Smyrna times., 1950-08-31

9. w. HEATH AeduS anu Hlu'
ter those crazy Americana
running their stomachs with ghiac
cio."
But the tourists can perhaps b
forgiven-it is very hot. One us
ually drinks Pelligrino, which i
mildly alkaline and does not upse
the stomach-the tap variety i
taboo for the visiting American
whose stomach is unused to it
loosening action-but is general,
served warm; hence the need O
ice.
After several days of patien
explaining the Italian waiter be
gins to comprehend that ice shoulC
always be served with the Pelli
grino. And just when he does The
necessary without being asked one
usually ups and leaves town anC
then the procedure must be dupli.
Gated at the next place, and so or
ad infinitum.
So you want to go to italy. By
all means. But take along plenty
of dollars and highly developed
sense of humor without which life
can be most unhappy in this land
of sunshine and musicians.
Another phrase on every tongue
is "multo caldo" which means
very hot" 1t was SO hot this
summer, especially in Southern
Italy in July that the burning sun
shriveled the crops causing mil
lions of Ira damage. This heat
wave, sometimes called "sirocco,
was caused by masses of warm air
from Africa larded with quantities
of Sahara dust.
The year 1850 will undoubtedly
go down in history as the year OF
the Great American Stampede. y
Apparently nearly everyone who
had the price, or who could beg,
borrow or steal, the price of a
ticket, went to italy. The influx
of Americans, especially in Rome,
was of such magnitude that in
some parts of the City, such as the
Piazza di Spagna-location of the
American Express Company-one
began to doubt that any Italians
lived in the Eternal City.
1t was fortuitous for the italian
economy that His Highness the
Pope decreed 1850 as Holy Year.
This has stimulated travel no end
and, while large numbers of the
tourists are visiting Italy as Pill
grims, there are still untold thou
sands of non-catholics on hand
who could not resist the lure of
travel folders and are there mere
ly to see the sights.
This fortunate combination of
circumstances brings a CLINT into
the eyes of thousands of Italian
merchants and hotelkeepers who,
as every plane lands and steamer
docks, make fervid preparations
to lead the lambs to slaughter.
Talk about profiteering. Every
where prices for lodging, food and
souvenirs have skyrocketed. The
Italian Government has estimated
that some $250,0OO,OoO will be left
in Italy this year by American
tourists. Some take!
After seeing the thousands of
tourists in Italy, many of whom
brought their automobiles, it is
difficult. to believe that any Amer
leans stayed at home this year.
They are in Italy from every walk
of life; rich and poor, married and
single, old and young, male and
female, the healthy and even the
sick.
One group was composed of man
and wife, the latter with arthritis;
her mother, a dear sweet old lady
well past 70 with diabetes; and the
aunt, also elderly with angina. The
husband confided that he had a
suitcase specially fitted with COM
partments containing medicines
for each ailing member of the
family.
Italians are somewhat amazed
at the vitality of the visiting Amer
leans. These intrepid souls climb in
and out of busses, go down into
CONTINUED oL RAGE rourl