Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-05-03
A SUMMER IN EUROPE.
Won to Brave Little Holland.

| Before entering the land of the
wooden shoes and the wind-mills. we
paused for brief stay at Brussels,
that miniature Paris. The name OF
the city Immediately suggests lace, and
our driver was all impatient to take us
to the royal lace manufactures, where
no doubt he received a commission Of
all that was purchased by the unsus-
pectlng customers he lead there.
We insisted that we should first be
shown the city and it's principal build
| ings What a delightful city to ride
about in, but as we came suddenly up
on the grand square, we thought that
we were transported into some fairy
| scene of the Arabian Nights. Thai
| square was the flower market. with
profusions of all kinds of flowers
| sending forth such perfume that the
entire atmosphere was redolent with
their fragrance. 1t was fittingly en-
cased in the four sides by imposing
buildings, some of them of gilt, illus
trative Of the different tradesmen's
| arts.
Driving upward we had panoramic
view of the surrounding country. Then
| we yielded to our drivers desire, and
visited the lace makers. We were
greeted by some such remark as this:
"Oh, madame need not buy any
| thing, but I wish madame to watch
them make the lake."
1t was wonderful to see those bob
bins and shuttles moving SO rapidly in
the skilled hands of those workwomen.
Then we were invited into the rooms
where the laces were on exhibition,
"iust merely to look" Those clerks
are clever indeed, for 1 venture to say
that no one leaves those rooms with
out carrying with him some souvenir
of the place. 1t would be easier to buy
the lace if the prices were fixed. AS 1t
is we kept hearing this formula repeat
ed Here is beautiful piece, madame,
worth twenty-five frances, but we will
let madame have it for twenty frances
and SO the price descends unit! we
wonder just what the real value is.
After cur drive was ended, we sat
down at table on the sidewalk. where
we could see Flemish life while we
ate. What a delightful custom it is.
that of eating out Of doors Often the
strain of an orchestra at some near.b by
cafe furnishes music while you lunch.
Such a meal is restful and enjoyable,
in comparison with cur indoor hurry
up lunch counters, where one gulps
down his food, keeps a frenzied glance
on his watch, and then bolts for the
train before half of what he has order
ed has been eaten. The foreigners do
not knew the meaning of the word
hurry. I heard a Frenchman say this
t.YTSl~e .11 ,,ot
know how to enjoy themselves. They
work to gain as much money as pos
sible, and when they get it they will
not stop to enjoy it. We Frenchmen
prefer to earn less and have more en-
Joyment out of life"
After eating our luncheon in that
sunny out of door spot in Brussels, we
went on to Antwerp. There auntie did
not care to go sightseeing, declaring
that she had seen enough for one day.
so leaving her in charge of our luggage
we varied our method this time by
taking a train-car. There were two
cars attached together, the front one
closed car, and first class, the back
one an open one, and second class. We
chose the latter as it enabled us to see
the city better.
That which draws all tourists 70
Antwerp is Reuben's masterpiece the
Descent from the Cross" OF course
we FASTENED to the cathedral to see
that marvellous painting, and i'm
imagine our dismay when We saw it
heavily shronded by a dark curtain.
No amount of bribery would induce the
custodian to raise that veil and per-
nit us to gaze at the Holy of Holes.
So we had to leave Antwerp without
seeing that for which we had come.
Speeding onward to The Hague, the
windmills because more numerous and
the land as fiat as pancake. 1t was
on that train that we were as hungry
as mortals could be, without being able
| to buy anything to eat There was
plenty of food at the different stations,
but the Dutch wouldn't take our mon
| ey Passing so quickly from country to
country it is hard to reckon on the
sum needed in each one. We had some
Belgium money, some English gold and
some checks, but the vendors, who
came to the car windows, were very
much afraid Of all that, and wouldn't
accept them. There was nothing for
us to do but admire the magnificent
sunset and forget all about being
hungry But we were very thankful
when the host of the Orange hotel was
kind enough to provide us a hearty
dinner at half past nine l am afraid
if we had gone supperless to bed, we
would not have had very favorable
1