The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1891-05-29
PROF. FREEMAN'S LECTURE. >
A Trip Over the Netherlands and the
Rhine.

The Opera House was packed Monday
night by the large audience which re-
sponded to the invitation TO attend
Prof. j. c.. Freeman's lecture. The
subject was an interesting one-"The
Netherlands and the Rhine''-and
one to which the speaker did full Just
ice. Prof. Freeman is an interesting
talker upon any subject, but particul-
arly eXcells in the descriptive, and in
this lecture those powers have full
sway. He began by referring to the
parting of friends on the wharf at New
York. and traced the ship down the
bay, past the forts and out into the
ocean. He described the rolling of
the ship, the icebergs, and the Gulf
Stream. The latter is found twenty
six hours out from New York, and is
of an indigo color, while the rest of the
water is greenish blue. The line of
demarka ton is distinctly drawn. Fin
ally the ship reaches England, and the
information is telegraphed back six
hours earlier than the arrival of the
ship. according to the clock. The trip
through the German ocean is rough
one, seasickness always prevailing.
Finally Holland is reached. The
speaker described the dykessby which
the ocean is held back. They are 200
feet thick at the base and 100 feet at
the tops, and their height is governed
by the rise of the tide in the particu
lar district. Piling is used, and clay
is pounded down, branches of trees
put in the pudding on the inner side,
and the outside faced with granite,
which comes mostly from Norway,
but partly from Scotland and Eng
land. Four rows of trees are planted
along the top, and between the inner
rows is roadway. made Of hard bak-
ed brick. The materials are at hand
to put temporary barrier above the
dyke, in case that storms and tides
should combine to raise the ocean
more than usually. The dykes, of which
there are 1900 miles, extend up the
rivers, and surround cities, as second
airy barriers. A good part of Holland
has been reclaimed from the sea, and
is rich and valuable land. One entire
district was reclaimed after several
years of hard work with powerful en-
gines and pumps, at cost of $50 an
acre. This land sold for $50 to 800 an
acre. and is now worth S400 an acre.
bitches or canals run through the
land at small intervals, and upon
these is traffic carried on. They take
the place of roads. Railroads are
built upon the tops of the dykes,
where level and solid foundation is
secured. The cities are curious to
American eyes. The spires lean every
way. Each house has mirror before
the window on each story, so slanting
that the occupant can see who is be-
low when a caller knocks.
The speaker then took his audience
up the Rhine pointing out the num-
erous old castles and forts. and giving
few of the interesting legends con-
corning some of them. He spoke of
the narrow vineyards between the
precipitous cliffs and walls built up
from the waters edge. The home of
Gutenberg, the inventor of the art of
printing, was referred to, and the fine
statue there erected to his memory.
The journey ended at Heidelberg,
where is located the famous old castle
of that name.
The closest attention of the audi
ence was held throughout and all were
well pleased.
GR Adj ATING EXEREISES