Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1841-02-18
THURSDAY MORNING. FEBRUARY IS, IsAI.

Amsterdam To view the wonders oil Brock,
applied for admission at one of these Ia
hoo'd portals. The reply was. thst The
owner never received any one who did not
come introduced by some friend. Very
we'll. said the general, take my comph-
menis 10 your master, and tell him ! viii
return tomorrow with company OF sol.
diers, pour parker raisoa drcc aaon ami
IIollaadais.' Terrified at the idea ofhay-
iag company Of soldiers billetsed upon
him, tho owner threw open his house, en-
taiaed the general and his retlnue with
unwon,ed hospitality; though Il is said u
cos, the family months scrubbng and
securing, TO restore all the things TO exact
order, after this military invasion.
NV vagabond informant seemed 10 con-
slider this one of the greatest victories OF
the republic.
walked about the place in mute won
der and admiration. A dead stiffness rre-
vailed around, like that in the deserted
streets OF Pompeii. No sign Of life was
to be seen, excepting now and then hano,
and long pipe, and an occasional pun o.
smoke. GU, of the window OF some lust
haus overhangng miniature canal; aud
on approaching little nearer, the peri.
phery 10 profile Of some robustious burgher.
Among the grand houses pointed out
10 me, were those of Claes Baker, and
Cornelius Baker, richly carved and gid
ed, with flower gardens and clipped shrub
berries and that OF The Great Dltmus.
who, my poor devil cieerono informed me,
in whisper, was worth two millions and
all these were mansions shut up from The
world, and only kept 10 be cleaned. After
having been conducted from one wonder
ofthe village TO another, ] was ushered by
INV guide into the grounds and gardens
Of Mynhcer Broekkar, another mighty
cheese manufacturer, worth eighty thou
sand guilders year. had repeatedly
been struck with the similarity of all that
had seen IN this amphbious little village,
to tie buildings and landscapes on Chinese
platters and tea-pots for was told that
these gardens were modelled upon Van
Bramm's description of those of Yeun min
Yeun. in CANA. Here were serpentinc
walks, with trellised borders; winding ca
nails, with fanciful Chinese bridges flow
er-beds resembling huge baskets, with the
flower Of love lies bleeding falling over
TO the ground. But mostly had the iaicy
OF Mynheer Broekker been displayed a.
bou, stagnant little lake on which a cor
pulen, little plnnacc lay ut anchor. On
the border was a cottage, within which
were wooden man aud woman seated At
table, and wooden dog beneath, all the
size Of life on pressing spring, the wo.
man commenced spinning, and the dog
barked furously. On the lake were wood.
en- swans, painted TO the life: some iIont-
ing. others on the nest among the PUSHES,
while a wooden sportsman crouched A.
mong the bushes, was preparing his gun
TO take deadly aim. In another part Of
the garden was dominic in his clerical
robes. with wig, pipe, and cooked hat; and
mandarins with nodding heads. amid red
lions, green tigers, and blue hares. Last
Of all, the heather delties, IN wood and
plaster, male and female, naked and bare
faced rs usual, and seeming 10 stare with
wonder at finding themselves IN such
strange company.
Nv shabby French guide, while he
pointed out all these mechanical marvels
OF the garden, was anxious to lei me see
that he had too polite taste 70 be pleased
with them. AT every new nick-nack ne
would screw down his mouth, shrug up his
shoulders, take pinch ofsnuff, and ex-
claim: Ma fol, Monsieur, ces Holiandais
sont forts pour ees betises la Z
70 attempt to gain admission TO any OF
these stately abodes was out Of the ques
lion, having no company OF soldiers 10
enforce solicitation. | was fortunate
enough, however, through the aid Of my
guide, to make my way into the kitchen OF
the iIustrious Ditmus, aud question
whether the parlor would have proved
more worthy OF observation. The cook,
little wiry, hook-nosed woman, worn
thin by incessant action and friction, was
busting about among her kettles and
sauce. pans, with the scullion at her heels,
both gathering IN wooden shoes, which
were as clean and white as the milk pals;
rows OF vessels, OF brass and copper, regi-
ments OF pewter dishes, and portly porrin.
gers, gave Respondent evidence OF the
intensity OF their cleanliness; the very
trammes and hangers in the Fireplace
were highly secured, and the FURNISHED
face Of the good ST. Nicholas shone forth
from tho iron plate Of the chimney back.
Among the decorations of the kitchen,
was a printed sheet Of wood-cu,s resem-
bling the various holiday customs OF Hol-
land, with explanatory rhymes. Here !
was delighted to recognize the jollties ci
New Years day; the festivities Of Paes
and Pinkster, and all the other merry.
makngs handed down In my native place
from the earliest times of New Amster.
dam, and which bad been such bright
sports in the yer, in my childhood.
Cd gerlY made myself master Of this precL-