The Kansas herald of freedom., 1859-08-06
The Hcliander.
From Summer Pictures; from Copenhagen t


From Summer Pictures: from Copenhagen to
Venice"
The first thing which strikes you in a
genuine Hollander is his somewhat re.
markable person, which is as worthy Of
observation as that OF John Bull himself.
Here find great resemblance between
the country and the people. The land is
Hat, and the Dutch are squat-that is,
broad, large and round, rather than per-
pendicular. The original idea of Dutch
man is fairness. Dutch babies are born
far. Dutch bellies are plump and solid.
Indeed fatness seems to be the type Of
beauty, and the end of all good living is to
develop this corporal tendency. A lean,
lank Dutchman, would be a monster in
nature. If such creature were to show
his head anywhere, he would deserve to
he secuted as an imposter Whenever a
Dutch artist would place on canvas the
imposing figure of a magistrate, or other
high parsonage, he is sure to give sub
stantial basis to his dignity. Rembrandt
never paints Dutch burgher but in broad
aud ample proportions. This national
type goes with the Dutch the world over
The same portly figure is drawn with in
imitable grace by our Washington Irving
in his sketches on the early Dutch settlers
on the banks of the Hudson. This out
ward resemblance remains through gene
rations- The same rOtuud e cures which
you see in all the pictures Of the old
Dutch masters, you may recognize to-day
on the Exchange at Amsterdam.
Vat thiply h.,t 81 Il
landers are therefore gross in their persons
OF habits. Indeed, we are more inclined
to pronounce them at once the cleanest
and politest of men. Cleanliness is ma
tional mania. In proof of this. one has
but 10 venture into the streets of Amster-
dam, on Saturday, which is field day
among the Dutch housewives. It's day
of universal securing and scrubbing-the
triumphs of women, and the terror of the
other sex-when valiant maids flourish
with mop and broom, and men fly before
them nay, when even those who are
stout of heart grow faint and cowardly,
and sneak along the middle of the streets
for fear of a ducking.
And then as to politeness, even the
French must yield to the Dutch in studied
courtesy and formal Difference to the
iairer sex. A Dutchman never meets n
lady of his acquai ntance without taking
off his hat. He does not merely touch it
with his finger in the curt English way,
bus takes it clear off, even though it
exposes poor bald head to the winters
cold. So incessant is this motion, that
IN walking through crowded street, or
in public garden, the hat is off about
half the time.
II you would see how the Dutch enjoy
themselves, visit one of the public gar
dens which are found in the suburbs Of
every city, and see the crowds that gather
in the evening for society and amuse-
ment. AS we have been here in the full
bloom of summer, we have seen these
favorite resorts in all their glory.
At Rotterdam, after a day spent in
seeing the sights of the city, towards even
ing we fell into crowd which was stream
ing out of the town, all vending their way
to the same point of attraction. We
found large open ground, like an Eng.
lish park, which had been moulded with
great care, gentle slopes sinking away into
softly wooded dells, with shady hooks and
winding walls and glisteniug basins o.
water. Here, on a broad lawn, inclosed
from the crowd, was space set apart fo
the fashionable public. We came, ex
pectiDg to pay for admission, as is tn,
custom in most of the public gardens il
France and Germany. But we were stop
ped at the gate, and Informed that th
part OF the grounds was private, being re
served for the gentility of Rotterdam. l
was especially exclusive on this occasion
! when fete was given by the officers o
the garrison to the more distinguished
families of the place. We bowed, ant
; were about to retire, when the officer il
, command, seeing our perplexity, came h
, the rescue, explaining, in very goot
French, the nature of this fete champe.re
| but then, with great politeness, welcom
ing us, as strangers, to their hospitality
We accordingly entered the enchanted
ground as honored guests. We took gu
t seats under the trees, and were pleased il
observing the different parties as they en-
{ tered the grounds; to note their cordia
greetings as they passed along, the ha
II UP az az tnO
! recognized friends. Soon hundreds @
D these groups were gathered under tn
trees-sometimes family forming part
E by itself, and sometimes a circle of friend
joining together. There was no attemI
e at fashionable display. The dresses wer
simple, and the ladies brought their wor
| and sat sewing or knitting In the mos
: quiet. domestic manner, at little roun
g tables, from which they slipped their ic
cream, or the men drank their beer, @
e contented themselves with cheerful Gu
: of tea. We were amused in watching tn
different groups, scattered about under tn
y trees. Here an honest matron was busil
. engaged in making the tea, her eyes Q
;, course intently fixed upon her tas
: (Heaven bless her motherly heart Will
e u little innocent Irritation was going o
e between yeuug cavalier and pair {
black eyes, at the other end of the tablt
But all. old and young alike, seemed hap
py. Not frown marred the gayety an
: gadness of the hour. Thus they chatte
e and laughed merrily, while the sunse
: gilded the heavens, and the fine mll'tar
g band poured forth stirring strains upon th
!. 4 sva,,in., a;r 9 ,I,lou, hava loaked uno