The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-05-14


 bazaars: the arteries of trade for the country. and in goods displayed. nations represented and manner isms of trade they are a wonderful revelation to the American traveller.
 "These people feel that America got rich through the misery of other nations. They think that if Ameri- ca would forgive them their debts. that their lowered currency would rise, and all would then be well with their world.
 "we attended the opera Arda.- continued Mrs. Lathrop, which was written by Verdi. as a jubilee cele- bration, when Suez was opened 40 years ago.
 ..The women of the harems sat in two rows of boxes covered with black curtains. in which were made holes through which they might look out upon the stage. It was decidedly spooky to see those rows of glittering eyes and to think or the mysterious hidden scenes upon which they gazed from day to day
 "we had been admonished before going to Egypt, as all foreigners are, to drink no water while there and to eat no upcooked vegetables,
 
 course the scarcity and high price of bottled water, one could drink 200 piastres worth at one time, only made us mops thirsty, and the wine, used as substitute also pro duced the same effect, We had been living on cold storage food since leaving New York, as on our cruise ship we were served with mutton from New Zealand, butter from Australia. eggs from China and ice cream from New York. Con sequently nothing would have pleased us like something fresh, and especially did we long for crisp lightly green lettuce
 ..Though so much wine Is almost necessarily used, owing to bad water. we did not see a drunken person while away"
 PARIS
 .sThe thought uppermost in my mind.s said Mrs. Lathrop. upon go- ing to Paris was. Two million mon killed and a nation in mourning.
 The people there seem to have withdrawn themselves into the soli- tude of their own grief. though ai- ways meeting strangers with the most charming courtesy. The restau- rants and hotels appeared as if the residents of the city had spread s feast for strangers and then retired
 Tn the theatres and cabarets only tourists were seen. The French all looked sad and even the chorus girls seemed to be pining for few more beads to cover them.
 French currency has depreciated very greatly in value. Five francs used to make a dollar, last year It took 1T, and this year 1t takes 10. The French, feel very bitterly this de- crease in value and have retaliated by doubling prices.
 During the week of our arrival Tn Paris, stated Mrs. Lathrop, prices of everything rose 50 per cent because five cruise ships docked at Havre. April l was freezing cold. It rained every day for a month, and with the falling rain and rising prices. great numbers of tourists made requital by returning home and many Americans refused to pay the outrageous prices in restaurants and shops.
 Baron de Wendell of France. a wealthy Iron manufacturer. who was the guest in Birmin gham last winter of MT. and Mrs. George Gordon Craw- ford. returned from his tour of AIneI1cd WHl1S we WSF0s m f.drls anu he published in the French papers an article which I read with interest. Baron de Wendell seemed to realize that the Americans felt peeved over the quick jump in prices and he ad- monished his countrymen to study the physical needs and mental atti- tude of sthe American travellers In France. He warned his people that France needs the friendship of Amer jeans and that If tourists returned with feelings of unfair treatment 1t would effect public opinion in Amer tea and mar the perfect friendship which France needs to form with America"
 "On our shopping trips to the big places we went at o'clock in the afternoon and sat beside the walls and watched the pretty models walk up and down.
 'One may try on the dresses and order similar ones made. but there