Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1872-11-01
Winter In Holland.

The snow scenes Of Holland are familiar
10 amateurs Of pictures and engraving
When the winter is cold enough to seal up
the water and stop nayigation-and conse-
quently business-the people 20 on the ice
which everywhere abounds, and give them
selves up to enioyments Booths are erected.
ice boats like great birds fly over the misty
white surface, with the rumbling noise Of
giant pheasant. Men, women, and child
ren, on their long skates-those of the ad-
ult being two feet long-swarn in every di-
rection. The popular custom Is to catch
hands one behind the other, and thus form
line Of dozen whose undulating movement
in the distance, sharply defined on the frosty
ice, looks like great black serpent. But
the skilful skater who cuts the outside edge
does not Join these strings. The ordinary
skater may be said to be gregarious, while
the expert is solitary. Occasionally one sees
q man, awkward and loutish afoot, trans
formed by the power Of the skates into be
ING of some lightness and grace. The best
skaters excel in straightforward speed. but
are behind the Americans in grace, agility,
and tours de force. While | was on one of
the lakes an American appeared on his short
skates. cut his name on the lee made figure.
swooped down under full speed and came to
a sudden stop. spun around ike a teet0tum,
jumped. and did various manWayres, which
attracted a crowd Of ore or two thousand
spectators who looked on the performance
with wonder. They had never seen such
swift, agile. graceful skater.
Frequently half dozen Young men and
women take hold Of a rod long enough to
accommodate all the best skaters in front and
the poorest in the rear, and skate in this
way, the pole serving as balance to those
of unsteady feet. When they all come down
together, as they occasionally do, 1t Is natu-
rally the cause of much merriment
The happiest Of Jams courting days are
on the ice. The cold air and exhilaration of
the exercise elevate him somewhat above his
natural lethargy. Hand in hand, he and
the Young woman meander lovingly over to
CONCEALED water, once in a while tumble
down together-perhaps through the mach
nations of Jan-giye themselves over the
IIomeric laughter at the sprawl, and, when
tired of these idvllic wanderings over the
field Of ice, repair to one Of the booths and
refresh themselves with coffee and heavy
doughnuts reeking in fat, these mayhap
fanked with hard boiled eggs. To this wooer
there are few more joyous combinations than
love and doughnuts. The dabso dough are
fried before the eyes Of the couple and whip
ped up with despatch.
As soon as a comely young woman appears
on the ice, not unfrequently lively c0mpe-
tition ensues among the young men for the
honor Of putting on her skates, as such ser
vice Is usually rewarded with a kiss if the
skate adjuster has the temerity to insist on
it. Then there Is giggle and blush, and
somewhat weak defence.
Mothers who have got beyond their skating
days sit on chairs provided for the purpose,
their feet resting on the yuut stooi-tire
stove-being square box into which an
earthen pan of hot embers is introduced.
Here from their seats they encourage their
chubby offspring in their ftst efforts on the
/ slipperv steel. In the booths restriction
| is placed on the sale Of gin, which Is cheap
and pure and either through great capacity
or reasonable moderation, there is little down
right drunkenness. although a good deal OF
mellowness which must be attributed to 9th
| er than natural influences. One recognizes IN
some of the clients of the gin-venderS the
| frowsv, red-nosed fellows whom the brush OF
/ Teniers has made Us familiar with.
Every body can skate unless incaPacitated
| bvage or infrmitv The Frisians from the
north are the best. especially the women,
many of whom are swift and graceful, the
effect heightened by their bright head--plates, /,
which fash before the eve ike a CLEAN of
gold. On moonlight nig ghts the skating is
Often continued, candles are lighted in the
booths. and one sees the old candle light
effects on groups of Dutch faces which Ger
ard Douw painted with such ower:-Ffon
:. The Dutch at Home, By Albert Rhodes, IN
| Norsniber GGldrV.