Evening star., 1926-02-07

The Siety l blongs to pays sick
ben-e-flts an 'sesses you evey time
one of the sisterin dies. SOS when
your own def comes, you gifts chuch
suvvice an foah hacks free, an a
wreaf of any kinder flowahs yoh
monahs calls fuh-YeS, indeedy, Jedge
iffen my wash madam pays me
t'night / suttinly gwine trapes mahsef
| roun' TO yoh office fus' thin in de
mawnin'.'
What the real estate man did after
that isn't in the story he told on
himself at that realtors luncheon,
but: AS the old tenant kept on
staying in the house, you might
guess.
YOU should come and behold the
town of Amsterdam-if only for
the wonder of seeing what man can do
in his Knockout fight with the sea.
Just to look at, this chief city of the
Netherlands is d proud and beautiful
place. with more than it's share of
galleries. churches and splendid in
stltutions that house every industry
and science helpful to man, but: When
you get to realizing that the site of
the city was only peat bog and that
every building has its foundation
piles driven down and down through
sand and mud until ii strikes firm
clay-and that there isn't an undula-
ton OF land or a wild tree or rock
within the farthest distance, you feel
a big respect for the city that no mere
beauty OF architecture could give
ana. again, an understanding, as you
skip through Holland, that windmills
are not Just a picturesque feature of
Dutch scenery, but faithful guard
ians forever toiling to drain the land
ana keep the waters at bay.
Countless upShooting masts and
rudy sailor men, most of them with
blouseS and puffy boomers of blue
nannel. and many of them in the ma
tlonal Shoe-thoSe clumsy, wooden af-
lars that cost 40 cents a pair and last
a month-give a thrill of novelty, and
after you have lost your way in this
place of ships-and keep on, because
no one can speak English-which lit
orally puts you in Dutch, if you are
acquainted with Slang-there comes
up a nice old gentleman who turns
out TO be a Frenchman who lives in
California, and he let's you know
that this is the gate of ST. Olaf. Of
misty beginnings, and that Amster-
Gam really got her first start, before
1919, when two fishermen, saved from
ShlpWreck, built d chapel in honor of
st. Olaf-with the gate for proof.
Which sounds Catholic
Inc most startling surprise in the
whole Of Amsterdam. however. was
an American flag suspended in front
OF our hotel and a lettered banner
mat let the dear Dutch know that
We have honored American guests -
ANA no matter how extensive YOUR
experience in flags may be. YOU will
own without persuasion that this one
Is the handSomeSt, and about the
largest You ever laid eyes on. You
nave undoubtedly noticed that our
req stripes are too often of a sicklv
unse that would be pink if only il
dared, and the blue shows kinship TO
purple; but this flag of Amsterdam
was noble symbol of reddest red and
blueSt blue-the German dye that we
have never been able to equal. And
TO add TO this mark of friendliness.
a Nlollnlst-girl-walke TIN oughout
the vast dining hall playing old South
ern tunes: winding up with The Star
Spangled Banner" And, of course.
some one in our crowd with a mis-
taken impression that we could sing.
STOOD up and baritoned the chorus;
the rest or US Jolning-and so hungry
Tor our soup. But We kept il up for
the four dlnnertimeS, and while the
men ana women at other tables sort
of had an air of trying to understand
us, they could have had no possible
doubt of the patriotism of us-at quail
lty which II takes thousands of Driny
miles from home TO bring out to its
noblest degree-never mind it's vocal
Wobblngs. Also, we did up Garry
Me Back" in fine style-heing an easy
ditty 10 wrestle with and one very
pretty and fashionable sport suited
girl Jigged out Turkey in the Straw"
And the hotel folks just loved us
and we loved them. We had a right
to, for when we came down to
breakfast the first morning. 10 and
behold, the continental breakfast of
France. Italy, Germany and Switzer-
land was a thing Of the past-as if
some fairy wand had wished" us
rows of beautifully decorated platters
with artistic servings of cold meat
ham, lamb, beef and slicingS of some
thing that looked like chicken but was
veal. AS we had been having a
straight fare of rolls, coffee and mar
malade for two months, you might
figure out something of the enthusi-
asm of the contrast until a gentle
voice whispers: Ought w IL eat
meat on Friday, Aunt ANN"
1t was a Self-immolating sacrifice,
but, anyhow. loaf bread wasn't
French rolls, and you could pour in
your own cream-and tomorrow would
be coming
But SO was the head waiter. And
behind him glided white capped girl
with long yellow braids. with a silver
waiter heaped with eggs in a china
nest, with a china hen on the side:
'Sheeken eggs, shust born'-The
waiter said it with the triumph of one
who knows what he is talking about,
and the situation was saved
Don't listen to people who tell you
to live in the shomes of natives so as
to get the national atmosphere. Go to
good hotels where you can have your
private bath-snowy tub. with pink
flower on the rim and tiled floor and
frescoed angels on a wall of pale blue
and some sort of picture in a heavy
gilt frame-and twin beds-With Won
der-decorations, and as spotless as a
wedding gown-with just variations
enough from American comfort to
give you flavor of home style. At
Amsterdam the mattress was of
crimson and gold brocade-silk, with
striped brilliantine sheets and slips,
all bound around with scollops of
daintiest crochet. And on top of the
knitted STRAIGHTFORWARD with grapes
big punches, crocheted and stuffed
into shape by raw cotton-a lace
edged white null envelope the size
of the bed, inclosing an eiderdown
quilt of crimson silk. Everything as
white and fresh as new.
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