Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-06-24
ALL ABOARD FOR EUROPE
By Frederic j. Haskin

New York. juno 2+>-Prohibition
may not DO m unqualified success in
this country, but Americans are
gradually losing tho drinking habit.
ThI, announcement does not come
from the prohibition ranks, but from
nm official OF the international Mer-
camille Marine here. who travels
constantly back and forth scross the
Atlantic and hence has abundant op-
portunity for observing the conduct OF
his unsuspecting fellow-citizons when
they are suddenIy freed from. all dry
restrictions on board the big ocean
liners.
They drink. Of course" he admitted.
In discussing tho pccularities OF pas
sengers, but Il isn't as II used to be,
with highbaiis al frequent intervals
throughout tho day, cocktails before
meals and liquors nfterward. The
Britisher maroOned in this country
for two or three weeks starts in MAX
| Ing up for lost time the minute ne
gets beyond the three mile limit. but
most Americans. although perhaps in
tending to do tho same thing, forget
TO keep Il up"
| Thus, the pursuit OF favorite drinks
plays but an Insignificant part in the
rush OF Americans 70 Europe this
year. II may account to some extent
FOR tho large number of returning
Italians, who have been deprived Of
their beloved chianti in this country
but in planning their trips most
Americans have clearly ignored the
best opportunities for satisfying any
pent-up thirst. Germany. FOR instance
which offers drinks at the lowest pos
sible cost. will probably receive th'
lfewest visitors. while Norway, which
has reached about tho same bootleg
ging stage az tho United states, T.
attracting hosts Of Americans.
For tho first time since the war
Europe seems 20 have regained all p
it's old. compelling charm for sight
secrz. Hundreds. booked for exten
slve continental tours. are leaving
on every ship. 40 that the steamship
companies have occasion 70 expect a.
unusually prosperous season. So IA
second-class travel IS not quite up .
the pre-war standard. Fewer schoC
! teachers and college professors ar
going across. The number Of steera z
, passengers Ia also decreased. but IN
:. demand for first-class accommoda
q ton. is such that reservations mus
be made long in advance.
q YOyaging de Luxe
Our newly rich who delight in or
y portunities for extravaganza and OF
prosperous foreign-born citizens VII
have become homesick for anoth'
lcOk at tho old country. are not 20 I
deferred by the high prices demands
for staterooms. The $1,000 suites z
the big liners sell as easily az tho s3t
accommodations. The other day. OF
suite was sold 70 a wealthy Amer
: can for $500.
= This seems rather an exprbital
= sum 10 pay for one week Of oces
d travel, but the l. VI. VI. official assurl
Q us that the profit on these expensi'
q suites "a not half as much as mig
. be expected. For one thing. they a
u usually occupied by individuals vi
require an extraordinary amount
service-people who are accustorn
)! TO having their personal eccentriciti
:. humored There IS one wealtl
n American, for example, who cam
le travel across the Atlantic unless
az occupies a sound-proOf room 4
III other always takes a pet boa co
m strictor with him. Still another 7
- mains in his stateroOm drinki
D. heavily throughout the entire voya,
ed while his valet sits just outside
is door and plays upon bagpipes.
Tho big ocean liners, which are {
ne last word in marine engineering a
II. luxurious interiors, represent large
Il vestments, and they are expensive