Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1880-08-04
Che freeman.
MuNTPELIER.vT.
WEDNESDAY. AUGUST 4, 1880.
Holland.

ter as a bird in air. The consequence, Of
course, was the most general and agoniz-
ing sea sickness, men and women joining
the wel-pointed gutteral song.
The dikes of Holland delivered the boat
from the sea waves, and we entered
through perilous passage into the river
. and up to Rotterdam. These dikes are no
weak affairs, tribled in thickness by earth,
brick and stoues Then comes the invari-
able double row of trees. whose live and
strong roots help hold the mass of dixie
material, and give beauty and shade to the
htt landscape. Holland is made up, we
should Judge, of dikes, land recovered
from the sea shores, trees, canals and
wind mills. Five of the last surrounded
one set of farm buildings, in some in.
stances. Then we judge the neighbors
set the fans TO different points of compass,
in their neighborhood mills. so as to catch
each passing breeze for grinding. No
modern inventions have disturbed the
quiet, satisfied, shrewd. rich Dutchman.
His quaintness he loves with the home
love that makes life and its memories so
pleasant to all. So we infer the man who
owns from five to seven of these awkward
wind mills, looking rs ugly giants stalk
ing through the land, is an independent
man.
The Dutchman. after he has cramped
the river from its mouth upward with
djles, deepening the waters of the same,
So that the heavy steam ships can enter
the port, builds his side canal to the front
of his own door, house or store. So he
never breaks bulk with his cargo from the
time of lading, and escapes all customs of
nations except his own from the common
property of the high seas. His ship is in
what would be his forecourt or garden, if
it was land, and stays there for repairs as
well us unloading. No wonder the COM
mercial Dutch are in all lands, and have
been for time immcmorial, and are solidly
wealthy.
Rotterdam, if we mistake not, is con-
silcred the modern Venice 1t has not
less than Two or three hundred bridges
over its many canals. You can walk
anywhere, or sail anywhere within it.
The salt water is also wonderful sanitary
helper. The proverbs of Dutch scrubbing
we do not wonder at here. And still the
;c cnD,athinu sppurior We
walk floor in which the seeming was as
if walking over the quicksilvered looking
glass. 1t seemed almost wrong to step
there. How much better than dusty car
pets. Plenty of water and abundun, IA
cility to use it must add to longevity over
dusty, carpeted floors. We much prefer
the good cheer The air free from dust in q
room inspires to that other feeling when
you can scarcely breathe the atmosphere
because of its composition with thickly
floating atoms.
Amsterdam is u quaint. lively place
We called blessings on the Dutch cities
that protected and aided our Pilgrim fa-
theirs when thrust out of England. They
gave them place, and helped them to ship
for the land that has become the home ol
the free. By.the.by, have you noticed the
fact that England, awakened slowly, rs is
customary with her, to II sense Of justice
has erected memorial hall to the Pill
grims whom the house of the Stuarts per.
Il ,ft lo T..
Sunday school anniversaries were held il
that hall in June last. Good for England
Amsterdam has all sorts of houses. Il
YOU wish to see precisely the kind built ir
New York, and on the Hudson up tc
Albany, in the olden time, visit Amster
dam You would think some of then
would fall oneyou as you walk the sid'
walks. Modern and ancient most strange
ly mingle; side by side they stand. VIII
can beat the DutchP Now here is a stree
called Moses and Aaron street. Give
up. There is no beating the Dutch. Thei
houses, their names, their ships, their wa
ter courses, their modes of busy life, thei
IeIlS, llltll InuSlC Will ilOG Dt llllldtcu
They will have their ever wet and greer
sweet way, and let their wind mills tumble
on.
Here is hotel with forty bells in it
tower, and there, just over the way, is 9
many on top of a palace. These ar,
chimed. A bank of keys, long as one
finger, and of wood painted black, arr
situated in u small inclosed tower in tn
midst of the bells. and then wires are rul
to all the bells. So one can sit up ther,
aud play the music Of plano for the ben
Cit of the city Bells strike often. Ever
quarter of an hour time is announced b
them. The tone is musical. The hars
and sharp bells of our own land we hay
not heard. This constant tune music il
the day and night has precious inhuenc
tn the toiers who work so hard in thi
land. 1t is voice from above cheering
hrm to the land where there are no bur
dens.