Evening star., 1898-04-29
ECONOMY IN HOLLAND.
The Practice is Brought Down to
Fine Point by the Dutch.

From the New York Times.
Economies among the poorer classes are
practical. One sees Consistently, when walk
ing through the streets where laborerS live,
signs with Boiling Water for Sale" Fire
for Sale" The fire Is smoldering turf
for lighting larger fires. thereby saving
kindling or d "briguet"-a glowing coal,
which will keep the kettle of boiling water
purchased still boiling for an hour help to
warm the room or fry an egg. The hot
water, taken in quantities, ashes clothes
and enables the wife to scrub, without
using a ire in any way. The hot water
trade IS very practical and popular, espe-
cfally on Mondays and Saturdays.
In ofhceS. post offices and banks the noon
day meal consists chiefly of coffee. At the
hour of II you will see a maid or boy run
in with kettle of boiling water; this kept
going over spirit lamp briguet is soon
converted into coffee by any of the ladies
that may be employed in the office, or by
the wife of the jahitor IL there are no
ladies. The clerks pour out for them
selves. This meal is called "koffie,' and
has no other name. Business men who
Keep late hours return after O'Clock
dinner to the bank or office, remaining till
. O'Clock. Banking hours in The Hague are
from to II in the mornings and from 9
to in the evenings.
On the other side, the extravaganees of
the Dutch often make what is usually
thought in other countries to be luxury
become necessity. Even in simple house.
holds there. will be AN array of outside
helpers, such as a man to come for an
hour or two daily to do errands, blacken
shoes, clean knives, open the door during
visiting hours, and women helpers, who
polish silver and brassWork and prepare
vegetables for the cook While the ladies
Will not allow servant to visit the store
room alone-so afraid are they that an egg
might be taken.they give out In q reckless
baking griddle eakesa0r roasting beef, the
butcher never daring toiaeave an ounce of
fat on any meat, for fat and bone have
cut off. weighed by the housekeeper and
declined, at the price OF, the leaner meat.
There Is hardly woman who does not
demand the weighing ofthe meat when 1t
dered 1T. If one by CHANGE makes call In
the morning. one secs these little domestic
arrangements behind the scenes, for O
Dutch woman takes great pride in the
regulating OF her household arafrs, ana
would not think 1t necessary to apologize
II the servant ran in with the meat-which
is always delivered neatly on plate-for
her to inspect. Buttefnis not cheap. but
is used with the greatest of layishness, on
account of the national abhorrence of fat.
For that reason muttons4s never eaten IN
dent wishes his "joint', II must be ordered
ahead. Magnificent sheep are raised here
for market but they all go-with the
oysters-to England.
most superfiuous household expense,
surely. A man Genes daily, weekly or fort
nightly, as the clock requires, and winds
all that the household boasts Of. He also
sets them and keeps them in order, for
given sum in the year, find this rather
good idea. and there are probably fewer
trains missed in Holland. especially by the
ladies Of the household, than in any other
country in the world.
The ingenuity of the Dutch Is keen ana
amusing, such as tying the cows tail to
her hind legs while the cow Is being milked,
so that she can neither kick the pail over.
lash the peasant in the face, nor Whisk
away that particularly friendly fly that sits
on her back. During the rainy season they
put q canvas covering over the cows back
strapped on like saddle. Being oiled. It
sheds water. 1t Is funny to see hie OF
cows vending their way. under the evening
garments over their backs, for they often