Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1884-08-13
Dikes in Holland.

A tourist in Holland says: "Skirting
along the dikes we had good oppor-
tunity of seeing some of the incessant
toll, some of the constant engineering
and battling with the sea, to keep it at
anything like safe distance. The dikeS
about this island are perhaps the finest,
the most constantly guarded in all the
country. The dlke-workers are dis
tinct class, guild, in fact, jealous of
their craft and its rights and privileges.
1t is not the first conner who may be a
regular dike-worker, even If he should
wish to be. We saw great gangs of
them going from point to point with
pick and shovel, ever on the lookout for
weak spots in the great embankment,
ever refacing it with miles of concrete,
and strengthening every point with
strong grOins running into the sea.
II was almost pathetic to note with
what solicitude every blade of the bind
ing bent-grass was coaxed to grow.
Every little tuft was watched and
| tended as if it was some choice tulip.
The top of the dixie formed level, firm
road, stretching away for miles. The
sea looked SO mild and gray and inno-
cent as it gently Tapped the edges of tbs
mighty barriers that it seemed an effort
to fancy 1t an enemy capable of mis-
chief. The breeZes were simply deli
cious and fresh, coming over the wide
North sea. Inland, the scenery was
fiat and grim and serious. Farmsteads
in the far distance looked green and fat
enough. Sheep and kline were plentiful
about the rich fields. Just over the
edge of the dikes were the little scat
tered hamlets of the fisher people and
the polGer-men the dike-wOrkers lived
more of rowing life, camping out here
and there as their work called them
from one point to another. Sometimes
the wind had blown up and the seas
tossed up great long meandering mounds
of sand, helping to back and strengthen
the dikes. On these billowy hillocks
regular tufts, and stunted pines were
set wherever the tempest would spare
them to grow. All sorts of binding
vegetation were carefully protected.
The very children know enough to let
it alone. We stopped at Zoutland,
and climbed to the top of the dunes to
look about us and sniff the sea breeze.
Down far below us lay the vlllage-so
far that had the waters swept over the
rim of the sandy dixie, the sea would
have only reached its level when it play
ed about the tail of the weather cock
on the gray old church tower. There
are watchers ever on the lookout, day
and night, calm and storm. No wonder
that the set, anxious look one sees on
every face, that seems to be born with
every babe. should be the only charac-
teristic expression one remarks among
the people herel
When the watchers of the dikes see
danger, the alarm-bell is rung, and
every soul either flies to the dikes for
safety or to help the gangs of workers
TO stop the threatened breach. All was
calm enough at that moment, the tide
was far out, and yet the village seemed
far below its level. The cottage-win-
dow lights were twinkling in the gloom,
as evening was just coming on. The
church bell was tolling for evening ser
vice, and the warm glow of sunset Just
touched the top of its tower. Through
the tall lancet windows one could see a
flush of warm lamp-light within. All
sounds and sights were of peace and
calm, and yet there somehow came upon
the imagination the grim reverse of the
picture; the Changing alarm-bell, the
hurrying to and fro, the wild fight for
safety from the mad, hungry sea. We
were feeling deadly oppressed by the
prevailing seriousness OF the place"