The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-06-23
Frederick Hask1n's Letter
ALL ABOARD FOR EUROPE

New York City, June 22.-Prohi-
! bition may not be an unquailhed
success in this country, but Amer
leans are gradually losing the
drinking habit
This announcement does not
coR4e from the prohibition ranks,
but from an official of the Interna-
tional Merchant Marine here, who
travels constantly back and forth
across the Atlantic, and hence has
abundant opportunity for observ-
ing the conduct Of his unsuspect-
ing fellow citizens when they are
suddenly freed from all dry restric-
tons ON board the big ocean liners.
They drink, of course" he ad-
mitted, in discussing the peculiari'
ties of passengers. but lit isn't as
it used to be, with highballs at fire.
Quent intervals throughout the day,
cocktails before meals and liquors
afterward. The Britisher maroon
ed in this country for two or three
weeks starts in making up for lost
time the minute he gets beyond the
three-niile limit, but most Ameri-
cans, although perhaps intending to
do the same thing, forget to keep
it dp."
Thus, the pusuit of favorite
drinks plays but an insignificant
part in the rush of Americans to
Europe this year. 1t may account
to some extent for the large num-
Der of returning Italians, who have
been deprived of their beloved
chianti in this country, but in plan
k.;r AFja
have clearly ignored the best OPP
portunities for satisfying any pent-
up thirst. Germany, for instance,
which offers drinks at the lowest
possible cost, will probably receive
the fewest visitors, while Norway,
which has reached about the same
bootlegging stage as the United
States, is attracting hosts Of Amer
leans.
For the first time since the war,
Europe seems to have regained all
of its old, compelling charm for
sightseers. Hundreds, booked for
extensive continental tours, are
leaving on every ship, so that the
steamship companies have occasion
to expect an unusually prosperous
season. So far second-class travel
is not quite up to the pre-war
standard Fewer school teachers
and college professors are going
across. The number OF Storage
passengers is also decreased, but
the demand for first-class accom-
modations is such that reservations
must be made long in advance.
VOyaging De Luxe.
Our newly rich who delight in
opportunities for extravaganza and
our prosperous foreign-born citi-
zens who have become homesick
for another look at the old coun-
try, are not to be deferred by the
high prices demanded for state
rooms. The $4,000 suites on the
accomm odations. The other day
one suite was sold to wealthy
American for $1,000.
This seems rather an exorbitant |
sum to pay for one week of ocean
travel, but the I. NJ. NJ official as
sures us that the profit on these |
expensive suites is not half as much |
as might be expected. For one |
thing, they are usually occupied by !
individuals who require an extra |
ordinary amount or serFlce-peo- |
pie who are accustomed to having |
their personal eccentricities hu-
There is one wealthy Amer |
lean, for example, who cannot traV-
ell across the Atlantic unless he oc-
cupies a sound-proof room. AnOth- |
er always takes a pet boa constric- |
tor with him. Still another remains !
in his statero0m drinking heavily !
throughout the entire voyage, while /
his valet sits just outside his door i
and plays upon bagpipes.
The big ocean liners. which are !
the last word in marine engineer
ing and luxurious interiors. repre- /
sent large investments, and they
are expensive to operate. 1t costs
81 500, for instance, to serve sim
gle meal for all the passengers on