The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-11-04
The Dutch at Home.

wagons containing brass cans of bEnish.
ed brightness; also attached to fish
wagons in the same manner Here there
seems to be mn abuse Of confidence, ms
they are frequently melted to pull BY
word md gesture to make them believe
that it is play instead of work; and thus
delnded, wagging their tails and ioyously
barking, they phil with renewed vigor.
Here aud there n group Of she.asses
stopping to be MIXED for the sick; their
unpalatable milk being popular pres.
cription of Dutch doctors for many
bodily ills Horses pulling primitive
sledges loaded with merchandise TO aud
from the ships, the slcdge bearing n keg
Of running water, 80 perforated as to Let
the water fall under the runners and
cause them to slip more easily over the
stones. An old vender under tho trees
selling from her stand articles Of gen.
eral consumption among the lower class
es, such MS great cueumberpickles, dried
herrings, hard-bOiled eggs, gingerbread
without sweCtening, "6ladk breal'-oi
u deep blackish brown and Of not un.
pleasant taste-and slabs OF native cheese,
the deaths head,n Women pnss with
shining gold plates on tho top Of the
head, suggestive of II warriors helmet,
and gold corks0rew spirals pointing for
ward from the temple on each side Of
the head like horns, the savings Of a life
time being often lodged In these orna.
ments. Alnid'scrvants in what may be
regarded rs almost their uuiform-a
white RULED cap, sort OF n leo Jacket
or blouse, check apron, black skirt
reaching nearly to the ankle, white stock.
lnss, anu thick carpet slippers. Women
OF the country, and OF the lower class Of
the town, in great wooden shoes, giving
out a Gathering cloggy sound as they
walk. The pursy man of the counting
house and the staid clerk, never in haste,
and always equipped with n Pipe or
cigar. An occasional "Liplap"-the
name given to the offspring Of Dutch
aud Javanese parcntage-of rlnmistak.
able raee characteristics. At these docks
the London steamer is emptied Of her
passengers, and soon after she touches
the wharf the sandy.whiskered man.
with red book and umbrella in hand,
and portable bath-tub following, Der.
vades the thoroughfare, exhibiting in
every word md action his irrcpreSsible
nationality. Here are moorci one or
two OF the little steamers which ply nm
and down tho canals anl coast, steercd
Mt the stern with not an upright, hui n
horizontal wheel, which Is turned by n
steersman who sits to his work and
smokes his pipe. Some of them are
smaller than the old American canal
packet, and mostly ornamented at tho
prov with crudely carved tirure.head
oil u woman gnyly painted, aud at the
poop with n pot or two OF flowers.
Sheep and calves are crowded forward
and dozen passengers fill the little
cabin alt, and the craft is kept clean
whatever the cargo may be, with tl,at
cleanliness which has always character.
lied people. The way ofgettipp these
large eslves-tlle Dutchman does not
use veal until it is well grown-aboarIi
the boat is unique. A rope is adjusted
behind the budding horns, and tLe knot
make under the jaw SO That tho struin
may fall here; thus attached, the calf ia
hoisted by pulley from the dock TO The
deek and rice rersd. The operation
looks cruel, but in reality is not, when
confined to animals that arc small,
On this thoroughfaHe the Young Dutch.
man with aspirations toward the beanti.
iul takes his afternoon promenade on
his way to the park. From nine 10 two
he sits At desk engaged in the realistic
work olmaking figures, and then mean.
deIs parkward to sit and drink blttors
anu sclnapps, combination called "ex.
celsior." Naturally, the young woman
with aesthetic promptings also moves by
these boxes aud coffee sacks to the same
destination, to be admitted and saluted
ny the young man. They keep Ssnnder
IL the walk; should they 20 together, il
u becomes the talk OF the town, and in.
dicates settled resolution toward matri.
mony. As to form and fashion, these
arc indeed indistinct reflections Of Lon.
don and Paris; but every man mny not
I've a swell Of Rotten Row, nor cyery
logne. w DV"
Out Of Amsterdam and Rotterdam. A
Sunday calm hangs over the land. Tn +"
town us large as Delft the grasS grows
IN the streets; no noisesave the occasional
creaEing of a drawbridge which spnns
the canal, Old men in black velvet skull
caps and women with knitting sit Mt
INC doors and windows to note the lpht.
est movement in the inertia. Bows md
girls are quiet and old.fashioneS in their
play; tho yell and jump of the American
BOY would amaze them. A. horse nj.
taehed 10 canal BOAT creeps at mile
IN hour in the distance q windmill fans
It's great wings lazily in tho air. In n
neiighboring tree, high percllcd, or on nm
Old housetOp, the sacred bird OF Holland
sits on lis neSt-tho stork, which brings
prosperity with itsprcsencc, aud returns
after Its southern summer tour with uu.
failing fidelity to the same nest. Tho
light smoke Of tho peat fire cnrls slowly
away from the old gable.fronting houses,
emitting that peculiar odor so lCat to
the native nostrils. There is no misery
in sight, tears, nor cry of suffering, bnt
quiet animal contentment. No exuborant
delight, quick glancc, nor ready word Of
repartec. Little speech and action, but
much eating, drinking and smoking
Heavy words and gestures without grace.
One fcelslike catching one Of these Jumps
by tlleslloulders 10 shake him out OF his
lllilegm, 10 cry onto him that the house
b on fire or tile watcr has burst through
lie like.