Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1884-07-31
MIDDELBURG.
The Most Peculiarly Representa-
tive IN Holland.

AHS uAoht EuEuHAhEAy RbREtHont@-
live Nm Holland.
In Harpey's Mdgaz,nefor August, George
Il. Boughton ssye: OF all towns in Hol-
land, think CATER seeing about ffty)
Middelburg about the most peculiarly
representative and Dutch, /. has in it
the most charming examples Of srchitec-
ture and costume that one could wish to
see. 1t is quaint and original, clean to
degree, and not too dead and gone In
fact on market day, 1t is for the time
being about as lively and stirring place
as one could happen on and they do say
that on the occasion Of the annual kerr
messe, which lasts about q week, the
great market place at night, when the
fun is widest, ID no faint hint of those
far more ancient and more neither regions
en- fete. So much Of an affair is 1t 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,
we'll swept quays under the tall trees,
one is struck by the number Of well-to-
do and even stately residences, seemingly
| the homes OF the descendants OF the mer-
chant princes who made their fortunes
here when Middelburg had commerce
TO boast Of. There were no finer docks
and ater ways in all the country but,
alas tickle commerce one day found
other harbors. The big ships sailed
away one by one into the external
WHITTIER" and came back no more. The
docks and basins took on the SCUM oil
idleness, busy shipyards grew silent, and
the half.fnished hulks rotted where
they stood. IT'S the fate OF many
once thriving towns. But Middelbure
was only sleeping-it was q very
long Rip Van Wrinkle drowse-there wal
still strong life somewhere dormant.
woke TO energy and action some Is year.
ago. When Its old neighbor and rival
Flushing, began its splendid new harbor
and docks and station, high hopes wer
held that the new life blood let int
Flushii would revive the entire islant
OF Walcheren. Middleburg "shook itsel
together" for the long looked-for return
, OF prosperity. New docks, canals, ant
basins were made, big enough to float tn
, vast commerce she wished to see agail
bustlipg about her long deserted quays
But, sad TO say, after much outlay {
. money and labor, after grand opsnin
, ceremonies, and much kermessing, co
! commerce came not, to any great extent, t
gladden. the souls OF the good burgheI
= either OF Flushing or Mjddelburg. LIE
a . US say, rather, that for many years It di
7 not come. Just lately there is bette
4 show Of shipping at both places. "Tim
: was" when this same heidelberg was til
!, richest, proudest and most powerful cit
4 in the Netherlands. It's most pro-
porous times were during the iou
: teenth and fifteenth centuries, whe
Il all the wines of France and Spain Thu
q came not only for the entire country, br
"a for towns along the Rhine far into &c
q many, had first to pay duty here. The
y exist still many relics OF this poweri
- "ootroi." There is still the "Rouenisol
n Kade," where the wine galleons Of Rome
y disgorged their oargoes and the
2 heavy customs duties. The WOO
I, staplsrs of England and Sootlsr
i had also rich and powerf
a houses here, and at We're, near b
A. under the protection Of the Duke
"a Burgundy, who married daughter
AZ james Of Scotland.