MUCH-TRAVELLED BOY

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 99, 21 January 1936, Page 10

MUCH-TRAVELLED BOY

Arrives in New Zealand With Parents

MANY LANDS VISITED

Doji in ion Special Service.

Auckland, January 20.

A small Dutch boy who in the course of his nine years of life lias already crossed (ho equator 30 times ami has enjoyed all the exiterieuces of a hardened globe-trotter, arrived at Auckland by the Niagara. He is Jacob Grool, son of Captain Grool, and he.is hoping to add memories of his tour in New Zealand to those of visits to the remote islands of the Dutch East Indies ami flie glamorous cities of the Orient. 1 The boy’s father recently retired from tlie position of eointiioilore in ihe famous Dutch K.P..AI. Line. He was in the service of the company for 26 years, and during that time -erved in 68 different -hips. His last eomni.-ind was tin- liner Opten lloord. which recently replaced the Nietiw Zeeland iu the JavaAustralia service. •Little Jacob was born in Holland, but the greater part of his life has been spent in the Dutch East Indies, where owing to tlie nature of Captain Groot's profession bis parents bad their home. Frequently on trips through the East Indies Captain Grool took his son with him. and at an early age Jacob became a hardened traveller. Now that Captain Grool has retired the family are making, a wotjld tour on holiday. From Java they travelled to the Philippines,- Chinn. Japan. Hawaii, and Fiji, and now they intend to spend a few weeks in New Zealand.

When young Jacob arrived lie bad already travelled 18.QOO miles since leaving Java. When he and liis parents have completed I heir New Zealand lour they will visit Tahiti, then lour the United Slates and finally embark on ihe giant French liner Normandie on their way to Holland. Another 10.000 miles will have been covered before they arrive back 'at their homeland.

Jacob takes his.travelling seriously. He has a large book which, in a Dutch phrase, be describes as Ills "journal,” or log-book, in this be meticulously pastes a photograph of every ship in which lie travels, and iu addition uses his youthful persuasiveness to obtain an accompanying autograph »’ the captain as additional proof of his bona tides. Already the book is assuming colossal dimensions.

Mrs. Grool is a linguist of ability and takes care of the education of her son. Iu addition to his native Dutch Jacob speaks English very capably, and under his mother's guidance be is now learning French and German.

The story of his wanderings has already reached the school iu Hollandwhich he is to attend shortly, and a letter from the headmaster received by Captain Grool indicates clearly that the- teachers are looking forward to the coming of a boy who in himself will be practically a living lesson Iu geography. For all his travelling Jacob still remains very much of n boy at heart, and be appears to recognise fully his good fortune in his early opportunity to sec the world.