The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1885-09-11
THE DUTCH AT HOME.
A LAND or cLEANLY HoUSEKEEP-
ERS AND PRETTY GIRLS
How the Evenings Are Spent in Amster-
dam-Tobacco and the Small Boy
Music, Painting and F1owers-
"AnniversAry Feasts."
Robert p. Porter,s Letter.l


In the first place, during my recent stay
In the land Of the Dutch, / have been re-
peatedly told by those who have lived here
given to scrubbing their door plates. their
Kettles, and their front steps than their per-
sons That as q matter of fact they OBJ
tained a reputation for cleanliness alto
gether in excess Of their Just desserts; that
while the outward visible signs are there,
and strike the stranger at once, the dweller
in Dutchland. who knows the true inward
ness of home life, will in no case admit that
the Dutch are any cleaner than many other
nations. There are very few houses in
Amsterdam, modern houses / mean, in
which baths are to be found. There are no
public baths, and in no case are even the
new and fashiona BILE hotels built with rooms
having baths attached, as they are in the
United States In spite, however, Of these
truths it must be admitted that the Dutch
women of all classes have learned the art Of
making themselves appear clean In their
outdoor costumes. It may be mere veneer.
1t may be merely front door polish and
white window curtain cleanliness, but that
they look clean and neat and dapper, with
their shining silver and gold helmets and ed
spring head gear, their white lace and mus
lin, and gay dresses, no one can deny.
The middle-class Dutchwoman as rule
engages in no talk of scandal about her
neighbors attends strictly to her househo
duties, is always busy In charitable work, Is
passionately fond Of music, and not in
frequently OF painting. In the evening
she accompanies her husband to the OPEN
air concert, the beer-sardsn. the prone
made concert, the park, or the theatre. The
Paleis Voor Volks vleit in Amsterdam. a
magnificent building, capable Of holding
5000 people, and the gardens ad joining are
filled every evening with the middle classes
and their wives and families. Monday
nights are popular nights; then every one Is
admitted, and the programme is OF the most
popular character. Thursday night Is de-
voted to classical music, and In more select
With the exception of Monday night no
women are admitted without escorts
have been present in this vast hall, where
between 5000 and 1000 people have been
seated, drinking all kinds Of liquors and
every male smoking, and yet during the per-
formanos Of a harp solo you could have
heard . pin drop
The middle-class girls OF Holland are GER
tainly very pretty, they have such soft,
clean skin and such bright compilations.
They are decidedly piquant in appearance,
much more so than their sisters over the
Rhine This year the favorite color is par
rot green of various shales, which seems to
suit their brown hair and eyes amazingly.
They wear the high crown fashionable hat,
with a string or two added. As for the back
crinoline now the rags, have seen nothing
either In size or sway to equal the achteruit
Of the fashionable girl Of Amsterdam The
81 IL
II @behind the house"
Everybody smokes In Holland, that IL,
every male body. One could almost believe
that the male babies are ushered into the
world with a cigar in their mouths. The
modifying effects Of tobacco sooths the in
FAINT Dutch boy in the cradle, adds variety
to his youthful sport and pastimes, and
when he becomes old enough to run OF er-
rands, or, II Of well-to-do parents, to sit at
table d'hote with his father and mother,
forms the chief occupation in life. Walk
the streets Of Amsterdam early In the morn
ing and observe the most diminutive office
boy sweeping the sidewalk, polishing the
door-plats, or cleaning the windows, with
six-inch cigar In his mouth.
] have said that the Dutch are excess
lively fond Of music, painting and fowerA
It Is no uncommon sight in Holland to see
boys and girls Of the most tender age intel
ligently admiring beautiful flowers. atten-
lively listening to music Of the highe t Or
der, and criticising a new engraving or
painting In shop window or picture gal
lery. ! refer now to the children of poor
parents; to class of children who, In the
United States or England, would possess no
power Of appreciating such things This ex-
cellent Characteristic Is a source Of much
entertainment TO people Of all age, and has
q decided tendency to elevate the tone OF
popular amusement The @Tingle, Tangle"
20 common in every drinking place in Ger
many, Is rarely found in Holland.
Next to out door and public amusements,
I fancy the Dutch @anniversaries" afford q
larger amount Of diversion than any other
form Of amusement. The excuses for the
sapniversary feasts" are muititudinous.
Engagements birthdays, wedding days an
nivsrsaries OF partnerships, Of established
business, of employment The Dutch al
ways have q great feast Mt the betrothal,
and not at the marriage, when only few
relatives are present This custom Is q good
one. As I have said, any excuse Is made to
hold an anniversary" A firm has been en-
gagged in business twenty five years; q man
has been employed by one firm ten years.
Friends are invited, and q systematic enter
tainment given, consisting of songs, recita-
tions. and speeches One Of the guests must
give, with considerable detail, history Of
the achievement of the firm or a biograph-
ical sketch Of the host This Is done In tho
most complimentary and serious manner,
and all are expected to listen attentively.
There are rarely any excesses at these @an.'
niversaries," though there Is always much
merriment and great good humor through