St. Landry democrat., 1890-08-02
HOLLAND.


After it went through the trials and
ton of Christianity, Netherland had yet to
make some more struggles for life.
The worst of these struggles was, no
doubt the war with Spain, which lasted
eighty years. This war was rather re-
ligious war of the Roman Catholic Spain
against the Protestant mother country. 1t
took place mainly in the sixteenth century.
Phillip ii was king of Spain then, and
he made every possible attempt to over
power and appropriate Netherlands, and
he did not hesitate to use the most cruel
means in order to carry out his idea.
1t would make this article too long if l
made more general review of the cruelties
practiced and for that reason [ mention
only the name of Due d'Alfa. one of Phil
lips most cruel servants. He signed the
death sentences of thousands of innocent
people who refused to bend their knees to
Phillip, simply to frighten other people
and make them dependents of Spain.
But in spite of these and other shameful
efforts, he did not succeed at all for after
a while the lion of the Netherlands awoke
ION the weapon of the Netherlands is the
figure of lion), broke bis chains and
drove his enemy back; and Netherland
remained independent. and she is indie
pendent still.
Besides wars with other nations, Meth
erland had several hard fights with the
surrounding sea. Because part of Neither
land is far below the sea level, and before
the present levees were built, they had to
make water escapes to save their lives.
Many of these water escapes have now
disappeared, but some of them may be
seen yet. The last overflow occurred in
| 1926.
At the present time levees protect the
lands. Those levees are made of mud,
straw, wood and rock, and every danger
of overflow is past.
The low lands are all drained and cut
up by canals. On many of these canals
| vessels and steamers are used for CONNER
| cial purposes from one city to another.
Besides those canals, there are several
lakes and rivers. OF the lakes | only men
ton Sneeker Lake and The Hsger LaEe.
These and many other lakes afford fine
water advantages and fish of almost all
kinds in great abundance. Of the rivers,
the Rhine is one of the most noted ones.
1t flows through an important part of the
country, affirming fine transportation fr
the immense quantity of goods shipped
| from Rotterdam to different paris of
| Germany.
| Rotterdam, less in population than Am
sterdam, is, in some respects, owing to her
| favored location at the mouth of the
Rhine, and with her splendid harbor, supe
rior to the first named city. She has one
of the best harbors of Europe, and carries
on large trade with foreign ports. Pop
ulation 240, 900.
| The soil of the lands around Rotterdam
is of great fertility, and is known for its
fine Dutch white clover" lE is here
| they make the famous ''Delfsche butter"
| A few miles from Rotterdam is The
Hague, the government seat. The first
and second chambers meet there, and also
the Supreme Court, etc. The Hague is a
beautiful city, with several remarkable
galleries and other sights. She has large
and fine promenade park and at Scheven-
ingen lone of the suburbs located on the
| North sea-, there is first class bathing
establishment, with hotels, galleries, etc.
The Hague has population of about 2O0,-
900.
Between Rotterdam and The Hague, we
lind Delft, thrifty business city. She is
well known for her magnificent earthen
ware, which is not equalled anywhere
Moreover, here is the splendid vault of the
house of Orange, which house the present
| king of Netherland belongs to.
Between Amsterdam and The Hague are
located the cities of Leyden and HARLEM
| Leyden has the Oldest university of Eu-
rope. Once in war, Leyden was be-
sieged by the enemy, and after long
struggle, the provision supply in the city
became exhausted But the people en-
dured it patiently. A week expired in
this bad condition, and few men went to
the Bourgemaster, van der VERT, to ask
for food. The Bourgemaster told them he
had none. Then the men went and asked
the Bourgemaster to give up the city, in
order to secure food, but he refused, be-
cause sit was his duty to save the city, "
he said The Bourgema ster supposed an
army from Amsterdam was trying to res
cue the city. At last some women came
to him crying. aud saying their children
were dying of starvation, urging him to
give up the city. But the heroic answer
was "You may take me and kill me, but
will never give up the city into the hands
| of the enemy !"
The women went away, and two days
| after that the city was delivered by the
army of Amsterdam, A splendid monu-
ment to the honor of Bourgemaster van der
| VERT is erected at Lsyden.
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