TOUR OF EUROPE

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 153, 25 March 1938, Page 4

TOUR OF EUROPE

Tourist Talks Of Esthonia, Poland And Lithuania

The cheapness of living in Esthonia and the country’s mania for overeducation, and Poland’s attitude to Lithuania, were among the impressions gained by Mrs. Isobel Simon, of Surrey, England, during an extensive tour <>f Europe. Mi's. Simon left from Auckland by the Aorangi on her way home. During Mrs. Simon’s tour of Europe she visited many of the small countries as well as Germany, Italy and France. She was particularly interested in Esthonia, which she described as charming, poor and l picturesque; The country itself was very beautiful and the cities possessed some ot the most splendid architecture she had seen. “Living in Esthonia is very cheap,” said Mrs. Simon. “A meal at one of the first-class hotels would cost one shilling in English money and although I have traveled widely I have never had better meals. A litre of milk, equivalent to 13 pints, would cost twopence in New Zealand money. Butter was 1/6 for 23 pounds. The most modern and luxurious flats, many of them in light, sunny, box-like buildings side by side with* century-old houses of romantic Gothic architecture, cost about £5 a month. “The Esthonians themselves are fond of gaiety and like to dance and sing,”' continued Mrs. Simon. “Their own national danbes are one of their chief pleasures. Esthonia, generally, however, suffers from over-education. Even the peasants, finding little outlet for a good living on the land, seek a university education, with the resule that entrance examinations are made as high as possible in order to prevent overcrowding iu the various professions. This, in turn, reacts upon school education, and children are kept hard at study. Notwithstanding difficult examinations, all the professions are overcrowded. Doctors and solicitors are often only too glad, at the conclusion of their degree courses, to take a position in a factory or business, “In spite of their difficulties the Esthonians remain gay and proudly independent. They are jealous of their national customs and freedoffi and Tallinn, flic capital, is a perfect spectacle at the time of their fiesta, when people come from all parts of Esthonia in their national costumes to take part in the dancing.” Mrs. Simon also went to Latvia and Lithuania, which she said were now more widely visited by tourists. In her opinion they offered more satisfaction to the traveller, from every point of view, than did the countries usually visited. Both were picturesque countries and proud of their independence. They were content in their independence and regarded themselves as isolated from Thiropean strife. They had no wish to enlarge their territories and, with Esthonia, all three were in perfect harmony. “The attitude of Poland has long been an irritant to Lithuania which desires nothing more than to manage her own affairs without interference,” said

Mrs. Simon. “Poland is afraid and in her fear is seeking the support of Lithuania.. She has for many years wished to annex the smaller countries. Much of the present conflict is caused by the attitude of Germany, who finds continued strife in Europe to her own advantage. “Lithuania desires nothing but peace, but she will not surrender her independence for an unfair peace. In this attitude she has the support of Latvia and Esthonia, who feel their own independence menaced by the aggressive attitude of Poland. Annexation by a larger country can bring nothing ot good to these smaller countries. They are not wealthy but they are content to work out their own problems themselves.”