The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1914-09-04


turn Il as soon as they passed En-
merich. the last German fortifca.
ton on the Rhine.
Four kodaks were secured and
watched by two detectives. who sat
at the table with them before them.
Those who had films in their kodaks
had that loss. as they were taken
out and exposed. Was happy, happy.
to get II back, when on Dutch soil.
Promptly put in films and took
pictures of windmills, which had
been crazy to get all of the time.
My kodak lay on the table and In
full sight.
Dutch Soldiers MobiIixing.
Dutch soldiers have been and still
are mobilizing. and Notifications all
along the way are carefully guarded,
but even so Il had a peaceful look,
with lovely green meadows, cows
peacefully feeding. windmills lazily
turning and on the canal, which we
now entered. boats laden with hay
are slowly moving in.
BY five In the afternoon We reach
ed Nijmegen. historic old town,
dating back to the Roman. and with
ruins OF the time of Charlemagne.
The boat locked for the night, and
Susan, who was not feeling well,
stayed on the boat, while we three
toured the town, and stopped and
had macaroons and milk, which
were good and cheap, Is cents Dutch,
Z cents American money.
Got back to boat and found Susan
feeling miserable, so I went with her
to Hotel Valkhof. Saw the latest
man in Europe, only big Dutchman
I've seen. The soldiers are mere
striplings, hardly able to carry pack
and gun on a march, so 1t seems to
me. Fat man, Emil Emile Setback,
was proprietor of hotel, 2s years
old and pulled like a porpoise. Good
sleep in bed at D. m, but up at
1880 a. IN. Had breakfast and back
to boat. Found Marie on gang plank
but Jessie still stretched out on seat
In ladies' saloon, where girls spent
the night with lords, ladies and
waiting maids.
Played cards and gazed up at
windmills and shipyards along the
canal. Boats being built at nearly
every small town on either side OF
the canal gave an opportunity to
see them in every stage of construc-
ton. Many places looked so interest
ing.
The captain said that In case war
was made on Holland, they would
food their country to the depth of
three feet, deep enough so troops
could not march, and yet not deep
enough so boats could navigate.
Could easily see how this might
be done, but hope no such necessity
will ever arise.
About noon we reached Rotter-
dam. AS we we're landing, a gentle
man said, My, but you people look
happy to get here" Yes" l said,
':but you should see how much hap
pier we shall be to get out" Start
ed for hotel recommended by our
fat friend, but after walking with
suit-cases (small hoy carried mine)
decided the trip to other side too
much, so planted suit cases and
Susan at outdoor cafe, and we three
went to try our luck at Holland
American Steamship line. Ferry
across, two cents. My but the ships
looked good to us! We were the
first from our boat to reach the Of
flee, and well for us, having made
bee line for the place, fearing
raid. We were able to get first class
extension room and inside room at
sS5. One lady who wanted to pay
for entire state room was told Il
was impossible at time like this.
They would sell but one berth
to person, no matter what they
were willing to pay. You can't
imagine our joy, when we exchanged
our American Express checks, which
are refused at nearly every place
on the continent now, for our pas
sage home. We were able to get $40
apiece in Dutch money at good ex-
change. Eleven others from the boat
arrived before we left. We took the
good news back to Susan, who had
been waiting patiently for two hours.
Holland Calm and Peaceful.
Our lunch was a joke. The waiter
said he understood German, English
and Dutch. Judge for yourselves on
the accomplishments OF the gentle
man, when he brought us lemon
ade when we asked for water, and
for a salad order was told we want
ed mayonnaise dressing, and we were
brought plate OF veal. We refused
the veal and also to pay for 1t. He
argued and argued and finally
brought another dunn head of a |
Dutchman. and being in the enemies
country, We yielded and paid for the |
veal, 80 cents. We we're glad to es.
cape with our baggage. Susan's re.
marks were Juicy. fear the walters |
knowledge failed him and he missed |
their richness.
AT the station we checked our
baggage and went to call on the |
American Express company. We
hoped to change our German money,
but even the gold had deprecated,
SO we decided to take II home and |
wait until the war 4, oyo.