We had climbed the steep hill to the youth hostel in Bath, England, after some evening event that slipped from my memory. What I did remember, however, was that the house parent, Mrs. Evans, came bounding into our dormitory room saying, “Now girls, you know that your lights should be out.” I tried to convince her that we needed more time and would be quiet as mice.

“No. Whatever it is, do it tomorrow after the wake-up bell.” The lights went off and we giggled a little after she left. It’s a good house parent who looks after all of the guest equally and enforces the rules that are about the same in hostels all over the world.

The Bath hostel incident began just before 11 p.m. when we were reorganizing our luggage and picking out things to wear the next day. Cynthie was sitting on the floor looking into her open saddlebags, but she wasn’t doing much at all. “Mrs. G.,” she said. “What am I going to do about this ketchup?”

I asked “What ketchup?” and she said, “It’s on everything!”

I rolled out of my bunk bed to see what had happened. Broken glass and ketchup were on all her personal things! I got a “dust bin,” which we call wastebasket, and began to pick out the broken pieces that had some ketchup remaining. Enter Mrs. Evans! Cynthie and I took care of the mess the next morning before the other girls were awake.

My first contact with hosteling came in 1937 when I read of Isabel and Monroe Smith, a young married couple introducing the European hostel idea in America because they recognized it as a strong influence on international understanding and peace.

Hostels are simple and inexpensive. They’re especially for young people of limited means, without regard for race, color, language or creed. Another objective is to help travelers gain a greater knowledge and love of the countryside. Trip leaders and parents were considered “young at any age” when accompanying young people. The hostels also welcome oldsters who are young at heart, when space permits.

Three decades after the Smith’s first efforts, and after we had experienced European hostels, we registered at our first American hostel at Bowmanville, Pa. The widow of a retired minister was house parent at this attractive place in a beautiful location. I liked her when we registered and she collected our five passbooks. And I respected her when she fined me 25 cents for not having my photo pasted on the pass.

She asked to see our required sheet sleeping sacks and assigned sweeping and dusting chores that we would do the following morning. Fire alarms, fire extinguishers and fire escapes were strategically placed.

Worldwide, procedures are much the same as they are approved by the international organization. Priority is given to persons traveling under their own steam instead of by motorized vehicles. We agree with the Smiths that international travel for people of any age promotes world peace and understanding.

During a windy hike in New Zealand, nine of us from five different countries were resting in a small shelter. The German fellow asked me, “What about this Gov. Faubus and the racial trouble in Arkansas?” Before I tried to answer, I remembered the Smiths’ tireless effort to bring young travelers together for just such an occasion as this.