The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-05-27
CONFERENCE IN
ANCIENT CASTLE
Dutch Government Has Fitted
Up Historical Place for
Guests at The Hague.
ONE GOOD HOTEL IN CITY
AMERICANS EARLY IN SECURING
QUARTERS.

The Hague, May 2e.-The sittings of
the second peace conference win be
held in thirteenth century castle. The
romantic House in the Woods" the
former royal villa in the Haagsche for
est in which the original conference
met, was found too small to accommo-
date the delegates of the forty-siX
countries to be represented at the pres
ent conference, and the Dutch govern
ment decided to fit up and place at the
disposal OF its distinguished guests the
ancient castle latteriy known as The
Hall of Knights"
This is a large, gloomy structure Of
stone and brick, situated in the heart
of an interesting. irregular pile Of old
but more modern buildings, which,
taken together, form the Binnenhof,
the fortress of the city. The Binnenhof
is the most historical spot in Holland,
about il clustering the memories of the
eighty-year struggle which finally re-
suited in relieving the Dutch OF the
Spanish yoke, the giories of the repub-
lie with the states general rule. when
Dutch commerce was the most extend
ed in the world and triumphant war
ships even assembled the Thames and
threatened London
BanquetIna Hall of Counts.
The Hall OF knights" stands in The
center of paved court formed by the
surrounding buildings, and is reached
through half-a-dozen picturesque por-
tails over which are chiseled the arms
OF the counts of Holland. The interior
consists of a single enormous hall, &C.
cupying the entire space within the
church-like structure in front and
series of smaller halls or rooms in the
rear. The large hau was the great
banqueting room of the counts and
their knights when they made merry
during the hunting expeditions TO the
North sea marshes. 1t is here that the
plenary sessions OF the conference viii
be hell
The interior of the castle was not
originally decorated, it being the Gus
tom OF the counts whe nthey came to
The Hague to bring rich tapestries and
carpets with Which to adorn the walls
of the rooms given no to festivities
Built to withstand a siege, the castle
as matter of fact, was never invest
ed.
After the rise of the republic the
castle gradually fell into decay. Its
main use in those days was for the
drawing of the national lottery, which
took place in the main hall. where the
conference will sit, and the name Lot
terry hail. still clings to it, although
distinctly discouraged by the govern
ment.
Extreme Simplicity.
Since 1862 the main hall has been an
nually used by the queen for the cere-
rnony of reading the address of the
throne to the houses of parliament as
sembled in joint session. The hall is
about fifty by eighty feet, very lofty,
but the huge beams and rafters of the
vaulted roof, bare, after the Dutch
fashion, give it cavernous appear
ance. The desks for the delegates, ar
ranged like pews in a church. are COW
cred with green baize, and each has
single pewter ink we'll. In front is a
low rostrum for the presiding officer,
with the desks of the secretaries ar
ranged behind in the form of semi
circle. The whole object, apparently,
is to bring the delegates as close to-
gether as possible and permit Of an
easy exchange of ideas without orator.
ical effort. The general effect is Of
rigorous simplicity.
The question OF the quarters of the
delegates, their assistants and suites
has been difficult TO manage. owing 10
The limited hotel accOmmoda lions.
Within the city proper there is only
one hotel fitted for entertainment Of
the distinguished diplomats. This is
the Hotel des In0es, splendidly APP
pointed, but not large. II races the
I.aneevoorhut one of the principal
squares. on one side of which is the
palace of the queen mother and on the
other side the American legation and
the royal library.
Here will be quartered the American,
English, japanese Italian, Spanish and
Brazilian delegates. The Americans.
through the promDtness of United
States Minister Hill. hape obtained the
pick of the apartments, practically the
entire first floor having been reserved
for them.
Teachers excursions east May 81 and