The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1865-12-05
Amsterdam and the Dutch.
A SKETCH OF LIFE IN HOLLAND.
A correspondent of an English journal
pleasantly describes Amsterdam and it's peo-

A correspondent OF an English journal
pleasantly describes Amsterdam and its peo-
pie: e.i .sa
''The city which lies nearly at the south of
Zuyder-Zee, has direct communication by the
sea with almost all the provinces, and thus
she had become the mart for their produce
long before railroads had introduced new
means OF communication, which has not even
yet superseded the vast inter-communication
by water, which existed in this very extraor-
binary country, almost every field OF which may
be reached by water, and the manure from the
cities is thus, at very slight cost, spread over
the most distant fields. The large barges
which are used for the sea voyage as well as
internal trade, carry about one hundred TONS
They are rugged with two masts, placed con-
siderably apart: at sea, and sometimes inland
or on the rivers, they use their sails. At other
times they are propelled with long straight poles
used by the athletic boatmen, who placing the
end OF the poles against their chests, and
walking backwards, urge their boats forward
at considerable speed. Inland, when the sails
cannot be used, they are drawn by men, or
sometimes women. The tow rope has flat
board, which is placed over the chest, and
thus the boat or barge is drawn along
Horses are seldom used. Indeed, if one man
can pull one of these boats along, it would be
false economy to use horse, which consumes
y as much food as seven men to do the work
These boats in order to turn in small space,
and to afford considerable storage, are built
very square at the bows, and they have a
very old fashioned look, but they do a very
large amount of work. Amsterdam may be
said to be built in the sea; all her buildings
are built on piles. The palace alone required
lS,695. In passing along through the city l
noticed the foundation which was being pre-
pared for house. Two sets of men were en-
gagged driving piles, while third set, with q
centrifugal pump, were pumping out the wat
er, a very copious stream of which was fowine
from the pump. The pile driving was done
with the rudest machinery, such as would in
England be superseded by the winch or steam
engine. Here the object seems to be to en-
ploy men, not to supersede their labor with
machinery. n5 oF4
"The Protestant churches are rarely open
cult to get a seat. At Berne found the
church locked, and I was refused admittance
because was not there within a quarter or an
hour after the service had begun. In Amster-
dam it was little better. 1 was allowed
within the porch, but the doors admitting to
the seats were all locked. The minister goes
through his duties like lesson of which he
wishes to get rid; and as he does not like to be
disturbed, those who come late are locked out.
The churches are provided with large, heavy,
ponderous looking Bibles, fastened with two
imposing looking clasps. The catechism and
prayers are placed at the end, instead of the
beginning.
"They do not allow families to sit together
in pews; all the women are placed in the cen
tire of the church and the men at each side-
The men wear their hats even during the SER
vice, and neither men nor women stand up
during the singing Of the psalms, which oe-
ours three times in the service, and collections
are made during the sermon. The collectors
have implements like landing nets with long
handles; the net is lined with black velvet
The net is poked in succession under each
persons nose to receive the contribution. Two
collections were made on Sunday morning.
What their object was 1 did not learn, save
that one set OF the bags was marked with K,
and the others were plain. Most Of the con-
gregatiOn put something into each. The cler-
gyman was supplied with water, and he paus-
ed frequently in his discourse to moisten his
lips and throat-a very necessary precaution
in using snch cultural language as the Dutch,
II found the Crystal Palace open on Sun
day evening, and band engaged in its weekly
concert. The building, which would hardly
be missed out OF that Of ofSydenham, is simply
large concert hall, with a few flower beds in it.
The company which numbered eight thou
sand, were seated in groups at small tables,
where they had tea, coffee, wine &C., or stroll
ing about the hall or adjacent ground. The
building was Lit with gas, and thronged with
people Of all classes. The charge for admission
was sixty cents, (ten pence.)
"The fair at Amsterdam has attracted all
the movable theatres and other similar
amusements. The tables are decked out with
provisions of various kinds. Vast masses of
the people, all sober, all well conducted, are
moving about. liz one spot is French kitch-
en-; the cooks are working in public; it i, well
Lit up. Adjoining the cooking room are al
cOves shut off by curtains, where visitors can
taste the quickly cooked viands. One ofthe
most amusing spectacles is the manufacturing
of pancakes or fritters; it is carried on In the
open air. Upon large brazier, about three
feet by four feet, is placed plate of copper,
closely indented with little saucers about three
inches in diameter and placed in rows. Two
women sit on high chairs, having large bowl
of batter in the left hand /; a long handled tiru-
Der spoon is used with the right hand to jerk a
spoonful of the batter into each of the cups.
which have already been creased. Here it
fries for few moments until an attendant re-
verses it with long fork, and it is taken awav
to be eaten. The jerking of the batter never
stops; as soon as the woman has got to the
end OF her space it is time to begin again.
The whole proceeding is indeed very funny
These fairs are a sort of saturnalia They oc-
cur annually, and are the means by which
very staid people throw off some of their pent
up animation. They are mostly enjoyed by
the middle and lower classes. All servants
consider they have prescriptive right to the
enjoyment OF the fair, which lasts a fortnight.
If any of the better classes visit the spots
where it is held they never join in the sport
Sometimes parties of a dozen young men and
young girls join in band and march where
ever they choose singing and dancing as they
go. The peculiar costumeseof the Dutch wom-
en- are to be seen in great variety. That of
Noord Brabant, which consists of cap fitting
tight over the forehead, but very large over
the back OF the head, and with a deep curtain
or fringe coming down over the shoulders, has
a very pretty effect.
"The most curious head dresses are those of
North and South Holland, in which rich
gold band is worn across the forehead and in
some cases, small ornaments, like winkers, at
each side. These jewels, which are very cost
ly, descend from mother to daughter, and are
much .prized. The hat or bonnet, hardly
know which to call it, is also very peculiar in
its shape, As each province has its own head
dress, the fair present features of vast variety.
The Dutch women seem to cherish their for
mer customs and traditions, and are not given
to change. They are well made and well
looking race. ,.i. d d.
"The Dutch are sober, industrious people,
and very well conducted. Illegitimacy is COM
paratively rare, and there are, it may be said,
no poor. Amsterdam consumes good deal
of turf for fuel. 1t comes in barges up the
canals.
"The blacksmiths of this country would not
attempt to shoe horse unless he was tied. In
the forges here the horse is placed in mar
row stall, and fastened in with a rope behind.
There are projecting irons through which
round piece is run, and each hind leg in sue
cession is tied to this before the smith at
tempts to take off or put on the shoe, while
the belgian or Dutch smith Is arranging his
apparatus. The horses here are used with
winkers, but in Switzerland they altogether
dispense with them, in driving as well as in
carts. The horses heads look more free under
the Swiss treatment The rope harness used
here contrasts with the laboriously prepared
leather harness of England, .--,..
aAmstepdam is well supplied with fish, but
II oouoc IN market all alive The boats con-