The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1900-08-31
LETTERS OF A
SALEM TRAVELLER
Mrs. Virgins Writes of Her
experiences in Europe.
Describes the sights In England, at the Paris
Exposition ana on the
Continent.

III AAA'NAaf "hAg 'A1Nf A'NNs
Just had a note from Papa, inclosing
your letter. Papa says it is still awfully
hot in Paris, and that was wise TO stay
where it is cool. had TO wear my jack
ct all day today, you know this is 80 near
the coast.
want 10 tell you Of my good fortune
no, not good fortune, but Providence.
You know was so disappointed not TO
90 into the Dutch houses here in the
country, well this morning went out on
my wheel-followed a canal into the
country taking a few photos and looking
for something t0 sketch this afternoon.
found fine old windmill. put my
camera on the tripod, and in moving
around in the deep grass and weeds |
almost stumbled over a yonng man who
was painting in oils. He spoke to me
in Dutch and ] answered in English.
Then he said: "Oh, You are English,
are your" and we proceeded TO converse
in English. As usual there were a dozen
children following me, and the boys were
bound TO be in the picture, right in front
Of the lens.
could do nothing with them, but he
made them stand around, and posed
little girl for me. He is a very nice
young man, a Christian, and interested
in the Y. NJ. G. A. work too, 80 when he
offered to go with me on a wheel to his
country relatives to sketch and photo
graph the interior OF their houses did
not hesitate to accept his offer, and he
seemed 80 pleased to be able to show me
Holland. I'll never come here
again without learning little Dutch, or
Holland rather they don't call II Dutch,
Yesterday the Great Market" was
held, and got on my wheel about four
o'clock and wandered down there. did
not expect to see much ;but what was my
surprise 10 see three or four long blocks
Of tent booths, with everything you
could imagine for sale; clothing flowers,
pottery, stoves, fish, regular junk shops,
fruit, hotcakes and bread, shoes, hats,
candy, etc. etc,
OF course you can guess which ones
drew me like powerful magnets-the
junk shops-and oh, what a temptation
il was TO buy the things could not carry
home. don't covet the beau
tiful jewels see, but I'm afraid do the
copper and brass.
The people here hate the English and
write books against them and sell them
right here.
Thursday is the queens mothers
birthday. They are making great prep.
aratons for celebration.
August SIT has been very stormy
for two days. Yesterday eat in the
dining room window AMI sketched the
street. There were two beautiful Hol-
land flags floating in the breeze, left from
the decorations Of the day before.
Thursday we went out TO some old
houses belonging to the servants Of a
friend OF Mr.. Vanderhoop, and because
il was a holiday they had gone to the
city, so we could not get in. | was so
disappointed. Mr., Vanderhoop thinks
that we Americans are so reckless, and
when would ride my wheel within six
feet Of the canal he was sure | would
fall inl And when carried an um.
brella on my wheel he fairly held his
breath, and then exclaimed "My wohd
but you ah cleyahw That sounds just
like an Engishman, doesn't il?
| expect TO leave here early Monday
morning, 80 that | may reach Rotter-
dam by s a. m, and Paris that night. /
received telegram from papa on Thurs
day, saying that he had left for Ger
many to get away from the heat OF
Paris. have been almost too cold all
day, and had TO sit with my jacket on
part Of the time. 1t has been 30 pleas
ant here, and have been feeling 80 we'll
all the the time, but | fear that Paris
will take away all of my ambition. l
am more than ready 10 go home.
| must tell you about my narrow es-
cape. thought would go around the
corner, about two of our blocks away, TO
get some fruit, as | could buy i've times
as much for the money as It the hotel,
so rode my wheel 10 avoid wet feet
rs my rubbers are in Rotterdam, and
had 10 carry an umbrella, as It was rain
ing quite hard, | got there all right
and was just starting back when had
the narrowest escape Of my life. A man
was walking directly in front of my
wheel, crosswise, and the wind was
blowing so he couldn't hear my bell. He
finally heard just in time to keep me
from striking him, and by that time
was on the street car track, and looked
up TO see heavy wage and horse COM
ing toward me at very fast gait and al.
most upon me. | hesitated half second
as 10 which way ! should turn and thC-
It was too late, for the horses head was
over my handle bars, still coming, with
his head drawn back to keep from strik-
ing me. Oh but he looked like mon
ster. thought OF a thousand things in
that instant, and then jumped, wheel
and all, onto the narrow two and one
half foot sidewalk without hundreth
part OF a second TO spare, and then
thought my foot would be run over. /
landed ON the spokes Of my wheel and
tell You | was thankful for that escape.
The horse Was going too fast TO stop, and
he would have tramplel me 10 death.