The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1843-10-03
Bergen, N. j.
Bergen, N. j.
Correspondence ofthe Herald
BERGEN, Sept. Is, 1913

BERGEN, Sept. 2S, lS4S
DEAR BENNETT -
1t has long been a matter of discussion and cen.
roversy among The learned as 10 the correct stua-
ton of this place and as it mey edfy your readers
10 know in what rart Of the world il may be found,
submit 10 YOU the following. Thsnylage of Ber-
gen Is situated near The HaCkspsack, about two
iri!es from Jersey Guy, aud has hitherto escaped
the observation OF travellers happy, however, in
this respect, if she had likewise escaped their i'll
natured remarks and E,aedlctions There is, il is
true, lutte here To attract the eye-a schooi-house
a church, tavern, ana hacksmith's forge, supply
the spiritual end temporal WAITS Of those who make
up the small society. b. some most extraor-
binary movement. they have managed to run
from here 10 Jersey city, Il four-wheeled
hing ycept stage, drawn by horses long
ago mortgagcc 10 the ctows,) 20 that the inha-
biants, who are wonderfully fond of news gene
rally catch the rumors OF the day from the driver
he population consists Of about 100 Van Wrinkles
100 Van Ripers, 100 Van Horns, and about 50 Van
Rurens III all about 400, comprising several fami-
lies which have inhabited the place since time i'm
memorial They keep all their wealth among them.
selves, lnermarryDg, and keeping all strangers and
interlopers at wary distance. They are also
hard money people, and remarkable for turning the
penny the right way. 1t is said 10 have been an old
rule, established by OF the primitive financiers
vt BrrleD, hat no one should leave the village with
more than six guders in his pocket or return with
less than ten shrewd regulation, well worthy the
attention OF some OF your modern political econo-
mIss, who anxious TO fix the balance of trade
What, however, renders Bergen so perfect an ely
stun, in the eyes Of all true Hollanders is the
matchess height 10 which the spirit of cleanliness is
carried there u amounts almost to religion
among the Inhabitants who pass the greater part of
their time rubbing and scrubbing each housewife
vles with her neghbor in her devotion the SC ub-
bing brush; and II is said, notable housewife in
the days of yere, is held 10 pous remembrance and
almost canonlzed as saint, for having died OF pure
exhaustion and chaerin, In an Inc feclual attempt
TO scour black man white.
Yesterday was fortunate enough, through the
aid OF guide, to gam abundance into the kitchen
OF one OF the ilustrous burghers, and doubt whe-
her the parOr would prove more worthy of obser-
walton. Among the decorations OF the kitchen was
a printed sheet of woodcuts, representing the va
rous holiday customs OF Bergen, with explanatory
rhymes. Here | was delighted TO recognise the
jollities of New Years day-the festivities of Pink
ser and all the other merry akiDgs ha nded down
in my native place from the earliest times of New
Amsterdam eagerly made myself master of this
ore clous document for irfng consideration, and
bore il off as memento Of the pIace-though
question il, in so doing, did not carry off with
me the whole current literature OF Bergen.
Yours, NC. RIPToN.