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must in all probability be broken and the matter ended。
Of course the reason for a great deal of this is the phenomenal growth
of our larger cities。 Hundreds of families who would gladly remain in their
old homes are fairly pushed out of them by the growth of business。
Everything has its limits and a time must come when our cities will
cease to expand or when centres will be formed as in London or Paris；
where generations may succeed each other in the same homes。 So far； I see
no indications of any such crystallization in this our big city； we seem to
be condemned like the 〃Wandering Jew〃 or poor little 〃Joe〃 to be
perpetually 〃moving on。〃
At a dinner of young people not long ago a Frenchman visiting our
country； expressed his surprise on hearing a girl speak of 〃not
remembering the house she was born in。〃 Piqued by his manner the young
lady answered：
〃We are twenty…four at this table。 I do not believe there is one person
here living in the house in which he or she was born。〃 This assertion raised
a murmur of dissent around the table； on a census being taken it proved；
however； to be true。
How can one expect； under circumstances like these； to find any great
respect among young people for home life or the conservative side of
existence？ They are born as it were on the wing； and on the wing will they
live。
The conditions of life in this country； although contributing largely to
such a state of affairs； must not be held； however； entirely responsible。
Underlying our civilization and culture； there is still strong in us a wild
nomadic strain inherited from a thousand generations of wandering
ancestors； which breaks out so soon as man is freed from the restraint
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incumbent on bread…winning for his family。 The moment there is wealth or
even a modest income insured； comes the inclination to cut loose from the
dull routine of business and duty； returning instinctively to the migratory
habits of primitive man。
We are not the only nation that has given itself up to globe… trotting； it
is strong in the English； in spite of their conservative education； and it is
surprising to see the number of formerly stay…at…home French and
Germans one meets wandering in foreign lands。
In 1855； a Londoner advertised the plan he had conceived of taking
some people over to visit the International Exhibition in Paris。 For a fixed
sum paid in advance he offered to provide everything and act as courier to
the party； and succeeded with the greatest difficulty in getting together ten
people。 From this modest beginning has grown the vast undertaking that
to…day covers the globe with tourists； from the frozen seas where they 〃do〃
the midnight sun； to the deserts three thousand miles up the Nile。
As I was returning a couple of years ago VIA Vienna from
Constantinople； the train was filled with a party of our compatriots
conducted by an agency of this kind … simple people of small means who；
twenty years ago； would as soon have thought of leaving their homes for a
trip in the East as they would of starting off in balloons en route for the
inter…stellar spaces。
I doubted at the time as to the amount of information and appreciation
they brought to bear on their travels； so I took occasion to draw one of the
thin； unsmiling women into conversation； asking her where they intended
stopping next。
〃At Buda…Pesth；〃 she answered。 I said in some amusement：
〃But that was Buda…Pesth we visited so carefully yesterday。〃
〃Oh； was it；〃 she replied； without any visible change on her face； 〃I
thought we had not got there yet。〃 Apparently it was enough for her to be
travelling； the rest was of little importance。 Later in the day； when asked if
she had visited a certain old city in Germany； she told me she had but
would never go there again： 〃They gave us such poor coffee at the hotel。〃
Again later in speaking to her husband； who seemed a trifle vague as to
whether he had seen Nuremberg or not； she said：
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〃Why； you remember it very well； it was there you bought those nice
overshoes！〃
All of which left me with some doubts in my mind as to the cultivating
influences of foreign travel on their minds。
You cannot change a leopard's spots； neither can you alter the nature of
a race； and one of the strongest characteristics of the Anglo…Saxon； is the
nomadic instinct。 How often one hears people say：
〃I am not going to sit at home and take care of my furniture。 I want to
see something of the world before I am too old。〃 Lately； a sprightly
maiden of uncertain years； just returned from a long trip abroad； was asked
if she intended now to settle down。
〃Settle down； indeed！ I'm a butterfly and I never expect to settle
down。〃
There is certainly food here for reflection。 Why should we be more
inclined to wander than our neighbors？ Perhaps it is in a measure due to
our nervous； restless temperament； which is itself the result of our climate；
but whatever the cause is； inability to remain long in one place is having a
most unfortunate influence on our social life。 When everyone is on the
move or longing to be； it becomes difficult to form any but the most
superficial ties； strong friendships become impossible； the most intimate
family relations are loosened。
If one were of a speculative frame of mind and chose to take as the
basis for a calculation the increase in tourists between 1855； when the ten
pioneers started for Paris； and the number 〃personally conducted〃 over
land and sea today； and then glance forward at what the future will be if
this ratio of increase is maintained the result would be something too
awful for words。 For if ten have become a million in forty years； what will
be the total in 1955？ Nothing less than entire nations given over to sight…
seeing； passing their lives and incomes in rushing aimlessly about。
If the facilities of communication increase as they undoubtedly will
with the demand； the prospect becomes nearer the idea of a 〃Walpurgis
Night〃 than an