Newark post., 1910-08-17
A SECOND LETTER
FROM ABROAD
nr Rowan Writes OF Holland And Ger.
many--Lovers Holding Hands -
Street And In Cars
Paris, France, August 6. 1910

Paris, France, August 6, 1910
MIR. f. {. Johnson.
Dear Sir Perhaps your readers
might find it OF interest to have me
describe my impressions OF a flving
visit through Holland and Germany
A night and a part of day in Rot
tcrdan save us some idea OF the ship
ping oi the Dutch town. In this re-
spect il far excells New York The
streets are narrow with some electric
lines. The cars are not run so fast
as they are in our cities, but they
move much more smoothly. The
pavements are also narrow; hence pc
dcstrians take the middle OF streets.
Many business people on the main
streets live over their stores. So far
as travel is concerned the Hollanders
seem to have preference for singles.
Thus great wagon heavily loaded
will be drawn by one big horse. But
they have a way of pairing in which
Americans of responsibility do not in
dulge. Lovers walk the streets hold
ing hands, and even in street cars
they go through the same perform
ance. 1t must be considered apropos
for none of the natives appeared to
take any notice. 1t was LETT to us to
look and wonder and make comments.
The rural districts of Holland are
well worth seeing God has given
these people limited amount OF land,
and then taught them how TO get the
most from little. The soil itself is
rich. and there is no lack OF water
When the clouds refuse to pour their
contents on the earth, the clumsy
wind mills ale set III operation, and
soon the land is covered with water.
Consequently the crops are enormous
and the meado3s especially being lux
uriant. AT Cranenburg the German
custom house officials boarded the
train to examine Our luggage. We
expected to be compelled to dump out
the contents Of Our suit case, but were
agreeably surprised. A few inquiries
as to coffee and tea, OH which there is
high duty ir Germany, and they
bowed themselves out of our compart-
ment. AT Cologne, written koln by
the Germans. the chief attraction is
the Cathedral, great both in size and
architecture. full Of paintings by the
masters, as well as images and relics.
| have not attempted to remember
all that was poured into my ears, such
rs parts of the original cross, bones
Cf The saints. etc The boat ride on
the Rhine from Born to Mayence,
rro9cunc Mainz By the Germans,
rcu.ains in my mcmGry as one OF the
les thin 5 seen in the Fatherland.
And yet it is my opinion that, elimi-
mating the castles, the Hudson River
& New York is fully equal to the
inc in scenery. But the castles, add
magic charm to~t the Rhine They
recall the period OF the Middle Ages,
when feuded lords ruled with a high
hand, and exacted tribute from vessels
pass ng up and down the river Even
a glance will convince the close OBJ
server that the most advantageous
ties were selected for these ancient
fortresses. The side of the hill fac
ing the river is precipitous, making
an attack from that point centain an
initiation, and the land side is almost
as good | could not understand how
the rowing bards of warriors manag-
ed to scale those hills, and batter
down the walls OF those castles. But
it was done. Land must be precious
in Germany. Ever, available spot is
in cultivation From a distance the
hillsides look like crazy quilts with
their little irregular patches, belong
ing to different farmers, who live in
a village close to the rivers edge.
Who has not heard of the rock OF
Loreley and the town OF Bingens
Both are celebrated in song, and are
destined to live as long as music pre-
sents tradition and sentiment. May
ence is celebrated for its cathedral,
said to date back to 96S A. d. By
the time we had visited Frankfort we
were familiar with German coins. The
mark seems to be their Unit of value.
A mark is worth IS cents Of American
money, and the mark is made OF 100
pfennigs or pennies The smallest
coin put into our hands was 10 pten-
nips, equal to I-2 cents OF our mon
ey by the way reasonable tip tor
services for which we pay full value.
1t was our original intention to 60 to
Munich, and from thence TO Oberam-
mergau to see the Passion Play. But
there was no certainty as to tickets,
and hence we concluded to leave Ger
many with its great farming districts,
its forests and soldiers to set our
faces toward Paris, to have our ears
saluted with another language, and to
learn how to handle another currency
VIM. 7 ROWAN.