MILLIONAIRE'S CRUISE.

Feilding Star, Volume I, Issue 275, 25 May 1907, Page 3

MILLIONAIRE'S CRUISE.

SIMPLE LIFE von MEN, BRIOGE FOR WOMEN. Many wealthy Americans arrived at Liverpool by the White Star liner Arabic, from what has been described as the millionaire cruise from New York to the Mediterranean and Adriatic ports. The excursion has occupied seventy days, and it is estimated that the 600 "innocents abroad" who took part in the cruise have spent more than £1,000,000 during that time. Yet for the most part the men have lived on simple fare and abjured freak banquets. \ The party consisted of some of the wealthiest people of almost every state of America. They vied with each other for the suites de luxe on the magnificent liner, prices ranging up to £200 for a suite of rooms being laid. It is estimated tthatt t taking the passage-money and the journeys made at the various ports in the itinerary. £300,000 was spent on landing and hotel expenses. Beyond this purchases were made at Naples, Venice, Constantinople, and Alexandria of paintings, mummies, and curios, these amounting to not less than £800,000, while the jewellery- and cash deposits which had to be taken care of represented a value of £1,000,000. Yet these wealthy pleasure-seekers decided on a holiday on modest and instructive lines. They agreed that on the voyage only games of «euchre should alternate with lectures, and for the latter purpose they brought a number of servants, one of whom delivered an historical or scientific lecture every night. Some of the party played bridge as an alternative to euchre, and ladies gorgeously adorned with jewellery worth enormous sums of money lost hundreds of pounds at a sitting. The men, however, adhered for the most part to their intention of living a simple life. Many of these millionaires made breakfasts of dry toast and coffee, one-course luncheons, and equally modest dinners. A few ladies from Boston began needlework parties, but the attendances were very small. The journey to Cairo was made on sumptuously fitted mules, but to cater for the artistic desires of the ladies the millionaire husbands and fathers organised a camel train, which headed the procession.