Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1917-02-05

1iotel Mas, or de Ia MeuSe. 1t
is right on the River Meuse, or Mas,
on a street called Boompjes, that runs
along the water. This, you will notice,
is the same river which was said to
have run red with blood to the sea
during the first few weeks of the war.
We are near the sea at Rotterdam.
After getting, each of us, very
good room at the rate of three gulden,
80 cents day equivalent to $1.40),
we proceeded to sally forth and gain
our first impression of the city.
1t was blessed to be in a place where
there was plenty of light after night
fall
Except for the innumerable bridges
and canals, however we were not con-
scious of being in such a tremendous
ly foreign place. OF course, all the
signs were in Dutch, but the constant
recurrence of the prefix Van" to prop
er names gave a sort of unexpected
New Yorky atmosphere to this first
stroll, and rather suggested that we
We're in an unexplored section of
Greenwich village.
MEETS Ex-PITTSBURGER.
At soda water fountain we came
army (Which Is completely modified
for border patrol duty who had spent
six years in Pittsburg working in a
pickle factory. The Dutch look very
much like Americans, and speak Eng
lish exactly as we do. We had a long
conversation on the subject of Broad
way and Yankeeland in general, as we
sat in front of the neat, flower-decor-
ated bar with its row of glistening
nickel-plated pump handles, and on
leaving we all removed our hats to one
another, as is the polite continental
custom.
The Dutch have a great variety of
uniforms, but the service uniform is
of field gray, like the German, with a
cap shaped like an inverted flour sitter
with handle removed, and the pointed
part in front. / noted particularly that
the men were not well shod-Which
would prove a dangerous oversight If
Holland were to go to war. Many of
them are wearing patent leather shoes
with their field equipment
A DELIGHTFUL SETTING.
shall never forget the charm of
my first awakening from sleep in
Holland. My room is at the back of
the hotel, overlooking a canal of clear,
green water. Beyond it is neat
street of immaculate cobblestones and
gabled Dutch houses of mat brick.
Trees grow right out Of the street, each
protected by three implanted wooden
posts and three wooden bars that Join
the posts at the top. An artistic four
| cornered street lamp Is opposite my
window. In the canal are three barges
clean as pins, two of them green and
black and white and built of steel, one
with remarkably luxurious cabin aft
with the steering wheel set horizontally
in lined brown steel cauldron
like a laundry tub. This last is nam
ed the "Ambulent" of Rotterdam, and a
man, an efficient woman and two boys
live, work and have their being on her
She IS fine new boat, and draws IL
feet Of water, as l can see from the
marking on her sides as she lies In the
| water waiting to be loaded. The other
green, white and black one rejoices in
| the popular name of Marie" and the
third, which Is purple, with a huge yell
low, green and white rudder, is SO
placed that I cannot see her name.
When I awoke the air was fresh and
warm, and the sun was shining bright
~ on the gabled, red-tiled roofs across
from me. My great double window,
which opens outward. was swung wide.
There was much energy on the canal.
Men and women We're busily climbing
about the boats with huge scrubbing
brushes and great cakes Of soap. busily
cleaning. The charm Of this simple,
early morning water scrape to one who
had come to Holland from money and
pleasure mad New York by way OF
Zeppelin fearing. cripple filled London
is indescribable.
DUTCH PAPERS PLEASE COPY
If cleanliness is virtue, heaven Is
fanother Holland.
Beyond the canal under my window