The Bozeman courier., 1921-07-13
THE TOURIST

Judging by the number of foreign" cars one
sees in Bozeman every day it seems certainty
that touring has lost nothing in its popularity.
In fact so many tourists parties are to be seen
that we are inclined to believe, although without
any figures to prove it, that vacation by motor
S more popular than ever.
Some there are who can see no pleasure in
spending vacation time in tour. What's the
use, they will say, of getting all hot dusty and
worn out in making trip by motor car, that can
De made more easily by train-mOre cheaply too?
Why use up a large share of the vacation just
n getting there and getting back? Why put
yourself to needless worry about roads?
The only answer is the obvious one that peO-
Die enjoy it. There is something in them that re-
spends to the call Of the open road. There are
annoyances in motor car travel, to be sure. But
hey are more than compensated for by the eX-
filtration of the adventure.
And added to the pleasure OF the tour is the
pleasure of talking about it afterward. Your
rends may be bored doubtless are, but as a
natter Of common courtesy they have to listen.
The post mOrtem Of the summer tour is a great
winter pastime. Some people, one has suspicion,
get more enjoyment in talking about tour than
n actually making it-and this particularly ap-
)lies to the feminine members of the party.
The memory Of some, who make tours and
'ater tell about them in detail to all who will
isten, really is remarkable. They seem to pos
ess perfect mental picture of every nook and
urn Of a road that may be several thousand miles
n length. And, of course, no town is forgotten.
he slightest pretext and the story begins 1t is
mentioned, for instance that there was a bad
ire or murder out in Rathdrum, Idaho.
"Rathdrum? That's interesting. You know
we been to Rathdrum. Four years ago last sum-
-aer on that tour to Spokane. l remember it very
yell. You have to cross some railway tracks just
1efOre you get into town. 1t is bad crossing
ather open although there are some buildings
ear. A rather large white house | remember
4 particular. Maybe-it doesn't matter. l re
member very well we had quite an experience a
hat crossing-ran out of gas and had to Sen(
o town." ETC., ETC., etc., etc.
Some twenty or thirty minutes more if thi
md by some clever naneuvers the conversation
nay be shifted back to the original subject-th
ale of the tour to be continued later.
But there are some who make tours and d
lot talk And there may be some who like t
lear detailed accounts of tours. There's no aC
counting for tastes.
The fact remains-and we are reverting t
ur first thOught-that touring is the summe
astme for countless numbers. You can sc
hem every day with the running board boxed Of
nd filled with equipment, a real campers outf
for the hOnest-tO-gOOdness tourist camps alien
ne road in real pioneer fashion At least
tarts out that way even though the hotels ma
ct him in the end The license plates on Il
ars indicate that many of them have travelled
ong distance, New York. New Jersey, Californi
-ou see them all.
The tourist sees the country as no travel
y train sees it. He gets to know his Unit,
tates. Someone has said that the automob
made the United States one big city-t
ity of the United States. And there is mu
ruth in the saying