The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1884-08-14
Middt Iburg,

OF all towns in Holland, I think
Cater. seeing about fiftv) Middelburg
about the most peculiarly representa-
tive and Dutch. 1t has In it the most
charming examples of architecture and
costume that one could wish TO see. 1t
IS quaint and original, clean to q de-
gree, and not too dead and gone: in
tact, on market-day, it is for the time
being about as lively and stirring a
place as one could happen on and they
do say that on the occasion of the an
nual kermesse, which lasts about
week, the great market-place at night,
when the fun is widest, IS no faint hint
OF those far more ancient and more
neither regions en- tcte. So much of an
affair is it here that they talk of the
past one for six months, and prepare
for the next one the rest Of the year
In passing along some of the silent.
Well-swept quays under the tall trees.
Que is struck by the number of well to-
do and even stately residences. seem
ingly the homes of the descendants of
the merchant princes who made their
fortunes here when Middelburg had
a commerce to boast of. There were
no finer docks and waterways in
all the country but alas tickle
Commerce one fine dav found other har-
WIS u AAO OAS@ Oil iIS Sfl1Gu AWAY one DIV
one into the Eternal V hither," and
came back no more. The docks and
basins took on the scum of idleness.
busy ship-yards grew silent, and the
halt-hnished hulks rotted where they
stood. lis the fate of many once thirty
ing towns. But Middelburg was only
sleeping-it was a very long Rip Van
Wrinkle drowse-there was Still strong
life somewhere dormant. 1t woke to
energy and action again some fiji cen
years ago. When its old neiglbor and
rival, Flushing, began its splendid new
harbors and docks and station, high
hopes were held that the new blood
let into Flushing would revive the en-
tire island of Walchelcn. Middelburg
''shOok itself together" for the long
looked-for return of prosperity. New
docks, canals and basins were made,
big enough to float the vast commerce
she wished to see again busting about
her long deserted quays
But, sad to say, after much outlay of
money and labor; after grand opening
ceremonies and much kermessino, GOV
commerce came not, to any great ex-
tent to gladden. the souls of the good
burghers either of Flushing or Middel-
burg. Letus say, rather, that for many
years 1t d d not come. Lately there is
oetJeF snow OF Shlpplng at both places.
Time was" when this same Middel-
burg was the richest, proudest and
most powerful city in the Netherlands
It's most prosperous times were during
the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries,
when all the wines of France and
Spain that came, not only for the en-
tire country, but for towns along the
Rhine far into Germany, had first to
pay duty here. There exist still many
relics of this powerful ''octroi' There
is still the ''Rouenische Kade,' where
the wine gallcons of Rouen disgorged
their cargoes and their heavy customs
duties. The wool-staplers of England
and Scotland had also rich and power
full houses here, and at We're, near by,
under the protection of the Duke of
Burgundy, who married a daughter of
James /. of Scotland. - George II.
B0ughton, IN HdrpeT's MAGAZINE.