It is very unusual to find a country making an
earnest effort to correspond to its own map, and I think Northern
Africa deserves honorable mention in the dispatches on this account.
Chapter XXV
Be it Ever so Humble
Homeward-bound, a chastened spirit pervades the traveler. He is
not quite so much inclined to be gay and blithesome as he was
going. The holiday is over; the sightseeing is done; the letter
of credit is worn and emaciated. He has been broadened by travel
but his pocketbook has been flattened. He wouldn't take anything
for this trip, and as he feels at the present moment he wouldn't
take it again for anything.
It is a time for casting up and readjusting. Likewise it is a
good time for going over, in the calm, reflective light of second
judgment, the purchases he has made for personal use and gift-making
purposes. These things seemed highly attractive when he bought
them, and when displayed against a background of home surroundings
will, no doubt, be equally impressive; but just now they appear
as rather a sad collection of junk. His English box coat doesn't
fit him any better than any other box would.
His French waistcoats develop an unexpected garishness on being
displayed away from their native habitat and the writing outfit
which he picked up in Vienna turns out to be faulty and treacherous
and inkily tearful.
