River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1918-10-17


~ nOsing their way nOrtherly in
A single file, strives ever to gain
Roadway against the tides of
the Indian ocean and the steady blast
OF the monsoon, and thus to pass BOr-
neO and reach sanctuary in the Bay of
Bengal. The leader is Simultaneous
nous, sinister and unsophisticated, all
but rubbing coasts with the great fin
ger of the Malay peninsula-that slen-
der, sea-lapped mountain range that
has never lost hope of becoming still
another island Close behind the lead
er swim Java, Bali, LombOk, SumbaWa,
Flores and host of lesser fry-names
redolent with spices and reminiscent
Of pirates and early explorers.
From the deck of the steamer every
island seems to be still in almost prim-
tive glory, with only a scattering of
hamlets and native huts to break the
feather forest of fronds, writes Will
liam Beebe in Asia. But as entrance
by train into a beautiful city shows it
as if made up of railway yards, coal
dumps, tenementS and posters of
chewing gum and Turkish baths, so
the ships passenger is sometimes de-
ceived. BOrneO and Sumatra are sin
cere, and their great primeval forests,
their Orang-utans and elephants are as
the imagination pictures them. But
Dutch builders have eclipSed the will
dernesS of Java and have transformed
it into an Indian isle of superficial
beauty, Overrun by a host of cringing
natives, with stupidity and fecundity
as outstanding attributes. The thrifty
Dutch who have wrought this change
have lost the gentle, kindly nature of
their forebearS and with the sarOng
garb of the natives have acquired a
heavy dullness and a cupidity which is
manifested in suspicion Of all stran-
gers and an inhospitable attitude for
eign to any but Teutonic colonists.
Exaggerations in Ways of Life.
But / was still ignorant of all this
as sat on the deck of the steamer of
the "Koninkluke Paketvaart Maat-
schappiji"-th latter being inserted
at this point as local color, and be-
cause / am writing and not speaking
this paragraph. Among all nations
one is not surprised at unexpected ex-
aggerations in habits and ways of life,
as my first tropical Dutch dinner wit
messed. "Riz taver' was announced-an
achievement which would strain the
capacity of a brigade supply depot on
the battle front, whose technique re-
calls the Japanese tea ceremony, and
whose ultimate results equal a West
Indian pepper pot in diversity and an
old-fashioned wedding bouquet in riot
of color. Upon a large plate you pile
rice-a veritable Full Yama of the
white grains-and then you carry the
smile further and carve out mighty
crater. If it is formal and complete
riz tavel, twice 16 walters should line
up, each presenting small dish-tiny
red fish, sliced sausage, beets, beans,
sDrouted seeds-in fact, melange Of
fish, flesh, fowl and vegetables, until
Fuii's crater is overlooking, and lava
like streams of beet blood and gravy
wind slowly down it's slopes. Then this
edible kaleidoscope is mixed and
kneaded and eaten. If the diner is
nOn-Hollandais, he excuses himself
from dessert.
"Outfit for Gentlemen"
Later, in the reading room, / opened
a book of hints for the traveller to
Java, and on page eight perused long
and elaborate list entitled minimum
Outfit for Gentlemen" 1t reads like
a resume of all the clothes / had ever
owned since / put on long trousers.
After the two dozen suits of pajamas
and the dozen flannel trousers, and the
black coat, waistcoat and fancy trou-
sers, it ended: "Also a waterproof
coat, cape and hat, a sun-helmet,
cap for use on board, straw hat Tor
ashore, a soft felt hat, and tall SILK
or opera hat. Gloves should be kept
in a dry bottle with chloride OF lime"
Nv dazed mind refused to register
further. I thought sadly of my modest
outfit, of ny few pajamas wrapped
about bottl IS of formaline and alcohol,
and J won dered if anywhere in the |
heart of the Javanese jungles | could
purchase 10 suits of pajamas, the lack
of which invalidated any claims l
might put forth as to the status OF gen |
tleInan. And what about the rubber |
and straw and felt and silk coverings