Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1872-07-29
LETTER FROM EUROPE.

Editor Monitor Trusting that short
account of some of the peculiarities of
this country, and the habits of the peo-
pie, might be of general interest to your
readers, has prompted me to write you
this letter.
Most of Holland has been reclaimed
from the sea by means of stupendeous
dykes. Canals are very numerous and
of great use in draining off the water,
and in facilitating the internal trade.
The vast meadows, clad with the richest
verdure, are, during eight months of the
year, covered with cattle whose fine con-
dition tells of abundant and wholesome
feed. Many of the canals are naviga-
BILE, and as you go on them by steam
boat you find the banks fringed by trees,
planted to make them more firm by the
binding roots. Often you can only see
the red tiled roofs of the farm houses,
the balance of the building being hid
by the banks of the canal. The old
saying, .There is so much sea in Hol-
land you can not see it. is literally
true Windmills meet the eye on every
hand. The arms of some are more than
100 feet long. These mills are used
for a great variety of purposes: pump
ing water, grinding grain, saving wood,
and, in fact, for almost everything ex-
cept running railroad. The popula-
ton of the Kingdom is about three and
one-half millions. William the Sd is
the ruling King. The prevailing relig-
ion is Protestant; about one-third of the
inhabitants are Catholics The Protes-
tant and Catholic clergy are paid by the
State. The Dutch language is the only
one spoken to any extent, and the hard
est, jaao-breahaasg language known. The
Island of Java is owned by this nation
and they have the entire monopoly Of
the Java Coffee trade. The habits Of
the people are very frugal, and they, as
nation, represent great deal of wealth
and have invested largely in United
States bonds. The city of Amsterdam
is situated on the Zuiderzee, and i.
built on piles -all formally under water
Present population 27l,000. 1t is call
ed the Venice of the North Within
the city limits are 3S4 bridges across
the canals which run through the cit,
in every direction. The houses are thre,
to four stories high, built mostly of brick
The commerce of Amsterdam is large
and many fine ships are owned by tn
old Dutch merchants The dress of tn,
people is almost the same as it was
hundred years ago. Most of the peopl
wear large wooden shoes. The womel
do large share of the field labor ant
all have contented look; are of a fine
clear, placid complexion, and reall,
handsome. Many of them wear hel
NETS on their heads, made of gold ant
silver, and imitation, which 60 on wit
spring, enclosing all of the back par
of the head, reaching to the temples
which does away with all use of CHG
mons. Married women have plain ban
of gold right square across the forehead
girls engaged, the band comes down t
the right eye; not engaged, to the lei
eye: therefore no difficulty to tell tn
relative position of each woman in tn
body polite. If person is sick the
put straw in the street to deaden til
sound, and each day hang out bulleti
at the door to inform friends as to tn
state of the PERSONS health-to save tn
noise of ringing and knocking. Whe
birth takes place in family they han
out at the door cushion with a nes
lace border on it. If a boy, the body ,
the cushion is red silk; if girl, whit
One admirable trait of the Dutch
their neat, clean habits. You fin,
them, wherever you go, washing, scrul
bling and securing. The sidewalks al
clean enough to eat meal on. Carpe
are not in common use. When you {
into farm house you are expected
take off your shoes. AS cleanliness
next to Goodness, the chances of Il
Dutch must be good in the future I'll
furniture and machinery are of prir
tive nature. They still use woodt
door handles, and in some parts you sti
see the latch-string outside the door.
have here seen carriage top, Ill
what we call shay-top on leather brace
: being on wooden runners and drawn
horses over the pavement. The large
part of the goods are moved on whet
barrows propelled by dogs and wome
The signs are droll: Here stands t
man that will sell you meat here stan
the man that will cut your hair-and
on to the end of the list. | was in
small town called Zandam. and at Il
r hotel no one could understand word
English. | wanted something to c
t and after good deal of pantomime,
4 beef-steak was placed upon the tabl
. also a teapot and all the fxings. TIL
n kettle full of red burning turf W
It brought in and set near my chair. O,
g the fire hung copper kettle with be
y ing water. saw small Japanned
e on the table, opened it and found it f