Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-04-27
A SUMMER IN EUROPE.
III-Across to the Continent.


Low at times and loud at times,
And hanging like a poets rhymes.
Rang the beautiful wild chimes
From the belfry in the market
or the ancient town of Bruges."
With the echo of those chimes still
ringing in our ears. we turned back
to the station Client was our next
hating place. and although we were
| ten minutes ahead of the time we had
planned to leave, the porter told us
that there was train just ready to
start In Auntie hurried. clutching her
baggage, and 10 the train began NOV
ing. Not wishing to leave her alone to
the tender mercies of the foreigners,
| ciambered after her, leaving the other
two with three suit eases, surround
ed by "A sympathiZing crowd. whose
only intellgible language for them
was signs. BY saying "Gaud' and
pointing to six o'clock, they made
them understand that the next train
left i'll another half hour
They were not at all alarmed but
calmly waited for the train, 50 they
told us when we met again.
But Auntie was sure that before the
month was over that we should all be
lost. Then she informed me that if
hadn't stopped to buy those post
cards, this wouldn't have happened.
AS this mild outburst of indignation
eased her MIND she leaned back, smiled
affably at stranger opposite, and to-
words the end deigned to remark that
size was glad we had come on. for she
supposed the others would know
enough to take the next train.
How can l describe the station ut
Client! AS the porter took our
luggage, he lead us to a large grass
plot, in the very center of the station.
all blooming with flowers, with here
and there some palm trees growing.
On each side of the station We're long
rows of shrubs We did not find the
waiting long in such a spot.
I wanted to go out and locate some
good hotel in the interval. but that is
the one unfortunate part about the
foreign railway stations. There are no
conductors to take up the tickets on
the trains. At every station a guard
cries out the name of the place. I'm
less we could see some porter, we had
to open the door ourselves and hurry
out. AS a rule all stations swarm
with porters. 1t is only upon going
are taken. No one can come inside Of
a station without showing his ticket.
1t was a happy reunion when the
four of us met once again. We went
to the nearest hotel, where we had two
large adjoining rooms with the
windows leading out on to balconies.
The next day was the fourth of July.
which we celebrated in strenuous
manner travelling all day. jumping
from Belgium into Holland. In the
early morning at Client we hired
local guide and drove around the city.
The most beautiful part of the drive
was through the park, which extended
for several miles.
Our driver had a mania for churches.
After visiting the cathedral and two pr
three minor churches with histories
that would cover volumes, we drew the
line and insisted upon remaining in
the carriage when we came to another
church. specially as we realized that
the driver was killing time" as he was
hired by the hour He was an obliging
driver, however, and did his utmost to
entertain us.
He saw us safely to the station, but
could not prevent two porters from
bouncing upon our baggage. AS We
We're only few yards away from the
train. | insisted that one was enough,
and the other reluctantly drew back
But when we came to pay our porter
he asked for tip for his friend over
there" O, there is always plenty of
excitement at foreign railway station,
as Americans are soon recognized. and
all Americans are supposed to be rich
and prey for the Europeans.
MABEL FRANCES KNIGHT.
(Letter No. A. "On to brave little Hol-
land."D