which are precisely the details that tourists so much desire and need to know. The volume faces more immediately Summer than Winter tours.

So many things present themselves to the tourist concerning which he must act, and about which the guide books give him no information nor suggestion even, that hints of ways out of these anxieties cannot come without a welcome, however humble may be their pretensions.

The usual cost of a tour in Europe is of so much moment that the advantages and pleasures returned therefor should be of no uncertain value. All the assistance that can be rendered the tourist will be welcomed by him as worthy of regard.

While Americans may feel justly and reasonably satisfied with the reputation which their countrymen enjoy abroad for their quickness of perception, their perseverance, their general intelligence, their liberality, yet it must have impressed others as it has the writer, that still more can be done by American travelers to convey to foreigners, among whom they present themselves, a more correct knowledge of the better and higher results of our American institutions. These favorable impressions are the ones which materially sustain and strengthen the bonds of international regard and friendship, which every traveler should desire to cherish and cultivate.

My own travels have been so limited that these hints are written with much diffidence, and with the knowledge that they cover only partially the experience of wider travel; hence the attempt to generalize statements is rarely made. The matter, unless otherwise indicated, is based upon

observations made during vacation

tours in

Europe, and I am not unmindful of my own shortcomings in my observations, and of the fact that others observe as well as myself.

If these suggestions shall aid any tourist who is upon his first journey over the ocean, and shall in any degree help to increased profit and pleasure in his traveling, the purposes of the writer will be attained.

II.—Preliminary Correspondence.

One who contemplates making a tour in Europe should enter into early correspondence with an agency which represents the ocean line of steamships by which he expects to cross the Atlantic. This is necessary in order to have a better choice of accommodations on board the ship, as those who apply first are first served. All the leading newspapers of the seaboard cities contain advertisements of the ocean lines of steamers and the rates of passage. In my own experience I found the most desirable way to proceed was to open correspondence directly with Messrs. Cook, Son and Jenkins, Tourists' Office, 261 Broadway, New York. They are agents for all the steamship lines that cross the ocean; they are in telegraphic communication with all the offices of the various ship companies; they furnish descriptive plans of all the steamers; they are familiar with all locations on ship board; they can always give a choice of rooms and accommodations ; and they are very prompt and courteous in carrying on correspondence. They have local agencies scattered all over the United States. They also sell to travelers tickets for all parts of the world, and furnish estimates at short notice for almost any conceivable itinerary, including hotel expenses, with or without their hotel coupons, at the pleasure of the tourist. Their offices are lo

cated over the whole world.

Regarding the ocean voyage, it is advisable, whenever practicable to engage passage some

weeks, or months even, previons to the date fixed for sailing. Saturdays are the great days for sailing from New York; although many steamships leave that port on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, rarely on Fridays, Sundays and Mondays. Regarding the ocean passage, the most desirable months for a tour are May, June, July, August, and the first half of September, before the approach of the autumnal equinox. It is said that March is the crown of the year in storms on the Atlantic.

As to the ship itself, and where the desirable berths are located, the tourist should first secure plans of the steamer, which enable one to understand more readily the location of the state-rooms, berths, saloons, and other portions of the ship. In the ships of some of the companies the cabin passengers occupy the centre of the ship; in other lines, the after portions. In reference to the selection of berths, the following suggestions may be offered : The ends of the ship have more motion from the waves than the centre portion the outside rooms have a porthole or round glass window which lets the light directly into the side of the room, and when the waves are not too high, may be swung open during the day time for ventilation; the side rooms open only into the passage ways or aisles for ventilation, and are dependent in the day time for light upon the passages and the small, oblong glass prisms, dead lights, which are set into the deck above. These inside rooms are very comfortable, however. The rooms are usually provided with a bell-cord or an electric signal to summon an attendant. It would be an improvement in most steamships if more ample means of ventilation were provided for the

ΙΟ OCEAN STEAMERS SAILING FROM NEW YORK.

cabins and saloons. When there are many passengers on board, the state-rooms are necessarily crowded, there being two or three, and sometimes even more, in one room. Looking to possible sea-sickness, a lower berth is more desirable than an upper one, as it is more easily entered and left, but for light and ventilation the upper berth, if under the port-hole, is preferable.

In order to aid those who have had no experience in this matter, there is submitted the following list of lines of ocean steamers, sailing from New York, unless otherwise indicated, as published in Cook's Excursionist and Tourist Advertiser for January, 1878.