FullReads

There are scores of people–I meet them every day–who are in a constant state of yearn to do a bit of travelling. They say they envy me. But it is not money they want, it is courage. It will interest some of them to know what it can be done for. I will put down what it usually costs. A first-class ticket from London via New York, San Francisco, Sydney, Melbourne, Colombo, the Suez, Naples, Gibraltar and Plymouth will run to L125, without including the cost of sleeping-car accommodation and food in the American trans-continental journey. If he stays anywhere it is a mighty knowing and economical traveller who gets off under L200 or L250 by the time he turns up in London.

Now as to what it cost me when I meant doing it moderately. It cost L8 to New York. Owing to business in New York I stayed there a fortnight, and it cost me $4 a day, say L11. The journey to San Francisco ran to L12 including provisions. The Pacific voyage was L22 in all. The fare from Sydney to Melbourne for ocean passengers is L2. 1s. 6d. To Naples I paid L32. Another L12 brought me to London. This runs up to L99.

If I had not been in a hurry I could have done the homeward part for less. If I had been twenty-five I would have gone steerage. But with time to spare for looking up a tramp I might have easily got to London as the only passenger for L20. If I had not stayed in New York and had had the time I could have cut expenses to L70.

But any young man, writer or not, who wants to see a bit of the world, can do it on that if he has the grit to rough it. He can cut the Atlantic journey to L3, and learn some things he never knew while doing it. I can put anyone up to crossing America for L15 at any time. But if he spends L20 he can see Niagara, the work of God, and Chicago, the chef d’oeuvre of the Devil. The Pacific can be done for L20 steerage; and he can stay in Australia a month for L10, and a year for L20 if he knows what I know. The steerage fare home is L16. I fancy it would be the best investment that any young fellow could make. He would learn more of what life is than the world of London would teach him in the ordinary grooves in ten years.