Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-08-28
GIimpses of Rotterdam, Hague,
Amsterdam, The Palace, Etc.
The Music, Arts, Dress and Manners
of the Dutch.
On TO Venice--AE series Of GraPhtc
Pen Pictures.


low, fat country, with its dikes, il
countless numbers, was something
novel to me. For miles and mile
around us in every direction, as far q
we could see, the land was traverset
By very small canals, or rather bitches
not more than four or five feet wide
cutting the land into squares, from
fifty feet in size to very much large
plots of ground.
The land was everywhere we'll cul
tivated, every inch being utilized
The harvest fields seemed most ma
tural. The women we're in greater
numbers in the fields than the men
and seemed to do the harder work.
THE WIND MILLS
gave a variety and picturesqueness t
the landscape thas would otherwise
have been monotonous. The principa
use of these wind mills is to drain the
soil. They have, however, a variety
Of other uses and are to be seen every.
where, like forest of trees. The trees
in Holland are small. and in long
lines, hedge like, stretching of inde6'
nitely.
In Rotterdam we saw many things
peculiar to the "low country" The
high, many stored houses, with cur .
Gus gable roofs, as different from any
ever saw. These gabled roets are Of
Spanish architecture. Aside frem
their unique effect, they are interesting
from their historic associations with
the reign Of Charles V. over these low
counties, before the Spanish yoke was
thrown off by William the Silent,
Prince of Orange.
The streets of
ROTTERDAM
are long and narrow, and the people
thread these labyrinths in wooden
shoes peculiar to the country. These
huge shoes. on large feet, are anything
but beautiful, but small ones on chill
dren are really very cunning, and look
like small boats by which they are
propelling themselves around. The
people themselves are remarkable fol-
their extreme neatness. The women
wear handkerchiefs or turbans Oh
their heads, and although the faces
beneath are usually very homely-foi
even the children look old here-yet
the tout ensemble is decidedly pleas
ing, and the snowy wilderness Of al
they wear makes them very beautiful
Here we found flowers in profusior
for sale, and fruit without end. Fruit
markets are to be found every few
squares throughout the city. Thu
fruit is all weighed and sold By tht
pound, which seemed quite funny t
me. The strawberries were very large
and fine, and deliciously sweet, anC
very cheap. There were also curranti
and elegant cherries, both black anC
pink, in the greatest profusion, anC
more luscious than any | have eve
tasted.
The chief point Of interest in Rot
terdam is not ia the city itself, bu
in wv
THE PEOPLE;
in walking or driving around il
streets, and watching the people Al
they come and go in their daily life
A curious sight was the diminutivt
carts, with dogs, either singly or il
pairs, harnessed to them, drawint
heavy loads, driven by women. 1
seemed cruel that these dogs should
be forced to draw such heavy bur
dens.
The countless canals are filed Will
crafts of the square, substantial
Dutch pattern. Many of these ar,
used for permanent dwellings b.
families of moderate means, ant
very pretty little houses they are, too
for the simple life of these easy goinj
people, Their spotless decks and lit
tie gardens of potted plants show tn
pride taken in them by their owners
The sights of Rotterdam are not re
markable, aside from the people them
selves. M
But the Hague, our next sojourninI
place, is city never to be forgotten
by one who has seen it. 1t is tn
court capital of Holland, as Amster
dam is the commercial capital; ant
here we saw rank and fashion such q
as have given the city the designation
Of the
"GAYEsT LITTLE CITY IN EUROPE.
The whole place has an aristocrati
air. The wide streets and broa
avenues, shaded with magniEcen
trees, in two or three interlacing row
on either side; the cool, invitin
walks and its splendid palaces an
stately houses, hidden away anon
the trees, give it a royal air OF beaut
and magnifcence. The avenues al
SO broad, and the trees so numerou
that in the very heart Of the city on
feels the sense OF restfulness an
quietude of the country. We stoppe
! at a lovely little hotel here, and foun
everything delicious. We taste
some very fresh new cheese at tn
hotel that we all enjoyed SO nue.
Our landlady was the most enormo,
woman | think ever saw, and in
! majestic kind of a way swayed h
scepter over all during our stay, al
yet she showed great hospitality. "
visited y
a THE ART GALLERY
e here, which ranks as one of the 6ne
/ collections of the Dutch school, Al
e saw many gems Of Rembrandt. r
e bens, Yandyke. Paul Potter and OF
s ers. One small picture especially W,
Y our hearts, 1t was Gerard Dow
u Young Housekeeper," a study
e human life, full Of bright light, a
II realistic, like all the works Of I
Dutch school. We saw also Re-
brandt's very celebrated "Anatomi,
d Lecture" and while it is wonderful
d a study, it has nothing attractive in
as a picture, Thisis very apt to
the case with the large pictures ne :