The Raymer enterprise., 1913-07-10


Here they kiss all the afternoon as innocent as
little billing birds They kiss in the rain; and
II rains often. .rF
In speaking OF the handsome quays they call
the Boompies (more like park than any ord
nary waterfront, the guidebook says that visitors
may enter and inspect the vessels without OBJ
lection provided they do not get in the way OF
the work In hand. We did not enter and inspect,
but ] can well believe we might have done SO.
We did walk innocently into the garden OF the
most aristocratic club Of Rotterdam and mingled
freely with the smart set who we're holding tulip
competition, where the heroine was a blonde
blue-eyed, fourteen-year.old girl who had grown
an apple green variety! We we're only made
aware OF our position when We drank curacao
and btters offered by waiter In blue broad
cloth and yellow vest. who refused to take our
money. We not being club members
Rotterdom is so airy. open. bright, so shady.
fowery and well watered that It's citizens may
sing. Canals are everywhere and the canals are
beautiful They give parklike look to all the
streets, bordered by lawns. garnished by shrubs
and trees and tulips. And the citizens. from out
their kitchen windows or their parlor windows.
when they have company for dinner, hook up
fresh fish in profusion, which adds laborsavng
element to their bthe freedom
Should list be made OF continental cities
which have no great sights. no monuments. no
ruins no collections-in a word. no treadmill
tourist round-the town OF Rotterdam would take
a place Of honor in 1t, although she has a mari.
time museum. a picture gallery and statue OF
Erasmus.
In the market you can make study OF tho
bodices and headgear OF the peasants. Catching
the Dutch taste for still life you may muse on
symphonies OF color In the produce. Here are the
fish stalls. where all the shades OF whte-silver
white. blue white, white shaded with bronze
green. white with metallic reflections unite In a
clear scale OF harmony. Here all the tints OF
green are heaped together in the vegetables
melodiously accompanied by the fragrance Of the
flowers. which sing together with the fruits in
the most diverse color tones
Though Rotterdam is a great port and an I'm.
portant manufacturing center my best impres.
sions OF the pleasant city are connected with a
cafe chantant, park. the markets and the resi-.
Dental streets. The great manufactures are ship.
building, tobacco factories, sugar renneres and
many great distilleries. especially OF gins and
Dutch liqueurs The more important articles Of
commerce are coffee. sugar tobacco rice and
spices. It is the seventh port Of Europe
Again and again the vision OF well.known and
beloved city rises up before the writer's docIle
imagination and affects him to the point OF tears
the. city Of Philadelphia. Pa. which. l see, must
be faithful moving picture today OF what New
York was In 1850. II Ia the city OF homes par
excellence. and It resembles Rotterdam, and Rot.
terdam resembles It. The wearied tourist seek.
ing for snug retreat in which to raise beard
vii! fnd Rotterdam second Philadelphia
And looking from the watch tower Of st. Law.
rences church. down on the tranquil panorama;
on tho river and the suburbs; on the red brick
houses and the streets so straight and selfre.
specting. where the children play jackstones on
the front doorsteps. and their big sisters play
bull In the ring and kiss the boys on the side
walk; to look down. say on the slow but yel.
low trolleys whose faint Jingle rises as from some
secure blameless and fruitful sheep neld to ad.
mire the smoke Of manufactures. and police wag.
ons taking drunken factory hands to Jail, he will
cry, ut Is Philadephia-Philadelph for the out
side Of the platter is 80 cleaui"