THE WOMAN GUIDE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22523, 14 September 1936, Page 3

THE WOMAN GUIDE

J MAKING LONDON KNOWN I The arrival of many American visitors to London is creating much work for one woman in town. She spends her summers acting as guide and pilot to tourists from the United States who wish to see the familiar sights assisted by her expert knowledge, states a London writer. Years of experience have enabled her to understand the psychology of her clients. Now she can sum them up at first sight fairly easily and divide them into types. She knows what kind of questions they are going to ask her and what will amuse them most during their tour of London. The history of London she knows well, and can describe events in a picturesque fashion. She has to tell them of tho groat social events of the season and to take them where they will see people of interest. The House of Commons She has discovered that older American women are generally interested to hear about the House of Commons Sometimes she takes them into a gallery at night when the members are debating. Usually they go away delighted with what they have seen and with what they will have to relate when they return home to their gatherings. Younger American women, on tho other hand, prefer to see British soldiers in uniform. They like to stand in the sunshine watching the sentries on 'duty and the changing of tho Guard. , If Sadie and Maisie are missing, poppa suggests looking in their favourite Bond •Street shops, and momma is. for trying the hotel beauty salon, but the wise guide thinks they may be found outside Buckingham Palace or in the Horse Guards Parade, and she has restored many temporarily lost girls to their parents from these sites. Popular Beefeaters The woman guide loses count of how many times she walks round the Tower of London during the American season. Up and down the grey steps she goes, hundreds of times a month, while the tourists admire the ancient grey masonry, ponder over the Tower's most tragic spots, and gaze at the Crown jewels. She finds, too, that most of them like to chat with the Beefeaters. She takes them to St. Paul's then on to the Temple, where they stop outside the wig shops and ask many questions. She knows they are all interested to hear about the Law Courts.. Visitors are encouraged to find time j to visit the British Museum, but she I has discovered that this is not one of their favourite haunts. Somehow it often fails to interest them. On the other hand, they will spend hours inside the London Museum, concentrating on all she has to tell them about Royal relics and dresses and all those fascinating objects which have relation to human incidents. Restaurants, shops and theatres—she* has to answer endless questions regard- ' ing places and to fit the right typo of 1 visitors to the most suitable entertain--5 ments. A tiring job physically, perhaps, i ■ but one that is rewarded well, and ? which also wins her a string of acquairit- [ ances. She has never been to the United - States, but her mail grows each season , When her clients return home they ! write chatty letters to her about the things she showed them and often ask more questions.