The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1888-02-02
HOLLAND AND UP THE RHINE.
Rev. Marion crosley In the Mechan-
ics' Free Course.

The M. C. M. A. free course of lectures
has this year been one of unusual interest,
and the lecture delivered by Rev. Marion
Crosley last evening added one more to the
excellence OF the whole. Every seat was oc-
cupied and many were standing; in fact the
Library room has on several occasions
proved insufficient to accommodate the audi
enee.
Mr.Crosley began his "reminiscences of Hol-
land and the Rhine in speaking of the dykes
and canals of that quaint old country, and
of the delta of the Rhine formed by the sed-
iment of the river carried from the region
from which it flows. Proceeding, he said !:
SIT might rise in the minds of many to ask
why country so far below the level Of the
sea is inhabited. And another query may
follow, is there not sufficient ground else
where for the population of the worldp
Well, there are attractions that brought peo-
pie to the Netherlands in spite of this and led
them to build up one of the most thrifty
countries of the world. The soil of that
region having been made by deposits has
produced that state of things productive in
and of itself There is wealth in the soil. 1t
yields bountifully. The people are healthy,
wealthy and wise. The market places are
the most attractive in the world. The gar
den products are all of the most desirable
kinds.
The Hollanders are successful and they
are very wealthy people indeed. Cleanli-
ness is Characteristic; indeed. there IS such
an abundance of water that they can hardly
help being clean.
The pumps are at work upon the water
night and day, throwing it into the sea; and
were they to stop for "a hours nearly the
whole population would have to flee for their
lives. bitches and canals run in every direc-
ton, crossing and recrossing each other.
Starting from Scotland, our first landing
place was Rotterdam, real Dutch city,
which, though 1t has been closely connected
by trade and commerce with other countries,
has retained all of its Dutch characteristics
1t is an old and historicai :ity and its enter
prise is remarkable. RI. led in 1925 by an
extreme high tide, it is now city of $1,000.
There are no sidewalks ia the city, as is
the case in many other cities Of Europe, ana
horses, carts and people are thrown pr0mis-
cuously together in the middle of the streets.
Leyden is the city next in Importance,
situated on so small islands formed by the
Rhine and its branches. This city is of
special interest to Americans because the
pilgrims who afterward landed at Plymouth
Rock started from this region.
Amsterdam came next, the city OF the
north, which corresponds TO, the city OF
Venice, and as a commercial centre is OF
great Importance.
Passing on, Mr.. Crosley spoke Of Cologne,
a city 150,000 inhabitants and its magnificent
cathedral which was over 600 years IN build
ing.
Belgium was next taken up, and Antwerp,
the birthplace of Reubens, the artist, whose
famous picture of the Descent from the
Cross adorns its cathedral, described at
length.
In closing the lecturer said: .sThis trip
which / have described starting from Lon
don and passing through Holland, Belgium
and France is one of the most profitable that
one that presents as great variety of peo-
pie as can be seen in any other trip in
Eurnnp