The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-05-13

Washington. D. c., May 11.-After
six lean years, Europe Is again to
entertain the American tourist on
q large and lavish scale. School
teachers, students, literari, and all
the other types Of travellers are
planning to spend their money
abroad this summer.
The reasons are several. To the
usual cultural advantages OF Euro
pean travel there are now added
the attractions 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 con-
versation up to date. Finally, bust
ness men are said to be less rush
ed with work this year, SO that
they have time to run over to
Europe as they used to do in the
days Of normally.
Altogether, Europe is going to be
popular again. 1t is difhcult now
to book passage on the big steam
ers for any time this summer. In
fact, far-sighted people tell US they
begin to make arrangements for
this years vacation as soon as they
unpacked their trunks at home last
September.
The steamship companies go 50
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 ship
ping facilities. The companies are
not in a position to add to their pas
senger fleets materially this year
They, as we'll as European bust
ness men, have had reason to regret
the suspension of tourist transpor-
tation. Their, ships have been used
as cattle boats. freighters, and
transports. This has meant ex-
pensive repairs in almost every
case before the ship could be used
for passenger accommodations
again. To take one instance, the
Oeolus, which was converted into
a freighter, is said to have been
laid up nine months in. dry dock
for repairs aggregating 100000
Passages High.
Those prospective tourists who
are promised passage this summer
are no doubt concluding that Eur.
ope may be cheaper to- travel in
than this country, but an ocean
voyage tends to gobble up the diff.
ference. First class passage thai
once cost $12O now sells for about
$3.50. and other rates are CORE.
spondingly elevated.
Passports, too, seem to have &C
quired lasting favor with govern.
ments as revenue material, and are
still demanded of tourists at the
remunerative rate, to the govern.
ment. of $40 per, red tape thrown
in. Passport red tape is not 81
rigorous and tiresome as it has
been, though it still takes two OF
three weeks to obtain papers.
l OhSC Tic toulloL SclS " EuIOU
he may or may not be able to save
any money. England is notably an
expensive place now, even with the
English pound worth a little less
than three dollars. instead of its
normal $4.S6. According to the de-
partment of commerce, living costs
in England have not fallen to any
extent since the war. A few com
modities tend to drop as in thi!
country, but to offset the reduc
tons rents have risen and trave
is more expensive with no imme
diate prospect of much lower fares
| In Norway and Sweden, likewise
the rate of exchange is not sui
ficiently in our favor to do more
than Offset the heavy increases il
living costs. Economy for the trav
eler is impossible, We are told, il
northern Europe.
AS for Switzerland and France
an experienced traveller, recent!
returned, says that these countrie.
offer satisfactory accommodation.