Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 35, Number 119, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 September 1903 — Another European Traveler Returned. [ARTICLE]

Another European Traveler Returned.

Prof. Samuel E. Sparling arrived here Thursday, direct from his trip across the ocean. All bis time was spent in British Islands, and he was there from Jnly 2nd to September 3rd, He landed in Ireland and spent some time'there, journeying about on the oars, and his trip including a visit to the Lakes, of Killarney. He found Ireland still a terribly dilapidated, discouraged anddown-at-the-heel region, but hopes when the new land laws get in aotion, whereby the government helps the tenants to become the owners of the land they cultivate, things will: be better there.

At Liverpool he rented a bicycle and visited England, Wales and Sootland on the bicyo le ict traveling in all 1500 miles on a bioyole. He fonnd the English, Welsh and Scotch oommon people mnoh better fixed -and more progressive than the Irish, but still so much of the laod is held in idleness by the nobility, and so large of proportion of the products of labor is absorbed by them, that the common people generally have a hand-to-mouth existence, and few of them ever “get ahead” very muob. The almost universal obsequiousness of the people towards the nobility is still a very marked characteristic of the people He also found plenty of the Englishmen’s inborn arrogance towards other nations still existing although the thorough thrashing they received in the Boer war, even if they did finally over-power them, has taken out some of their conoeit The English are much more friendly towards Americans than they used to be, and still the way j the many rich Americans strut about and display their wealth over there is very galling to the English—which is not to be wondered at.

The farming lands in England are divided up into very,, small holdings, and as a consequence muoh of the work is done by primitive methods, though he saw quite a good deaL improved farm machinery, and inolnding various makes of Amerioan binders.

The main roads in Eogland are better than the best boulevards in Chicago, and even the cross roads are kept in splendid condition. But while admiring the fine roads and garden-like fields and neat and cosy country houses, Prof. Sparling did’not fail to note the appearanoe of the people also. More particularly did he observe the good looks of the young women, and especially of the “Devon Dumplings” in Devonshire, which is famous for its pretty girls. He was usually “spotted” for a Yankee wherever be went, but he found it a good business policy to pass for a Britisher whenever he could, as the people over there think all Americans are rioh, and rob them at every turn. He did not cross over to the continent at all this trip, having seen that very thoroughly during his several years’ residence there, as a student, ten years and more ago.

He went out from New York, but in coming back he olioope a new route, ocming on a steamer of the Allen line which came up the the St. Lawrence gulf and river and made its first stop at Quebec, and its final stop at Montreal. From there he struck down into the U. 8., and made the boat trip over Lakes George and Champlain and saw there some of the . most beautiful scenery he ever saw anywhere.