Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1898-06-01
soso imposing in his geography book at
COLOGNE

| nome.
COLOGNE.
In Cologne the cathedral and the
museum in which is the wellknown
picture by Gustav Richter OF Queen
Louise, mother Of Emperor William Of
Germany, are the chief points Of interest.
A drive or walk through the city is also
interesting on account of some of the
modern statues and buildings.
The cathedral is claimed to be "the
most magnificent Gothic edifice in the
world, and the foundations date from
the thirteenth century, although in the
ninth century there had already been a
chapel on the same site. 1t has been
through all kinds OF hardships, being
converted into a hay magazine by the
French in 1896, and having been quite
abandoned after having been covered by
temporary roof during the fourteenth
and fifteenth centuries. The Kings
Frederick William III and " saved it
from entire destruction, and the cele-
bration OF its completion took place
under William | in 1880.
In Cologne we bought a new Baedeker
of Belgium and Holland, preparatory to
our proposed trip there on our way to
Paris.
AMSTERDAM.
Amsterdam is very interesting city,
one OF the quaintest and most interesting
in Holland. Over here the distances are
measured by the time it takes from one
hv ba mi bop
we asked how far Amsterdam was from
Cologne we were told that it was five
hours by the express, and nearly six with
slow train. Thus one always hears of
Dresden as being three hours from Ber
lin, Geneva eleven from Paris, etc.
When it came to making hotel arrange
ments in Holland we found that they are
run on a little different plan, and that
there is difference as to meals. Their
breakfasts are more civilized, according
to the American way of thinking, for
beside he regulation coffee, tea or choco-
late (they know how to make cocoa up
there and rolls, we were treated to cold
roast beef. ham, eggs and cheese. The
fine pasturage and cattle make beef,
buttermlk and cheese excellent and rea-
sonable.
Amsterdam is intersected by many
canals which divide the city into ninety
islands. The main canals are tianked by
handsome elm trees and some fine houses.
All the houses are built on piles, and are
usually high and narrow and out Of the
perpendicular. The view from some of
ba hri5 ic ipt,, but
the houses leaning each at a different
angle.
The houses being SO narrow, there is
not much space to waste with staircases,
so most OF them are not more than two
feet broad and almost perpendicular.
The depth of the water in the canals is
from three to three and one-half feet,
with layer OF mud of the same depth.
The water is renewed frequently by water
from an arm of the great North sea canal,
which is about fortysix miles long,
reaching from Amsterdam to the Heder
entirely across the province OF North
Holland. 1t WAS built i'll 1Sl9-25, and is
100 feet wide aud over sixteen feet deep;
it cost 100000 fiorins (S3 $3.50, o0O). Sew
the harbor; on one is the new Central
railway station.
The main square, called the Dam, is he
centre of the city, and is surrounded by
some fine buildings-the royal palace,
the exchange, the New Church, and a
seaman's home.
There are several galleries of ancient
a n 6erp nj in AIMS ord bni
the most important is the Ryks museum.
1t covers three acres of ground, and con-
tains several collections of various kinds,
such as collections of Dutch national
costumes, war implements, Dutch car
riages and sledges, glass and jewelry,
examples OF Dutch architecture, porce-
lains, engravings and the famous collec
tions of paintings.
The gallery contains over LOO works,
principally of the Dutch school. Rem
brandt's "Night Watch" is the gem OF the
whole collection; there are also other Of
his paintings, but too numerous to
mention.
HARLEM AND THE HAGUE.
When we got to Harlem we imagined
we were getting near New York. After
looking around the quaint old town we
had delightful ride to The Hague. The
fine organ in the cathedral at Harlem
we weren't fortunate enough to hear, as
it is played only twice week for an hour
at time. What made the ride from
there to The Hague SO delightful was the
sight we had OF the fields and fields Of
hyacinths and tulips OF every conceivable
color. 1t was just the right time Of year
to see them.
Harlem is the resort OF many retired
merchants, whose pretty country houses
are all named according to the sentiments
of their proprietors, such as "Friendship
and Socia bility", "Without Care" and
s.Pleasure with PeacaN and much