Evening star., 1938-06-12
HE Kings aide-de-camp will
arrange a meeting II you
will be at the tennis courts

will be at the tennis courts
at 2:30" This was the mes
sage received in Sweden by Mr.. and
Mrs. Thornton Oakley. whose presen-
tation at court in Sweden was literally
on a tennis court. Their new book,
Scandinavia Beckons" (Appleton-
Century Co, S4), is full Of just such
unusual experiences, and when they
were not the guests of the powerful,
they were entertained by the great.
Among the great whose homes they
visited were Sibelius, the famous Fin
nish composer; Knut Hamsun, the
Norwegian author, and Selma Lagerlof,
the Swedish novelist.
In each country visited they appear
to have made useful friends who en-
abled Mrs. Oakley to write with SYM
pathy everything they experienced
When in Odense, in Denmark, the
birthplace Of Hans Christian Andersen,
friend said, Don't call him Hans
Christian Andersen: the children won't
understand you" 1t seems that there
are and always have been scores of
Hans Christian Andersens.- It is one
Of the commonest of names, equivalent
to an English John Smith or a Welsh
David Jones. The famous story teller
in Denmark is always called H. c.
Andersen" which pronounced in DAN
ish is "Ho Say Andersen" and every
child knows who "Ho Say" is.
The 540-page volume written by
Amy Oakley is worth every dollar it
costs, but when it is remembered that
her husband has illustrated nearly $50
pages with delightful sketches, the
book seems too cheap. Seldom has
travel book been set before the
public with such fascinating and init
mate illustrations.
WHEN Hollander, who has long
lived abroad. returns as tourist
to his native land. he is apt to see more
and tell more of what to see than the
average tourist who has never been
there before. This is obviously the
case with Hendrix de Leeuw, and his
new book, Crossroads of the zuyder
Zee" (J. B. Lippincott Co., So, is the
proof.
Among the unusual things to be seen
in Holland, but fast disappearing, are
the professional weepers and those
whom he calls the "cheerer-uppers.
The weeper goes from house to house
through the town, accompanying the
CROW" or announcer OF some ones
death, and sheds his tears according to
the size OF the fee received.
His weeping is often so realistic
that inside of few minutes" says Mr..
De Leeuw. "the whole neighborhood
Will be standing round wiping their
eyes, often not knowing who had died.
The fee Is usually guilder, or 65
cents a weeping. The outfit of the
weeper consists of a long-tailed black
coat, pitch black stove pipe hat, and
an umbrella, rain or shine.
Another strange individual has the
professional occupation of visiting
those who are sick in bed. No mem
ton is made of the fee that he re-
ceiVes, but as it was customary when
1AAAs DldIh-COdteQ cQeerer~uDDer'
called to treat him to a drink of Hol-
land gin, it may be assumed that he
cheered himself while he dispensed
cheer to others. Certain it is he
would try to call on as many sick per-
sons as his capacity would stand
for at the end of the day he was
usually as drunk as could be.
These are but samples of the strange
things that Crossroads of the Zuy-
der Zee has for its readers. The
book is rich in historic backgrounds,
and is illustrated with pen sketches by
the author.
ONE of the most fascinating spots
in many an English village is the
old tavern, still serving moist and
foamy ale" at the same sign which
hung over its door in the fourteenth
century. Americans in particular seem
to be attracted by these picturesque
reminders of medieval jollity; but few
tourists have enough historical infor-