower fares.
In Norway and sweden, likewise. the
rate or exchange Is not sufficient in
our favor to do more than offset tn
heavy increases in living costs. Econ
omy for the traveller Is impossible, We
arc told in northern Europe
AS Tor switzerland and France. an
experienced traveller. recently returned.
says that these countries offer salts
factory accommoda tions in tho first
class hotels. and with the franc at a
little over eight cents instead of nine
teen. the American has a distinct ad-
vantage. Hc thinks. however. that it
Is not possible TO expect to save money
even here. The first class hotels have
been renovated and are as good as
they ever were. But when 1t comes
to the pensions. or boarding houses,
old days. Before the war IL was pos
sibIe to obtain a room and excellent
meals in a Swiss pension for as low
as ono dollar day. Now the rate is
higher. and tho food Is very different.
sutter and meat are scarce. Coarse
bread Is served. Economy is still ram
pant In these small hostclries, Just as
1t Is In private homes.
Italy is looked to by many Of tho
tourists as tho place where tho Ameri.
can eagles will scream the loudest And
| this Is no doubt true. Passenger rates
have increased over 700 per cent and
hotel and restaurant prices arc coo and
500 per cent higher. But the Ira has
decreased 400 per cent, so that IL il
worth only five cents against its
standard value of nineteen cents.
Hospitnbie Italy
Italy is said to he in good shaps to
receive visitors. Hotels have been
done over and many supplied with tho
| American luSuries of modern heating
plants and bathing facilities
| In general, the traveller NAV cxpect
to find that while travel in Europo ~
cheaper than travel in this ountry. IL
Is every bit as expensive as stayinE al
home. Everywhere tho tourist Eoer
there arc unexpected demands for