The intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1887-1891, 1889-11-30
IMPRESSIONS OF HOLLAND,
WindmiIIs, Nent Little Houses an,
Funny Clothes

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script
= Only those who have Just spent tw,
weeks on the ocean can appreciate In
charms of a first day on land. 10 St
houses and trees once more, 10 feel tI
D grass under ones feet, to walk on An,
on without turning, all this il dcIigh
, enough, but TO do this in a strang,
country, a country one has heard OF
} dreamed about, Iongcd all ones Iife I,
see, this is an experience worth III,
WEAKNESS and drearIness of IL storm,
passage.
} The Netherland steamers are like tho
people, SLOW and sure. After tiitCeI
days on the Edam, we felt that W,
Knew already something OF the Gus.
toms ana manners OF the people W.
were 10 visit, for these ships are off
cered and manned by Holanders. Oul
J voyage was like most sea voyages,
fancy The weather, the state OF Cul
health, what we we're to have for din
hef. seemed matters OF much moment
at the time; but now, after week o.,
lahd, all the discOmtOrts and inconve-
nIences are forgotten, and the whole ex,
perience is vague and pleasant mem.
ory.
We sailed up the long canal entering
Amsterdam i'll the early morning al
the rate OF two miles an hour, greater
speed being by law prohibited, and we
had ample time for our first Impressions
before we landed. And this was IIol-
land, looking just as we had hoped il
would. The green meadows, where
the black and white cows lay contem-
platively under the ever changing
skies-Dutch cows never seem to stand
or walk. abOut-the neat little b0usCs
and stIftiy trimmed trees, and the
Wlndmills on every side. The walk
from the landing to the hotel was a
series of exclamation points. There
were the tall houses leaning against
each other as if tor support, The canals
where the masts of the ships were lii
orally tangled in the branches of the
trees, the milk carts with the beautiful
| brass milk cans, and the women with
their gold head dresses and peasant
costumes.
1t was all new dnd yet strangely
familiar, as If we had seen il in some
other world or dreamed of it i'm the
night. We have been here week
now, and we never tire OF these streets.
when we are too weary to walk long
er, there are the canals. where the
little steamers carry one back and
forth, new and pleasant variety OF
tramway. One odd thing about these
boais is the adjustable smoke stack
On my first ride | could not under
stand how we were to pass under the
numerous low bridges; but at lust the
right moment the smoke-stack was
quickly pulled down by chain, letting
the smoke pour into our faces until j.
could be put in place again.
We have found Amsterdam an ex
cellent center from which TO make
short excursions. Yesterday afternoon
we visited Zaandam, where Peter the
Great had his first lessons in ship
building The sail on the steamer was
especially pleasant and remarkable Tor
the fact that 1t did not rain once dur.
ing the hour we were on the water.
We are quite accustomed how to carry
ing waterproof in one hand and All
umbrella in the other wherever We 90,
and we generally have occasion 10 use
both. There are POO windmills i'm
Laandam, and the inhabitants are said
to be all millionaires. After visiting
the hut OF the great Peter, we started
out TO explore the town. The pro
Drietor of the only livery stable in the
place was much excited by our order
ing carriage. All the assistants and
some OF the by-standers were pressed
INTO service, and at last numbering
Old carriage drawn by numbering old |
horse was produced. We were kept
alting five minutes longer while the |
horses shoes were being blocked, and |
were then allowed to start, followed |
by the admiring gaze of the crowd |
which bad been aroused by the scene.
| verify believe we were the only peo-
pie driving for pleasure in Zaandam.
these millionaires have apparently |
most simple tastes. They live in tiny |
houses, surrounded by miniature canals
everything is spotlessIy clean, and
there is everywhere an air of perfect
comfort. Through the polished win
how-paiEs we caught glimpses of the
little alcohol lamps burning for after
noon coffee, and could see the families
gathered about the table for this social
meal. Passing a sch0OlhOuse lust as
school was over, we were startled bv
1 great noise, and looking behind us
saw crowd of children running after
'ur carriege with a great CHATTER of
wooden shoes and clamor of Llerrv
voice. Such quaint little figures and
such rosy cheeks and tow heads as they
III had! We thought OF the crowd
hat followed the Pied Piper of lame
IN, and wondered If those children + n
Is fast for his music as these for our
These Dutch. children are somewhat
turdier specimens than our little coun-
ry peyple at home. watched some
mall Hollanders playing horse the
'ther day, and this is the way thev did
{: The smaller boy, who was the
lorse, actually carried the other boy I
Who was tw ice his size, on his back. |
them unti NV own back
ched in sympathy, and wondered
low long an American child would ',
ave played the game in that way.
L an curious to know when a Dutch .
10Y learns to smoke. | saw nurse
ight cigarette for little fellow with !
Dng curls who could not have been :
nOre than six years old. and the child
mOked it with an air OF haviny been !!
ccustomed to the practice all his life,
A Vislt 10 Brock and Marken made :,
mother of our days excursions. TO I,
ee Brock properly, one should stay at
ome and read Irvimg's description. |
As Hollander told me with shrug, a
iroek Is nothing now. Irving tells of +,
he immaculate streets. but we actually
aw leaves drop from the trees and moi
soul rush out to pick them up. We
lsiied the church, which some OF rs '
listoOk for the cheese factory, and the Il
heese factory, about hich there cnulG "
Q 10 mistake, for we ate three slice. :.
I fresh Edam cheese, and found il Il
eliciOus.
From Brock we went bv rail 10 !
lounlkendam, ana from there were q
iken over to the little island of Markcu
sallboat. Two Markcn fi>hrrmcu p
managed the boat, and we could moi :
hmlre enough their qneer costumes. d
hey wore enormous trousers, alInas, u
Ike skirts, curious waItscoats, and for u
gold collar buttons and ear. u
n9s. Many OF the apparently poor "
easants III Holland possess gold orua- !.
cnts of much value. They are heir
'oms, and are worn with great pride. a
he caps or head dresSCq nf gold nrr ii
cry picturesque, but when surmnunt c'
| by modern bonnet lose Sumrthjpu ~
their charm. 1t was over an honr Ut
'iOre we reached Naken, for the III
lnds were contrary and it raincd al
@ way. ~
Thoroughly drenGhed, we made our Ic
sy through the slippery mud to the VI
llage, eD~'ing the people their wood e"
shoes The inhabitants of Markrn oa
ver .-,-rmarry with those of the
land they wear the dress and