Charlemagne's Canal

SAILING ACROSS EUROPE--Negley Farson--Century ($3.50). Everyone knows that Europe's air system now reaches every important city and many an unimportant. But who knew that for centuries it has been possible to travel inland by boat from Rotterdam, climb the Rhine, get into the Danube and debouch upon the Black Sea? The key link is the Ludwig Canal, begun by Charlemagne 1,200 years ago. With 101 locks in 107 miles it climbs out of Bavaria through the clouds of the Frankischer Jura mountains and deposits you in Austria. . The German Consulate at London had never heard of it Dutchmen were dubious about its continued existence. But Skipper Farson's faith was great. With a crew of one (his wife) and high credentials from the Chicago Daily News he braved the uncertainty in a 26-foot power yawl, the Flame.

Among his rewards were shooting the rapids of Ratisbon, lunching and gunning with Admiral Horthy at Budapest, tasting the fresh-distilled slivowitz (plum brandy) of Croatian and Magyar peasants waltzing in raw Bulgaria, watching out for the merry brigands of swampy Rumania. Though his name sounds like the handwriting oh the wall, Traveler Farson is a cheery, seaworthy person and a first-rate reporter. He saw a great deal that was significent as well as colorful and tells it very well.