Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1856-02-08
Holland as it Was and Is.


acleristic Of all the people, low as
well as high. The window glass OF
a mud cabin shines as brightly as that
OF the place of u rich burgher, and
the whole land affords a striking proof
that poverty is no cxuse fuf filth. I
would like to have this phenomenon
explained, why cleanliness should be
a national Characteristic in Holland
why this little corner out Of North
ern Europe should be so different
from all the rest. Was il a part of
their religion in the remote ages of
their Paganlsm Did some old Dutch
king, with thrifty wife, once make
It n condition of loyalty or did
once some society Of neat old dames
undertake reformatory movement
on this very head
But, whatever be the origin Of this
prominent trait IN the Dutch charac-
ter, II certainly forces itself constant
y upon your attention; and a de-
scrlpdon of Holland would be as
much out OF place without con-
slant recurrence to its cleanliness as
would be one Of Germany without
allusion TO its beer, or Of England
without some of It's commercial tray
elers and strong minded women.
Before 90 further, may as well
correct some erroneous impressions
about the Dutch, which may have
been gathered from reading what pur-
ports TO be " An Authentic History
of New York" published by Ger
tain Diedrich Knickerbocker, Of Ic-
haghticoke. They are not amphib-
Gus they do not go TO bed at four
O'Clock IN the afternoon and they
indulge in occasional respites from
smoking. There are, however, so
many ludicrous things about Holland
that are constantly rIveting your ut
tention, that they will naturally pre-
dominate in any hasty description Of
the land, and must not be regarded
as inconsistent with that profound
admiration which every observer
must entertain for The sterling virtues
of the Dutch character.
The whole country is a monument
to the genius and industry of the pop
ulatlon and i; is a source of contin-
ual astonIshment 10 see how, by a
JddIcious system Of drainage, by the
construction of dykes and canals, an
immense country has been rescued
from barrenness and the sen, and been
made, not only to support an i'm
mense population, but to contribute
so largely to It's wealth and comfort.
Holland lies, on an avarage, twenty
four feet below the level of the sea.
SO that every acre of its soil ls trib-
ute wrested from the ocean to the ge-
mus OF the nation which has known
how 10 do it. Think there is no land
where the influence of climate and
country upon the character of a peo-
pie is more manifest than in Holland.
They have been educated TO patience
and perseverance, in toll, TO the idea
OF slow progress towards great results,
by the necessity OF dyking and ditch
ing, IN order to bring their land to the
very condition where other nations
begin to use it.
Undoubtedly we find, too, in the
dreary aspect Of external nature in
Holland, reason for the charming
intimacy of their domestic and social
lie. They are driven, by a repulsive
nature, into the house to find their
pleasures, and the very necessity Of
living indoors, has clothed their fire.
sides with the attraction they un-
doubtedly possess. Nowhere do the
words, husband and wife, father and
mother and sister, mean more than in
Holland ; and nowhere do the social
and domestic virtues lake deeper
root MAY not this necessity of liv-
ing indoors, too, open up way for
an explanation of the mystery of the
cleanliness Of the nation 7 Reason
would certainly suggest cleanliness as
indispensable TO domestic comfort
and so we may get at the nealness of
the Dutch IN natural and philosoph-
ical way.-DOctor Btyth's Letters.