The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1882-03-31
A DUTCH KERMISS.

.ppertaining to its kind in fact for o
stranger it is exceedingly difficult to get
out of the place when once there on
account OF the immense number of in
tercepting waterways which bar escape
on oil sides.
However as to the Kermiss. As it is
generally held in July, or in the begin
ming Of August, fine weather almost
renders the open-air life Of the people
at this time possible the fair lasts
week, during which time all business is
suspended and the fun runs fast and
furious.
Well, on the occasion to which I
,efer, we entered the town by the road
from Rotterdam on q sweltering hot
afternoon in July, and even in the out
skirts the nature of the fete proclaimed
itself. Everything seemed ten gala"
As our cab rolled along the crowd grad
ually increased, until ct length we had
to proceed at q snails pace in order to
avoid running over some one at every
step. Som etimes lot Of young people,
each other by the hand. would come
rushing along, singing, or rather yell
ing, one Of their curious Dutch songs
at the top of their voices as they went,
carrying all before them, and almost
too excited to part hands even when our
vehicle blocked the way. A little
further on q group Of clumsy looking
soldiers with their sweethearts might
be seen heartily enjoying themselves
with an al frasco" dance, half polka,
half Jig. And the damsels How Gu
rious they look with their strange caps
with the corkscrew like ornaments,
called "kryiler," sticking out on
each side, causing them to look like
some nondescript horned biped. How
every one Of the girls manages to pro-
cure a pair Of kryller is q mystery,
since these are often very extensive, ard
even the simplest sort cost several
guilders. Some OF these have been in
the family for centuries and are greatly
cried.
But meantime we have arrived within
''r shot OF the center of attraction, and
n turning q Corner the whole scene
suddenly bursts upon us. Imagine a
large square filled with booths OF every
description, each with its row of kerosene
flares in front of it. Everywhere o
rushing, seething crowd blocks up the
street and the spaces between the booths.
But, see hcre is a stalwart fisherman,
probably from Schweiningler, with a
couple Of fair townswomen on his aruus.
He, poor fellow, is in the ''betwixt and
between" state. and his womankind are
skillfully steering him through the
crowd to some place OF refuge, but. alas
for their good Intentions. Mr.. Jan, on
passing pancake tent rushes away
iom his prot, c'ressas AMI IS quich1y
ngaged In swallowing the delicious
aot morsels ss rapidly s. tley can be
prepared for him, leaving his friends to
their devices and certainly, not invitiu z
them to paitake of tho good things.
Oh, those pancakes low tempting
they look, and what immense quantities
are disposed OF every day Another sort
Of cake, fried in lard and served up
not. also commands large consumption.
The Dutch usually carry small faaons
Of eau-de- Cologne in their pockets
Turing the summer, and rs n matter OF
course the vendors OF this article do a
"roaring trade" The eau-de- cologne
Is used everywhere, and at all times. At
home and in church, in the Office and
On the street. Mynheer may be seen
oesprinkling himself and his friends
nth the fragrant water rs they eat,
cray, work or walk along, as the case
- -. -. patty WHICH L uttenueu
during the Kermiss it was very amusing,
every now and then, to observe gen
tleman gravely handing his flask all
around the room, when all where
esprinkled and the turn came to him
elf, having to be contented with tho
mere odor
But am DEPRESSING. 1t is already
quite dark, but the fun seems in no
way abated, the dancing, singing and
rushing about go on rs madly rs ever.
Every one OF the lower class OF in
habitants seems to be in tho street.
Masters and mistresses must have o
bad time Of it during this period, for
all the servants h1vc liberty, and do
not bestow q thought on their houses,
or on the work which they leavs their
employers to do for themselves.
Right on in the small hours the tur-
MOL lasts, and then for moment, Just
to let exhausted nature have time to
refresh itself with sleep, the streets are
deserted, few hours after again to re.
sound with the noise of many hurrying
feet and the shouts Of the pleasure
seeking crowd.
The cafe chantan,s nre OF harmless
kind, and are visited by all classes.
Nothing Objectionable ever takes place.
Among the fair cantatrices the English
element is invariably we'll represented,
and it sounded very strange to hear
the roars Of laughter with which q
foreign audience received an-some-
times difficult to understand English
song. But then the Dutch are cosmo-
politans
As is the general rule on the Con-
tinent, Sunday is the day of days for
amusements. In Dordrecht, for in
stance, during the Kermiss, how curious
| it looked to see neat Dutch family,
with the father ut tho head of the band,
trooping along to one of tho many
eardens-.beey gardens, one mis- Int elias
them, and yet they are not that. either
with which the town abounds, where
the father drinks his beer and PLAYS
"kegsl" (skvttles), ana mamma sips her
"spirit- water" and sugar and gossip
with her neighbors, while the crowd oil
children OF all ages play merrily around
Everything goes on quietly, and the
deep boom of the bowls rs they roll
along the alley, mingles with the
animated laughter of the slders and the
shrill piping voices of the youngsters.
In honor OF the Kermiss the children
had treat given them in the evening
in the shape Of q carousal or merry-go
round, in which sooth to say, many OF
the seniors joined them. After the
children had left on their way home to
bed the large hall belonging to the
establishment was lighted up and