Perth Amboy evening news., 1922-06-24
ALL ABOARD FOR EUROPE
TO GET A GOOD DRINK
Daily Letter by Frederic j. Hasklh

NEW YORK CITY, June 21-
Prohibition may not be al unqual-
flied in this country, but
Americans are gradually losing the
drinking haiti.
This announcement does not come
from the prohibition ranks. but
from an official of the International
Mercantile Marine here, who travels
constantly back and forth across the
Atlantic and hence has abundant
opportunity for observing the con-
duct of his unsuspecting fellow-cit-
liens when they are suddenly freed
from all dry restrictions on a
the big ocean liners.
'They drink, of course" he ad-
mitted, in discussing the peculiari-
ties of passengers, but it isn't as 1t
used to be, with highballs at fire.
quent intervals throughout the day,
cocktails before meals AID liquors
afterward. The Britisher marooned
in this county for W or three
weeks starts in making up for lost
time the minute he gets beyond the
three-mile limit, but most Amerf-
cans, although perhaps intending to
do the same thing. forget to keep 1t
up"
Thus, the pursuit 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 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 pentup thirst. Ger
many, for instance, which offers
drinks at the lowest possible cost,
will probably receive the fewest VS.
itors, while Norway, which has
reached about the same bootlegging
stage as the United States, is attract
ing hosts OF Americans.
For the first time since the war,
Europe seems to have regained all
of its old, compelling charm for
e~ightseers. Hundreds. booked for
extensive continental tours. are leav-
ing on every ship, SO that the team
ship companies have occasion to ex-
pect an unusually prosperous sea-
son. So far secand class ravel is not
quite up to the pre-war standard.
Fewer school teachers and college
professors are going across. The
number of steerage passengers is
also decreased. but the demand for
first class accommodations is such
that reservations must be made
long IL advance.
Our newly rich who delight in op-
portunities Tor extravaganza and our
prosperous foreign-born citizens who
have become homesick for another
look at the old country are not to
be deferred by the high price de-
manded for state rooms. The
$4,000 suites on the big liners sell
as easily as the $500 accommoda-
tions. The other day, one suite was
sold to a wealthy American for s5,-
900.
This seems rather an exhorbitant
sum to pay for one week of pecan
travel, but the 1. NJ. M. official as
sures us that the profit on these ex-
pensive suites Is not half as much
as might be expected. For one
thing they are usually occupied by
individuals who require an extracr-
binary amount Of service-people
who are accustomed to having their
personal eccentricities humored.
There is one wealthy American, for
example, who cannot travel across
the Atlantic unless he occupies a
sound-proof room. Another always
takes a pet boa constructor with him.
Still another remains in his state
room drinking heavily throughout
the entire voyage. while his valet
sits just outside his door and plays
upon bagpipes.
The big ocean liners, which are
the last words in marine engineer
ing and luxurious interiors. repre-
sent large investments, and they are
expensive to operate. 1t costs ST.
500, for instance, to serve a single
meal for all the passengers on one
of these boats. The total operating
cost for one vessel per round trip is
about 100000. And the steerage,
which formerly produced a large
part of this revenue. noy brings in
very little. Some ships. with a ca
part of this revenue now brings in
are carrying only 800. Which
explains" said the I. NJ. NJ. official,
why first class rates can't come
down"
Expense ompared to Railroad Rates
Even so. ocean travel is almost
as cheap as raj. travel in the states.
1t approxinlates something less than