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hands that they cannot live in and are forbidden to rent or sell。
As a final result the will 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 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：
〃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 anything else。 For the earth and the sea
will be covered and the air filled with every form of whirling；
flying； plunging device to get men quickly from one place to
another。
Every human being on the globe will be flying South for the cold
months and North for the hot season。
As personally conducted tours have been so satisfactory； agencies
will be started to lead us through all the stages of existence。
Parents will subscribe on the birth of their children to have them
personally conducted through life and everything explained as it is
done at present in the galleries abroad； food； lodging and reading
matter； husbands and wives will be provided by contract； to be
taken back and changed if unsatisfacto