, 1875-10-23
Dutch Constable.


wore taken toward the house, and en-
tered large door leading into an enor-
mon, room, the ike Of which We had
never seen. The walls were neatly
wbirewashcd. The little windows were
hung with white curtains. Along
each wall q strip of clean brick-work,
end next to this a whitewashed gutter;
then came. for width of about SIX
feet, flooring of handsome old Ouch
tiles, we'll laid then two rows OF up
right posts. the use Of which was not
obvious. Between these rows OF posts
was a wide passage-way leading the
whole length of the hall. There were
several tables on which were bright
utensils and some handsome articles OF
pottery. We congratulated ourselves
on seein@ the largest and cleanest dairy
we had ever met with, but, on a see
ond look, the absence of milk, and OF
the evidence Of daily use, led us
to inquire, and we found to our
surprese that we were in the cow stable
which mad been put in order for the
summer. Except for the stanchlon
and tying-poIes, and the gutter behind
the stalls, there was nothing TO lndl-
cate tie use intended.
Like all Dutch COW stables of the
old style, this was III the summer the
showroom of the establishment. The
tiles are considered a great luxury /;
but few families use them Generally
their place is taken By neatly broomed
white sand. The central alley is tloOred
with bricks, and lust in front of the
tviug posts there Is a depression or gut
ter, also of brick. These drinking
CUTTERS slope very slightly from one
end to the other. Water Is pumped
in at the upper end, aud is let off at
pleasure at the other. The cows stand
on a raised earthen floor, supported by
a brick wall at the rear end. 1t Is this
cattle floor which Is III summer cover
ed with movable tiles; the manure
trough is quite deep, and contains the
solid droppingS until they are removed
in a barrow. The urine flows off to
the underground receptacle, which
collects all the liquid refuse of the es.
tablishment, and which has a pump
for filling the tank cart by which the
meadows are sprlnkIed.
In the loft over the stable, the cheeses
are seasoued and prepared for market.
Back Of this part of the building are
the cheese factory, horse stables, wag-
on.hou>e, tool sheds, etc. Leaving
these, and returning through the COW.
stable, We pass through a glass door
INTO setting room with some hand
some articles Of old furniture, and
ample evidence of neatuess and com.
fort. Al one side of this we entered
a little office or library, where we were
shown handsome scientific books and
various Old objects of interest, and
were requested to inscribe our names
IN the visitors book, which had been
well filled by travellers from all parts
of the world In the larger room on
poSlte the glass door spoken OF, Is 4
fire place, and over this large mirror
Here, Mr.. Sluis showed Us how he sits
IN winter Ioasling his ShinS before the
fire, and looking up from his paper
now and then TO enjoy the reflected
view of his two rows Of fine cattle,
which seems almost members of the
family. We saw nothing further of
the house, and ! am therefore unable
to retute or verify the stories that are
told of the absurd cleanliness which
i said to be inSeparable from Dutch
Housekeeping. So far as we did see,
everything was neat, and after It's kind
tasteful, and in good wholesome,
humble order. The farmer and his
son were not distingui>hable in appear
ance, education (save in language), or
general intelligence, from the better
class of New England farmers.
Of from one corner of the COW
stable Is dingy, cleanIy, sweet smell
ing room, where the cheeSes are
manufactured by a burly bare armed
Dutchman-clean in his person, and
very active and busineSS-like in his
movements. The making of round
cheeSes, which we know as Edam or
Dutch cheese, is the great industry Of
all North Holland.