Before undertaking his European tour, Charles Barstow graduated from Union College, Schenectady, N.Y. (A.B., 1889), then signed on with the New York City publishers Harper & Brothers in 1891. In later life he would work with Longmans, the Century Company, and Harpers in high editorial positions. In addition to magazine work, he published his own Famous Pictures in 1912, and Famous Buildings: A Primer of Architecture in 1915. Throughout his tour, Barstow brought book knowledge of European cities, buildings, art, and culture from works he had read before setting out and also from books he referenced while traveling. Barstow often added illuminating comments from modern authors like Howells, Ruskin, and Hawthorne to his descriptions of many important sights.

Charles wrote letters from 20 cities in 7 countries (England, Germany, Switzerland, Belgium, Austria, and especially France and Italy, which seem to bewitch him). Barstow described the cities, parks, buildings, scenery, and works of art he encountered, as well as the diverse people among whom he found himself. Barstow met people both of his own social class and the less well-off (ranging from hosts to street laborers and music hall dancers).

In between descriptions of standard and unexpected sights, Barstow's letters remain consistently interesting, be they describing charming conversation with the “intelligent Dutch boy" who shaved him one morning, mentioning the Prince of Wales' appearance at a German spa (and its effect on conversation), discussing cookery at Florian's in Venice or a laborer's table in Florence, dropping Mrs. Jack Gardner's or Sarah Bernhardt's name, or acutely comparing European and American drinking mores. Barstow was, in short, an ideal travel writer.

The entire tour certainly paid visual and literary dividends that Barstow invested well following his return to New York. More importantly, Barstow’s letters dynamically preserve both the entire experience of traveling through Europe In 1895-6 and catalog discrete experiences with salient cultural landmarks.

Courtesy Middlebury Special Collections

References:
Carleton, Hiram, ed. Genealogical & Family Hist. of Vermont (NY, 1903), vol. 1, p. 478-480. National Union Catalog, vol. 37: 241-242 (cards NB0153031- NB0153056).
Who's Who in the East (Wash., D.C.: Mayflower Publ. Co., 1930), p. 167.