The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1875-06-01
A Dutch CONSTABLE.

After looking over the farm we were
taken toward the house, and entered q
large door leading into an enormous room,
the like of which we had never seen.
The walls were neatly whitewashed. The
little windows we're hung with white cur.
tains. Along each wall was strip OF
clean brick-work, and next to this a
whitewashed gutter then came, for a
width Of about SIX feet, a flooring of
handsome old Dutch tiles, well laid; then
two rows OF upright posts the use of
which was not at oil obvious. Between
these rows Of posts was a wide passage
way leading the whole length of the hall.
There we're several tables. on which we're
bright utensils and some handsome arti-
cles ofipottery. We congratulated our
selves on seeing the largest and cleancst
dairy we had ever met with, but, on a
second look, the absence of milk, and Of
the evidence of daily use, led us to in.
quire, and, VIC found to our surprise, that
we were in the cow.stabe, which had
been put in order for the summer. Fix.
cept for the stanchions and tying poles,
and the gutter behind the stalls, there
was nothing to indicate the use intended.
Like all Dutch COW stables of the old
style, this was in summer the show room
OF the establishment. The tiles are con-
Sidored II great luxury but few families
use them. Generally their place is tax.
en- by neatly broomed white sand. The
central alley is floored with bricks and
just in front Of the tying posts there is
depression or gutter, also of brick. These
drinking cutters slope very slightly from
one end TO the other Water is pumped
in a. the upper end, and is let off at plea
sure at the other The cows stand on
raised carthen floor, supported by brick
wall at its rear eud. 1t il this cattle
floor which is IN summer covered with
movable tiles; the manure trough is
quite deep, aud contains the solid drop
pings until they are removed iu barrow.
The urine flows on to the underground
receptacle which collects all the liquid
refuse Of the establishment, and which
has pump for filling the tank cart BY
which the meadows are sprinklcd
In the loft over the stable, the rheeses
are seasoned aud prepared for market
Back Of dis part Of the building are the
cheese factory, horse stables, wagon house,
tool sheds, etc Leaving these, and re-
turning through the COW stable, we pass.
ed through glass door into sitting room
with some handsome articles OF old iurni.
ture, and ample evidence of neatuess and
comfort At one side of this We entered
little office or library, where We were
shown handsome scientific books and va.
rious old objects Of interest, aud wero
requested to inscrihc our names in the
visitors book, which had been well filed
by travellers from all parts of the world
ln the larger room, opposite the glass
door spoken Of is fire place, and over
this large mirror. Here, Mr.. Sluis
showed us how he sits in winter toasting
his shins before the fire, and looking up
from bis paper now and then 10 enjoy the
reflected view Of his two rows OF fine cat.
tie. which seem almost memb bers Of the
family. We saw nothing further Of the
house, and | am therefore unable to re.
futo or TO verify the stories that are told
Of the absurd CLEANLINESS which is said TO
be insepsra5le from Dutch housekeeping.
SO far as we did see, everything was neat
and after its Kind tasteful, and in good,
wholesome, humble order. The farmer
and his son were not dist'nguishabe in
appearance, education save in laDguages)
or general intelligence, from the better
class Of New England farmers.
On from one corner Of the COW stable
Is diDgy, cleanly, sweet smelling room
where the cheeses are manufactured by
burly bare armed Dutchman-clesn in
his person, and very active aud business.
like III his movements The making OF
round choeses, which We know as Edam
or Dutch cheese, is the great industry of
all North Holland .-Goo. f. H'ayinq.
IL SryMnp, In, Ty,,s