Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-02-20

y
~ and fog prevail over most o
"A the countries of Europe, the
4 a French Riviera is a land OF
hearts desire to all the lucky
people who can afford these blue skie:
and sunshine. Here along the Medi
terranean coast the utmost luxury OF
civilization, as well as the most en-
chanted beauty of nature, are Offered
at price to the people of leisure and
worldly success.
Last year all these cities of pleasure
Cannes, Nice, Monte Carlo, Mentone
and many hotel palaces, rising. mag
nificently amid palm trees and olive
groves, were crowded by visitors from
many nations. In spite of industrial
and political troubles in Europe, with
heavy taxation and unpaid debts
something like 100000 pleasure-seek-
ers along this azure coast did not
seem worried by any financial limita-
tons. This year the bottom has
dropped out of this happy hunting
ground of luxury and leisure.
Royal Greeting to Visitors.
It is not quite true to say the
Riviera is desert, but it certainly is
sparsely populated. Any new visitor
who arrives at one of the hotel pal
aces is greeted with almost royal hon
ors. Not one waiter, but six. VIII
rush to serve him. In some hotels he
finds himself looking down & vast
vista of empty tables. At Nice ana
Cannes, where last year the dancing
floors of the famous restaurants were
overthronged, there is this year too
much floor snace. Jazz bands play
with a desperate Gayety OF rhythm 10
three or four couples who try to look
like a crowd.
A colored porter outside the Hotel
de Paris at Monte Carlo signs deeply
as he gaZeS over the empty steps OIL
the Casino. while taxi drivers sleep at
their wheels.
Where are all those smart folk VINO
used TO fling their francs about?
Where are those professions of Eng
fish visitors who looked as though
they owned this principality of Mo-
naco and who certainly formed the
entire population of Mentone. outside
the shops where English was spoken
as the only language of commerce?
Monte Carlo Deserted.
To the old habitues of Monte Carlo
the cocktail hour outside the Cafe de
Paris, where "A stringed orchestra
PLAYED Italian operas not too loudly
to snoil conversation. was the begin
ming of each days pleasure after
nights of gayety. One seemed to meet
every one of wit and fashion. Sue
cessful playwrights and famous movie
stars knocked elbows with notorious
politicians. eminent novelists, famous
beauties and princely exiles. Alas,
when I passed that rendezvous yes
terday most of the little tables under
colored sunShadeS were without Gus
toners. One of the walters was asleep
y L i L.
Mr. Michael Arlen was almost solitary
among the ghosts of those charming
people who used to come here in yes
teryearS.
What has happened on this Medi-
terranean shore that so many. sun
seekers have not yet arrived? On all
sides / hear it is the NEST disastrous
season that happened since the war.
Hotelkeepers are a lot of sad and
sorry men. French shopkeepers, for
getting their past profits, cry out to
heaven and foretell their own bank
ruptcy.
Reasons for Change.
The>truth of all this is very curl
ous commentary on the present state
of Europe and history of the past
year in England and France. A year
ago France had not yet faced her
financial crisis when the franc began
to fall with increasing rapidity, as her
successive governments failed to face
financial realities and practice inevi-
table economies. A year ago England
had not experienced her general strike
or seen her industries fall into stag
nation for lack of eight months of
coal.
Prices were reasonable along the
Riviera. At least one was not robbed