The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1933-08-31
RATES Of EXCHANGE
BOTHER AMERICANS
TRAVELLING ABROAD
Local Woman Says Tourists
Rushed For Home When
Dollars Value Dropped


American money in practically every
European country has made travelling
abroad a more expensive proposition
than it has been for several years
past, according to Miss Belle Menus
of the Menus Conservatory Of Music,
who has just returned from two
months trip through southern Europe
and England.
The fact that the traveller loses be-
tween 81 and 40 per cent on the dollar
not only has kept many tourists in
America this season, but has proved
embarrassing to many of those who
failed to take account of this before
ing an amusing tale of borrowing from
the American consul in Vienna be-
cause she had made the mistake Of
changing her money into German
marks, thinking they would be accept
ed in Austria.
Since no money can be taken out of
Germany, and those entering must
declare the amount they have with
them sor have it confiscated by the
state, travel has fallen off consider
ably. In Germany the rate Of ex-
change was $50 marks for one dollar
instead of the usual four: while the
dollar was worth six shillings in
Vienna and II Ira in Italy.
Italy Seems Contented
Italy, where Miss Menus first land
ed after crossing on the Conte
Grande, appeared contented under
Mussolini's rule and in Rome, where
she went from Naples, the streets
were clean and the city had a we'll
kept and prosperous appearance.
italy boasts that there is no unem-
ployment within her borders and even
in Rome the street beggars have en-
tirely disappeared.
In contrast, Vienna was shabby,
beggars were numerous, and times ap-
peared to be hard. There was much
talk on restoring the monarchy and
dissatisfaction with the present gov
eminent. The trip to Vienna was
made through the Italian and Bavar-
ian Alps, with visit at the art gal
1eries in Florence and stops at Pisa
and Venice and a short excursion to
the Lido, which was quiet in compare
son to Ostia, the more popular Italian
resort.
While in Venice Miss Menus took a
Today course in children's work from
Egan st. Willfort, author of a series
of books of music for children, and
now used in the Vienna schools. Miss
Menus brought back the complete
series for use in her music classes this
year.
A highlight Of her stay in Vienna
was visit to the Votive church where
the caretaker permitted her to play
the huge pipe organ, one Of the lin
est in Vienna.
Budapest was the next city visited
and here Miss Menus found the quaint
mixture of Oriental and Occidental
customs fascinating. Crowded next to
each other frequently were smart
Partisan shop and an Oriental bazaar,
while contrasts in the people and the
town itself were no less marked.
Returning to Vienna, Miss Menus
went from there to Salzburg, Austria
for the Salzburg Festival. This was
not as largely attended as formerly
since the tax of 1000 marks imposed
on every German leaving the country
kept many at home.
Hears Famous Productions
At the festival she heard perform
ances of Beethoven's "Fidelio';; a
Mozart concert conducted by Richard
Strauss, another Mozart concert by
the cathedral chorus: and the mir
acle play, "Gedermann" with Paul
Hartmann. The Mozart home in Salz-
burg has been made into a museum.
From Salzburg she went to Munich
where one Of the highlights Of her
visit was attendance at the Mozart
opera, 1.-THE Marriage of Figaro" In
Nurnberg she attended a performance
of Max Schillings opera, Mona Lisa. y
Miss Menus found Germany greatly
changed since her visit to Berlin in
1929. There were no street disturb
ances, no sidewalk orators. But there
was much evidence of the Nazi rule
and one Sunday while she was there
Nazi troops were constantly marching
on the streets.
Most interesting of the places visit
ed in the city was the new Pergamon
museum, where vast collection OF
art treasures, dating almost from the
beginning of time, are housed.
Shortening her stay in Berlin, Miss
Menus went to England where she
visited friends and attended several
plays, among them Richard of Dor.
ueaux," with John Gielgud and PRO
cenum," with Ivor Novello, the author
in the chief role. She also attended