The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1875-04-06
Old Amsterdam.

1t Is one OF the peculiaritics Of Hol-
land that we 90 down iuto it from the
sea, and the further in we 20 the deeper
down we get. The metropolis lies on
river or estuary called (tor shortl the ID
Into this we entered through ponder.
GUS granite-built lock-one OF an assorted
series, of various sizes, adjusted to vessels
OF larger or smaller dimensions. After
we had been shut into our compartment
the valves we're opened. and We followed
the declining water until it reached the
level Of the ID, when the gates were
swung back and we steamed on to the
city.
And here we are in Amsterdam-the
mother of the New Amsterdam" OF
Peter Stuyvosant and Wouter Van Twill.
ler. The guide.books ito which the
reader is respectfully reierred are fond
Of calling this town 1.-THE Venice OF the
North y which misleads the imagination.
Like Venice it is built on piles Eras.
mus speaks of its people living like birds
perched on the tops Of trees-and some
OF its obscurer narrow alleys are only
canals. Beyond this, the resemblances
are only differences. The canals pene.
tratc many of the principal streets it is
true, but these are wide thoroughlares,
with broad, wcll-paved roadway aud side
walk and often with four rows of trees
the waterway being between the two
center rows. Carriages aud heavy drsys
are moving in every direction, and the
canals are hut little used for interna.
traffic Canal-boats, lighters. and in
some parts even square.rigged ships are
hoated opposite to the warehouses which
are to receive or to deliver their cargoes
but the city has roar and hum that
would at once destroy the dreamy charm
OF Venice.
There IS much u Amsterdam that is
magnificent, and iD which We were greatly
interested. but my present purpose is
mainly connected with those of its features
which seldom engage the attention Of
travellers. Rising at daybreak, strolled
out to see the street life Of the early
morning Market men and market
women from the country, near and far,
dressed in their widely varying local
costumes, were plying their traffic in the
streets and on tho canals; aud house.
maids were scrubbing steps and sidewalks,
and sweeping to the middle Of the carriage
way or, hurrying home with prayer-book
or market basket. The town was alive
with IA population which a few hours
later would make way for those who are
only known to the broader day.
Canal boats were arriving and depart
ing; moving out from their bertbs through
a crowd of other craft with that myste.
rous kind of silent help that canal boat
always gets from the crews of its neigh.
bors at rest-ifs sides are prodded with
boat-hooks from here and from there, and
it slowly floats out from the crowd and
starts on its way "sans mot dire" turf
boats were floating into the Dam Rak.
furling their sails and lowering their
masts ; cargoes of cabbages were being
tossed, one by one, from men in boats to
men on shore ; here the clatter Of knives
and forks was heard through low back
window and cabin.hatch, and here the
vrouw was washing up the breakfast
things in slat foored kitchen sink hang
ing from the taffrail ; strange looking peo-
pie were doing strange looking things
throughout all the strange looking feet.
and all with the air Of its being in no wise
unusual or peculiar. On shore. street
vendor was attracting custom with
watchmans rattle mea were hosting
baskets OF turf to the cellar at the top
Of high house gable women and chill
dren were going from basement with
"water en- vuur tie koop," with neatly
painted iron buckets, each having kettle
OF boiling water at the top, and lump of
burning turf at the bottom-goiog home
20 make the morning tea at every quar-.
ter-hour the carlton jngled from all the
steepes The gin-shops were already
we'll patronized, for it seems universal
habit, in this moist northern climate. to
take 'een sneeuwballetje" OF gin aud su.
gar as frequent prophylactic. At this
early hour, and about the canals, the
gilded heads and odd bonnets Of the peas
ant women are more frequent than else.
where, or later in the day.