Murfreesboro Index, March 3, 1893
There arrived this week twenty one cases of oil paintings, photographs drawings, etc. and some boxes of models consigned to Captain Aytoun, of the United States Government exhibit, and also a large consignment of show cases, plaster ornaments, construction and equipment material for the exhibit to ba made by the Van Houten Cocoa firm in the Netherland section.
Western Rural and American Stockman, July 8, 1893
A Resting Spot.
One sees many tired faces while making the rounds of the buildings at the World’s Fair, and there are many weary limbs at the close of the day. Physicians say that many persons become overtired unconsciously from the fact that they walk along slowly, thus covering much more ground than they are aware of. A convenient spot for resting after a walk of this kind is the pavillion erected by the Van Houten Cocoa firm. Here while sipping the cup of hot cocoa, brought by girls with queer looking white head-dresses, one may study the blue Dutch tiles and plates with which the walls are adorned, All of these together with the odd shaped vases, have been brought from Holland, and most of them are very old, having been obtained direct from the homes of the people. In the wall are two doors, which represent the bed in the wall, with a flight of steps leading up to them, that being the style of bed used in that country. It has the advantage of economizing space, but when the doors are closed upon the occupant, we should think all the laws of modern hygiene must be broken at once. However that may be, one generation after another has evidently lived through this “walling up” as it were every night.
More interesting is the massive table and chairs in the room, which we are told are over 170 years old. An extra leaf pulls out from the table as an extension. One cannot but wonder what tales this old table could unfold, Stories of family gather-ings, on anniversaries and feast days, of home meals with boys and girls filling the places around the board and as it de. scended from one family to another, doubtless bride and groom have eaten their first meal together from its polished surface. But the heavy furniture says nothing and we drink our cocoa, adding one to the thousands of visitors to these quaint rooms.
Inter Ocean, August 27, 1893
A delicious, fragrant, nutritious cup of cocoa, served with crackers by girls dressed in picturesque old Dutch costumes, is the feature at Van Houten’s ancient Dutch mansion, with its delightful lake view, at the north end of the Manufactures Building, where Van Houten’s cocoa is served. A cup of this grateful beverage not only serves for a luncheon, but is also a delicious strengthening drink, making one forget fatigue. The building, whose quaint rooms are filled with antique chairs and tables, where one can sip at leisure, was brought and taken down in Holland by Van Houten especially for the World’s Fair, where it has been exactly reproduced under the supervision of R. A. Dandliker, General Western Agent of the Van Houten product. On the walls are rare old works of the potter’s art, and the antique furniture of the rooms furnishes not only a delightful resting place but also a most interest study.
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