One of the remarks which an American is expected to make on returning
from a foreign tour, especially his first return, is: "Well I'm a better
American for having gone abroad," meaning that foreign travel has
increased his love for his own country--in other words, has toned up his
patriotism. * * * * * * * *
Foreign travel will make any intelligent American a better citizen,
because an increase of knowledge is a betterment. One honored resident
of Washington, a gentleman past middle life, recently returned from his
first European tour, and on being asked if he could make the stereotyped
report of having been "made a better American," replied: "Yes; I think I
am a better American for having had a deal of conceit knocked out of
me." That was a profitable experience.
_From Baltimore Sun, November, 1906._
1946
He that would make his travels delightful, must first make himself
delightful.
1947
It will be observed, that when giving me (Boswell) advice as to my
travels, Dr. Johnson did not dwell upon cities, and palaces, and
pictures, and shows. He was of Lord Essex's opinion, who advises his
kinsman, Roger, Earl of Rutland, "rather to go a hundred miles to speak
with one wise man, than five miles to see a fair town."
--_Boswell's Johnson._
1948
_Deuteronomy xxxiii, 19_--"They shall suck of the abundance of the seas,
and of the treasures hid in the sand."
Among the hardships experienced by the first settlers in North America,
they were sometimes greatly distressed for food, which led the women and
the children to the sea side to look for a ship which they expected with
provisions, but no ship appeared for many weeks; they saw in the sand,
however, vast quantities of shellfish, since called clams, a species of
muscle. Hunger impelled them to taste, and at length they fed wholly
upon them, and were as cheerful and well as they had been before in
England, enjoying the best provision. It is added, that a good man,
after they had all dined one day on clams, without bread, returned
thanks to God for causing them to "suck of the abundance of the seas,
and of treasures hid in the sand." This text, which they had never
before observed particularly, was ever after endeared to them.
1949