Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-07-28
TOURIST MANNERS IN EUROPE
BY FREDERIC ]. HASKIN.

American exuberance, American hustle
and the various other hearty attributes
which have caused Europeans to refer
to us rs barbarians are taking on q
serious aspect, which Is causing ex-
porters and manufacturers OF the United
States no little concern. The reason is
that 1t is touching their pocketbooks.
There IS a very old adage which adj
vises that when one is in Rome. one
should do as the Romans do. Americans
have never taken very kindly to this
idea. And now that American tourists
each Summer are overrunning Eu-
ropean countries In such hordes and
there Is plenty OF company, they have
the courage to take American ways
and mannerisms with them and to feel
that II one halls from East Cul de Sac,
Wis, one should follow the manners
and customs Of East Cul de Sac
wherever he goes. As the sun never
sets on the American nag, so 1t never
need set on Americanisms.
However much Europeans like Amer
lean money, they DO not care for
Americanisms and what Is worrying
American manufacturers is that there
is reported to be growing up in Europe
the suggestion Of q boycott of Amer
ican-made goods prompted by resent
ment against the ways Of American
tourists.
It already has been reported from
Rome that the Pope has been consider
ing issuance Of q formal statement ex-
postulating against the way In which
American tourists conduct themselves in
Rome. The Romans may be q light
hearted people, spending much time
singing % Sole Mo- in the streets. but
they take their churches and historic
edifices with much seriousness. To
nA.-ira ia rt hat
is old Is q derosatory fact. To the Ro-
man antiquity is in itself q religion.
Americans Are Irreverent.
The Latins have an age-old reverence
for their churches. They are a part OF
their daily life. In America, most peo-
pie 90 to church on Sunday and for the
rest of the week churches to them are
buildings with closed doors. But the
Italian workman, the Italian housewife,
even the Italian child will drop in II
only for O moment to murmur O rever-
ent prayer before the image Of some
favorite saint in . dim church or set
alight q candle before some shrine.
Church doors are never closed.
So 1t Is quite natural that the sight
OF q group OF American tourists from
Watcher, Greg, noisiIy rambling
through q church nave is unWelcome.
Rome consists Of such reported Incl
dents as American women powdering
their faces, using the shined brass OF
holy fixtures as looking glasses. Sitting
casually on altar steps to write picture
post cards home to Harlem Is offensive
in the eyes of deyout Romans.
No one ascribes any malice to the
Americans. It Is admitted that they
are well.intentioned and, for the most
part, good natured. They simply do
not understand, the Europeans COM
plain. A tourist being shown some
ancient palazzo will find occasion to
make caustic comments. contrasting the
quarters being inspected with modern
American apartment houses. The lack
of plumbing is q source OF never-ending
amusement. too often expressed with
scorn. Not infrequently one hears the
advice given by Americans that the
Romans should come to America and
learn how to live. To the descendants
Of the Caesars. this is not happy ad-
vice. Occasionally long suffering
guide Is even moved to retort that he
would come il 1t were not for the i'm
migration Law, which. while keeping
him out OF America, nevertheless does