Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-10-06

! CNhoAo' DUTCH WEST INDIES
oe'oper % little bit of Holland
, nnnSpia i IN the Caribbean is Cura-
niles from the northern coast Of Vene
1. and only Il little more Than 100
G n.res from S,n La Guaira. mort town for
other island OF the West Indies SO near To
~ represents, by it's physical apnear-
a the z uw% us zo people. the country OF
preity ana very hospitable little is,
thls part OF the Caribbean "
,Ihe sea comes into Willcmstad. nor,
SitE OF curacao TO form a landlocked
h ,,a1' unlike any other in the West
branching, Off the main inlet that
forms the harbor is "A lagoon that eX
tends several hundred yards straigh;
h hMr from about the center OF the har-
ondary body Of water is as deep and
iittie wider than the main outlet.
,to, rs used for ships that remain IN
port Tor long time or whenever the
main harbor is crowded. Such "A har-
oor gives Holland fine base for it's
( SHIPS III TINS part OF the Caribbean.
WILLEMSTAD HAS MANY
AND VARIED CHARMS
About the town of Willemstad itself
there Is charming influence which
iIamediately wins t:e stranger. so
little port. The architecture is Dutch:
the buildings themselves might have
been brought bodily from Amsterdam
and erected here. so much do they re-
Semble the physical features of that
Dutch city. The town is built down
TO the water front OH both sides OF the
along the lagoon. Just above the forts
aud on the right side as a ship enters.
stand the Governors house ana the
general government buildings. a pleas
Ing sight. Extending along the same
side and also running along the oppo-
site shore arc the business houses.
~ fitsh ri faa
. the water itself.
AS the ship drifts toward its dock a
passenger may get a good view of the
town and its pleasing features, The
architecture fascinates: the busy con-
dttion OF the dock and adjoining streets.
where hundreds OF people seem to
/ preston OF a. hustlinG and much alive
tropical town. AS the ship goes on
past break in the line of buildings
the lagoon is observed to the right.
and down 10 it's edge hundreds OF pc
. culiar Dutch homes. whose tile roofs
appear In varied contrast under the
soon learn. If he chooses TO hire an au-
tomobile at So an hour to ride about
the town. are ideal in cleanliness.
Many ships are always TO he found
in the Willemstad Harbor. Even dur
ing the War there usually are three or
four steamers at dock, III addition TO
many one, two and three mast sailing
schooners. which ply between Curacao
and parts OF Venezuela. because OF
these ships and for the reason that
many business houses are down al tho
edge OF the water. Willcms,ad gives
an immediate impression Of much
hustle and activity. The business
sent. would contribute much toward
making this same impression. And.
due to these scenes at the dock. dur
ing the hours OF regular business. the
passenger. even though he never leaves
his ship, always carries away pic
sure OF this little town that he never
WIN forget
Back among the homes that border
upon the water of the lagoon is TO be
found "SpotIess Town" II anywhere IN
the world outside Of Holland such a
Dutch architecture. arc as free from
dirt and other things that detrac; from
good looks and comfort as any homes
can be- The kitchens are spicE and
sran. with floors scrubbed white and
corners entirely free from dirt. The
living rooms. the bedrooms, the ain
g-rooms, all are ideal in cleanliness.
out in the yard arc flowers and trees
which have been given every attention.
/ Wide slate walks lead TO the front
| gates and every slab in these walks IS
clean. Thcrc Is nothing in tho homes
OF the other islands 10 compare with
! these dwellings OF Curacao Tor cream
rare BEAUTY, too. in their furnishings
! and gardens, while the appearance or
/ the houses from the outside is. with
rare exception. most pleasing.
Curacao has population OF nearly
/ 10000. OF this number 1900 are whites.
! the other inhabitants being black and
/ mixture Of West Indian. negro aud
I Spanish blood. In Curacao there APP
| parcntiy is moro pure West Indian and
| negro blood than IN many OF the other
| islands OF tho West Indian island The
! negroes themselves arc a pleasant.
I agreeable race in Curacao. seeming 20
have felt tho Influence Of the thrifty
Dutch FOR many years. Even tho homes
of these blacks arc much cleaner and
more comfortable than the homes If
tho blacks OF tho other islands. Many
thorough. blooded West Indians are TO
! be seen about the street. Some Of these
types are very pretty.
/ The thrifty spirit and salient Dutch
[ characteristics are to he observed in
| many quarters. AS has been remarked,
/ TN streets arc very clean, but they also
are otherwise distinguished from the
streets OF most towns OF the West In
dics-they are free from an odor which
is peculiar 10 most Of these insular