Last Days in a Dutch Hotel (from Literature and Life)

"Last Days in a Dutch Hotel (from Literature and Life)" by William Dean Howells is a story about a writer's time in a Dutch seaside hotel as summer turns to fall. The story looks at themes of making friends, watching cultural moments, and the deep thoughts that travel can bring. He sees the hotel go from full of people to empty as the season ends, noticing the difference between lively summer days and the loneliness of coming autumn. Meeting other people like a nice German family and even seeing Dutch royalty quickly, he thinks about how travel makes for short, but meaningful relationships. He looks at how European hotels are different from those in America, highlighting the cozy, sad feeling of the Dutch hotel getting ready for winter. The writing paints a picture of a thoughtful journey, where the author enjoys the local culture and feels a sense of sadness as he says goodbye.