Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-06-09

among the creeks. canals and lakes Of Zee
land. TO the dull and lovely town of Rotter-
dam, and then by Delft and The Hague to
the Dutch coast, to Scheveningen, which
can give us points in seaside comfort
Antwerp is sprawling town. 10000
strong, a town of dull cream-colored stone
relieved by some red brick and much dark
foliage, Illustrating in a country Of wet feet:
sprawling town OF broad and rambling
streets Of wholesale commerce fiavorless
and fiat, besides a great free port; a town of
drays and sailor-men, OF merchants and
their clerks and women folks. 1t has q
fieshly population. lusty men and strappng
women. easy-going. lacking In distinction,
hearty workers. hearty eaters hearty sleep
ers, hearty Misunderstanding, neither
French nor Dutch, but with the thirst of
each-a double thirst.
The Antwerp fair reflects the sky Of Ant
werp. which is soft and damp, with massive
and low-hanging clouds, which cast their
shadows on the land. The Antwerp sky is
damp. the Antwerp fair is damp. The Ant
werp fair is damp with bottled merchandise
and kegs and barrels. This is my first i'm
preston Of the Antwerp fair. Its spacious
grounds are labyrinths of shady groves
Each alley of the labyrinth leads to a nook
Anversoise beside beer pump. OF ninety
monuments upon the numbered plan, some
forty-three are frankly given over to the
pleasures of the table and the bottle. Not
to speak OF the great brcweries of Munich
Wurzburg. Nuremburg, Pilsen and the rest
in Germany and Austria. the British brew
ers of ale and stout the Belgian brewers
in their Infinite variety, and even one Amer
lean concern, contribute to the swelling of
the expostion's floating population, a float
ing population In a double sense, according
to the loud denunciations of the Brussels
press They say the architects neglected
certain chalets.
At the railway station you are met by
English omnibuses, fresh from London.
painted screaming red. and plastered' with
advertisements in the true London STYLE
They whirl you through two modern ave-
nues Of mingled retail trade and residences
into a modern avenue Of residences pure and
simple-a very handsome avenue and beau
tifully shaded where you see at eventide
young couples promenading. Just as in
America. 1t Is agreeable and refreshing to
observe the liberty which Dutch and Flem-
ish girls enjoy. This is my second impress
sion of the Antwerp fair.
In the main building, as in the machinery
hall, Belgium has properly the largest space
though not a half in either case. France
comes next, with Germany and England for
close seconds. Russia. Austria and Italy
also come strongly to the front. The other
countries. Hungary. Portugal, Spain, Hol-
land, Turkey, Roumania, Bulgaria Switz-
and Japan, are in sufficient force to give
the fair bona fide universal flavor But
the crown and clou, as may be seen on the
official map, Is the great building OF the
American propaganda, where our own land.
alone. apart, In its own halls. shines out
with what Is no uncertain glory.
The United States at Antwerp occupy a
paradoxical position. a. Ours Is the only
government which has officially accepted
the invitation Of Belgium to take part In
the exposition: And CO 1t is the only gov
eminent which has not spent . cent Cor