Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-09-09

. OONAA sAASASe @SNOA JOA4Op eAA6O 49,
except me and Speaker Sam
Rayburn of Texas who still
finds Bonham more alluring
than Budapest.
He has staunchly resisted
Al years Of congressional jun
keting, but even this didn't
prevent a word Of warning
from him.
With a fatherly pat. he told
me, Nov. you be careful Of
all those dukes and earls."
Careful ! shall be If there
remains one who is not now
employed in the shoe depart
ment Of Bergdorf Goodman.
In the past few weeks I have
been showered with sugges-
tons, addresses, and currency
books. I have been given the
address of a Chinese pedicurist
in Paris. the name Of g cut
rate gondolier in Venice, and a
faith-healer in The Hague.
But I shall cherish most Of
all this guidance from Mr..
Fieldings' travel book: Should
you buy whiskey from an un-
known source in England, open
the bottle right on the spot and
taste it. Otherwise you might
be paying a stiff price for a
fifth of a gallon of cold tea"
Travelling Americans make
up their minds quickly about a
people, I find, and they are
happy to share their opinions
to potential travellers.
More Advice
] have been told emphati-
cally: 1.-THE French will steal
you blind!" Keep an eye on
your typewriter when your
train stops in Italyl" "Cut
out Brussels and Holland.
Nothing really eye-catching
there!" you'll freeze to
death in England"
All Of this encouragement"
Is usually concluded by, "And
you're only to be there six
weeks? Well, you can't expect
to see much in that time"
Ones Indignation rises when
It has taken you IS years Of
life on earth, plus three months
of detailed planning, to get to
Europe at all.
So far, my vast amount Of
advice has been useless. My
father-in-law, who once made
a boat trip to Catalina Island,
wrote me a detailed preven-
ton for seasickness. tried 1t.
I hit the rail the first day.
My husband, with surprising
lack Of originality, wired me as
boarded. avoid strange men,"
Ha! The engaging chap who
looked so fine down at the
swimming pool and whom I
had mentally reserved for
dancing that evening. showed
up at dinner in-alas-the
frock Of his religious order.
What no one bothered to tell
me-and what sends me quiv-
ering when I contemplate it.
is how can adequately pay off
all these smiling French stew
ards and stewardesses who rush
to you with cups of bouillon in
mid-morning. gently tuck your
laprobe about you, bring you
baskets Of fresh fruit at mid
night, and "bonjour" you into
hiding. strongly suspect they
will be lined up with hands out
when the boat docks.
"Tequila" Is Aboard
I shall have to seek the
advice of my fellow travellers.
They are an interesting array
Of humanity: an overwhelm-
ing number Of widows who
travel to use UP their time and
stock dividends and find bridge
partners; French families re-
turning from vacations in
Quebec: a surprising number
Of well-heeled South Ameri-
cans; the vice presidents Of
two or three well-known
American corporations; a New
York nightcluh entertainer
with a bleached streak in her
hair and a Chihuahua named
Tequilla. And, at my dining
table, a retired postman from
Louisiana travelling first class.
Hooray for postal pensionsl
Here we all are together on
this beautiful. II venerable
Frenc n snip, once the
Europe. built by the Ger
mans 20 years ago and con-
flscated by the French in pay
ment Of war debts. It carries
pink marble salons. oak-pan-
eled Libraries, a tiled SWIM
ming pool. and probably the
largest haul Of champagne in
history.
Occasionally. the first-class
passengers wander around the
sun deck to look wistfully
down at the happy crowd"
the younger cabin-class set,
who obviously have more fun
than anyone.
Only the ghost Of the An
drea Doria casts its shadow
over the voyage OF the Liberte
and. for that matter. all lux
ury liners to Europe these