Bennington semi-weekly banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 1894-1902, 1894-11-02
BY HOOK OR CROOK.

In travelling with person like ono of
two things. He must have entire respon-
sibility, or must. Two is one too many
to run show.
confess that in travelling prefer to
run the show myself, and as a usual thing
do it exceedingly well, although the 9th
er fellow sometimes will not admit as
much, actuated, as hold, by onvy at my
own marvellous grasp of detail.
From these Introductory remarks you
will understand with what reluctance
make the following humiliating confess
sion:
There were two Of us, and was run
ming the show. We were at The Hague
and were going that night by the Harwich
boat to London. Friends strongly advised
us to take an express that went through
The Hague to the Hook Of Holland, and
there get comfortably settled on the boat.
The express takes only a few minutes
and does not stop between the capital of
Holland and the hook thereof. 1t was, OF
course, the sensible thing to do, but as
! said, was running tho show, and
Thought had better plan.
) No." said l; I'VE will go to Rotter-
dam, drive down to the Harwich boat
from the station, leave our baggage on
board, find when she leaves, then take
carriage, drive through Rotterdam and see
the city"
So we left and reached tho Beurs sta
ton little before 3 O'Clock in the after
noon. l did not know what time tho Har-
witch boat left Rotterdam, but knew sho
left the hook at 1920, and supposed she
would leave Rotterdam anywhere between
s and 8. This would give US time to sec
the city and have n good dinner at ono of
the hotels.
On coming out of tho Beurs station
there was not carriage to be seen. We
walked along through that city for half an
hour without seeing single cab plying
for hire. Rotterdam resembles Venice in
many respects, but in none so much as the
lack of public carriages. Finally we took
a street car that went down to the wharf.
A man who told us what kind of street
car to take asked us if we intended to go
by the Harwich boat. answered that we
did.
'Oh," he said, IT am sure the Harwich
boat has gone by this time!"
But that seemed to me impossible, and
sure enough when we got off the street car
at the terminus 1 saw the fine steamship
Berlin at the wharf, and could not help
remarking to my companions:
''If one paid attention to what everybody
said, one would have no fun at all"
Yes" was the reply, but 1 notice
they are unloading this boat, and think
that if she is going to sail tonight they
would be putting things on rather than
taking them Off"
1t struck me that there was some good
old common sense in this remark, and
there was just tone of apprehension in
my voice as | hailed a man on deck and
shouted, when does this boat leave?"
The answer was SIMPLIFYING, Tomorrow
night sir"
GOOD graciousl'' cried. "Where is
the boat that leaves tonightH
"She left for the Hook of Holland about
half an hour ago, sir"
fare there no trains for the Hook of
Holland2" l shouted
IT think there are several" he answer
ed. "You can find out at the Central sta
ton"
Now, the Central station was at least
two miles back and is called the Central
because it is entirely outside the town.
''Well," l said to my comrade, "there
seems to be nothing for it but to go back
TO the Central station, leave our things
there, get dinner and then go down to the
hook. There is certain to be good hotel
in front Of the station; there always is in
European cities ("
So we got on the street car and went
jingling back Through the city.
After awhile 1 said to the conductor,
''Let me know when we come to the Cen
trail station, will youf''
He answered, "Why did you not tell
me, when you paid your fare, that you
were going to the Central station? Then
I could have given you tickets that would
have taken you through. AS is, you will