Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1891-06-18
LEGEND OF A THIMBLE.
The Useful Little Article Was In
vented for Loves Sake.

The snow ceased falling. The tenn
perature already low was still falling;
a beautiful frost at last seemed about
to follow the interminable, gloomy,
disagreeable days which for weeks had
kept the people of Amsterdam shut up
in their houses-these people whom
that old Dutch scholar, Erasmus, be-
cause of their houses being built upon
piles, has likened to crows perched
upon trees. But suddenly the sun sue
cecded in piercing the leaden darkness
mingled with clouds that stretched
themselves like a sheet of water to
the north of Holland. In less than an
of the innumerable wind-mills of the
country-swept the sky and restored
it, clear. shining. like a silvery satin.
Whereupon a wild joy took posses
sion of the town. Everybody went
out. The air, cold, but pure and whole
some as water from a rock, was in
toxicating. At last they were able to
give themselves up to skating, the IA
vorite pleasure of the Hollanders.
These people, reputed quiet by those
who know them but little, bestow upon
their holiday hours an activity wi thout
its equal; robust gayety of which loud
laughter and repartee form an integral
part. This Venice of the north, with
its innumerable canals and its vast har-
bors, bushes itself ordinarily with its
immense commerce, in comparative 81
lence. due to the almost total absence
of carriages and to the almost unique
movement of its boatmen. But let the
frost come-an astonishing reaction
bursts forth: an eruption of pent-up
life 1t is "a curious and extraordinary
spectacle Everybody puts on his
skates: the infirm make sledges serve
as vehicles; children, seated in little
carriages. which they propel by the
use of sticks. dart among the legs of
the skaters, causing many fall-droll
accidents at which one cannot help
laughing. Grave people who would
fain resist it are drawn into the scriIn-
mage. Everybody is excited by the
noise, gestures, talk, movement. There
is nothing comparable in this intox-
ication with that of the Italian carni-
walls.
Moreover the gracious side is not
lacking in these scenes, so full of free
dom, of laisser-aller, sometimes of
clOwn1SnnCSS Va "O>AA -
dexterity charm the eye by the ease
they know how to employ in executing
the greatest difficulties of their favorite
exercise, and young men invite young
girls for . skating duet just as In the
drawing-rooms they ask for waltz
On this day in February. 1854, an hour
after dinner, a charming girl, seventeen
or eighteen years of age, elegantly
clothed, started out alone-her delicate
feet Swimming over the ice.
She could not, however, have Lacked
company in her evolutions had she de-
sired it; for she was the only daughter
of the privateer Van der Kassen, one OF
the yvealthiest men in Amsterdam
But, contrary to it's wont, her sweet
face seemed pensive. She had refused
the gallant invitations of all her father S
friends and avoided the society OF her
customary companions.
She skated. distract and solitary IN
the midst of the crowd. collision with
whom she avoided skillfully, when sud
denly her eye lighted up, her rosy cheek
took on a roster tint, and a smile half
opened her little mouth at sight of
young man simply dressed, but supple
and elegant, who was approaching her
on the point of one of his skates
.'Good-day, Jacquine-"
'Good-day, Nicolas"