The Washington times., 1932-10-26

GILBERT sELDEs by saying that we IN America uo
NOT know what it means to be natives OF secondary
mower The first one suggests little writing about
subjects outside of politics. the second 02vousy Sus
gess writing about the seaside resort OF Marstrano'
Dismissing Politics
Rut Marstrand is in Sweden and must bde its time
generation ago you might have elected x or ana
felt that nothing serious would happen to you change
in railroad rates little more or tte less tar1 ia
dav it matters because the President OF the United
States cannot open his mouth sign his name With
tax and the possibility of your getting job Love
NAV be more important but hungry men are not great
lovers. We are all thinking OF politics no" because
And what is more our Presidents and Congressman
may if they work hard, turn US into secondary
power. It's been done before, It is happening TO
England in front of our eyes, Shatter the Empire Cor
loosen its bonds), bring Russia and Germany up and
where is England outside OF DOT on the map, or as as
Van Loon puts it, island off the Dutch coast! IL
happened to Spain. 1t happened to Sweden.
So arrive at Marsrand. In fact arrived there on
delightful places EARTH If the Swedes were not so
modest if they weren't Indifferent to boosting their
country, if they didn't try so hard to make you go
known of Marstrand the day 1 landed Ut lies two
hours journey from Gothenburg, the port at which
the swedsh-American line lands you:) AS things
went after two visits to Stockholm, found had a
free day. I appealed to the head of the Swedish ott-
cia tourist bureau, saying wanted to town
an event unlike any had already observed. He
thought might go to the King play tennis but the
town in which the tournament took place was already
Marstrand he said it very quiet; he had been
there naval officer years ago. STILL it restful
He obviously afraid to send me there.
A Fine Island
You pass, the way to Marstrand, dozens of little
islands with fshermens nets drying racks, with half
dozen houses the shore; gray drzzly day it
barren and foorn few goats (or maybe they
Sheep wander the island rocks. Then slowly great
castle rises out of the and presently you long
qua which hundreds of men and women and children
watching approach even from the rail you catch
gimpses of green terraces bright awnings long
of trees and flowers You land if to reception
mittee the of the hotel there to greet you
of the other passengers off into toy ferry about the
size of large desk which propels itself busiy across
the harbor. And you walk in dream for the next
tWenty-fOur hours.
1t isn't like Coney Island and it isn't like Malibu it is
like no resort in America. That is why Americans grow
quickly fond of it. Especially if they tired of eat
ing hot dogs the Riviera and drinking American drinks
at BiarriA and doing something all the time. At Mar
strand you swim, you fish, you boating and at night
you dance CThe hotel having apparently choice be-
tween running water and good orchestra chose the
ond; wise choice too) Some 1000 people every
quiet attractive and decent place feels itself part of the
history of Europe; its castle, superly built, out
post of empire the empacements for guns still command
Incidentally, the pretest girls in Sweden at
Marsrand not in Stockholm, and if the Marstranders
kinder and hosptable than the Swedes of the
mainland it not for want of trying. Without the
glimpse had of this island should have missed
thing desirable in Sweden; fancy that there must
be dozens of Others but the modesy of citizens of small
country kept me from knowing about them.