The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1875-05-27
A Dutch Constable.

were taken toward the house, and
entered a large door leading into an
enormous room, the like of which we
had never seen. The walls were
neatly whitewashed. The little win
dows were hung with white curtains.
Along each wall was strip of clean
brick work, and next to this white.
washed gutter; then came, for a
width of about six feet, flooring of
handsome old Dutch tiles, well laid;
then two rows of upright posts, the
use of which was not at all obvious.
Between these rows of posts was
wide passage-way leading the whole
length of the hall. There we're sew
eral tables, on which were bright
utensils and some handsome articles
of pottery. We congratulated our
selves on seeing tho largest and
cleanest dairy we had ever met with,
but, on second look, the absence of
milk, and Of the evidence Of daily use,
led us to inquire, and, we found to
our surprise, that we were in the
COW stable, which had been put in
order for the summer. Except for
the stanchions and tying poles, and
the gutter behind the stalls, there
was nothing to Indicate the use i'll
tended.
Like all Dutch w-stables OF the
old style, this was in summer the
show room of the establishment. The
tiles are considered great luxury;
but few families use them. Gen
orally, their place is taken by neatly
broomed white sand. The central
alley is foored with bricks, AID just
in front of the tying pests there is
depression or gutter, also of brick.
These drinking cutters slope very
slightly from one end to the other.
Water is pumped in at the upper
end, and is let off at pleasure at the
other. The cows stand on raised
earthern floor, supported by brick
wall at its rear end. 1t is this cattle
floor which is in summer covered
with movable tiles; the manure
trough is quite deep, and contains
the solid droppings until they are
removed in barrow. The urine
flows off to the underground recepta-
Gle which collects all the liquid re-
fuse Of the establishment, and which
has pump for filing the tank cart
by which the meadows are sprinkled.
In the loft over the stable, the
cheeses are seasoned and prepared
for market. Back of this part of the
building are the cheese factory,
horse stables, wagon-house, tool
sheds, etc. Leaving these, and re-
turning through the constable, we
passed through glass door into a
sitting-room with some handsome
articles of old furniture. and ample
evidence of neatness and comfort.
At one side of this we entered lit
tie 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,
opposite the glass door spoken of, is
a fireplace, and over this a large
mirror. Here, Mr.. Sluis showed US
how he sits in winter toasting 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 cate, which seem almost mem
bers of the family. We saw nothing
further Of the house, and am there
fore unable to refste or to verify the
stories that are told of the absurd
cleanliness which is said TO be in
separable 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
distinguishable in appearance, educa-
tion lsave in languages,, or general
intelligence, from the better class of
New England farmers.
OFF from one corner OF the cow
stable is dingy, cleanly, sweet
smelling room where the cheeses are
manufactured by burly, bare-armed
Dutchman,-clcan 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.-Geo. II.
Waring, dr., .Scribner for June.