Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1899-09-27
VIEWS OF EUROPE.
Holland and Northwestern Ger-
many.
i-ss-l-s-s-ss-ss.ssssss

many. T
!:
Especial letter to the mes-Republi-
can.
We have heard 30 much concerning
the quaint and curious side of the Hol-
lander and his country that we are
likely to have gaineda very wrong idea
concerning both. In the mind of the1
reader of books of travel the Dutchman|
is clothed in antique costume and
wooden shoes and his country is COW
cred over with dykes and wind mills.
But 1t Is only in remote country places
and fishing villages that the old pc
culiar costumes are now worn, and
while dykes and the fascinating great
sailed windmillss are very thickly scat
tered over parts of the little country
there are other localities where neither
are to be seen. The people on the streets
OF the larger cities of Holland are
dressed we'll and in as good taste as
the people of our American cities They
are intelligent, energetic and modern.
They ride on motorcycles and use
acetylene gas light. The existence of
Holland as settled country is in itself
a testimony to the great energy of the
people, for 1t Is their construction and
made of very unpromising material.
For while there are, as before stated
large areas in the eastern provinces
above the level of the sea the portion
of the country most fertile, most thick
Ply populated and which is ready of ac-
cess to the commerce of the world is
that part wrested from the ocean, the
great ramparts which wall out the
waves of the North Sea are the creative
means by which the land has been
made. If other testimony were needed
to the energy and Intelligence of these
five million people it is offered in the
accession and successful government of
| the colonies in the East and West In
dies with population of more than
thirty million. Some of the worlds
most noble examples of courageous de-
| fiance of tyranny and oppression and
heroic fighting for freedom are to be
found among the Dutch. In science.
too, the Dutchman has won place and
among the great masters of art nc
names are given a higher rank than
| those of some of the sons of Holland.
| So. while the fact that the keels OF
| ships float above the chimneyS of the
lhouses, and the waves of the ocean roll
| thirty feet above the ground on which
the people tread make his country tc
be of peculiar interest. vet these things
are forgotten in our contemplation OF
the Hollander himself and his worth.
Cultivated fields are seldom seen in
western Holland. The grea area of the
| land is pasture and the pastures ar
1 full Of black and white cattle. The
making of butter and cheese is the
common industry of the country people
Roads in Holland ara exceptionally
/ good. They are usually well paved ant
hills being very few cycling becomes
recreation. All heavy freight is carried
on the canals and there is no drayagt
on the roads. Two horses hitched tt
"a wagon are never seen. In fact horses
are few and not much used Dog carts
are innumerable. The dogs are of al
sizes and colors. Little dogs that woult
be thought too small for any service
haul cart of considerable size. Some
times a cart has four dogs, often oni
one or two. They all wear muZzles an
show much interest in the work. IL tn
cart is heavily loaded the driver walk
by the side. but on the return trip h
rides. He uses 70 lines but guides hi
team by yells and Whistles In wester
Holland very little grain is raised bti
in the northeastern provinces the grow
ing of wheat and oats is carried en- ex
tensiyely. AS the farmer may turn tn
water onto the land at any time fror
the bitches he is practically independ
ent of rainfall. I have never seen fine
wheat nor heavier yield than in tn
province of Fronngen. near the west
Tern border of the country. Even on tn
I. larger farms the primitive methods j
agriculture prevail. In this respect tn
Hollander is certainly behind the times
9 He cuts his grain With scythe and nj
, wife and daughters do the binding.
] have seen only two steam threshin
!. machines at work in the 500 miles c
cycling through Holland and German,
but threshing with fails has beer :
r common as to be no more noticed. Th
people of Holland seemed TO me 1
/, know how TO live In comfort. The
work hard, but in the poorest district
e they lack entirely the duh and overbui
: eiened appearance of the German peas
S ants. Not only from an economic stane
o point but in every way, the HOLLANDS
: is wealthy as compared to the German
/ thought when IN Holland that fare
poorly at inns and hotels, but durin
: my experience in Germany nave ne
:; occasion to change my opinion. Fro
a desire TO get a true estimate of u
Z, common life and the customs of II
: people have avoided patronizing tn
7 hotels where English is spoken ar
: English customs and service obtai1
!. The German eats five times every da
and his bill of fare for the three prime
pal meals is correspondingly decrease
Breakfast according to custom. meal
a cup of coffee and a plate of hutters
e bread. After my ordinary morning al
petite has been satisfied the Germs
:. host has commonly said: lit must
that You eat only three times day
: White bread comes on special order
: the inn The peasants bread is mac
: of bran and rye. 1t is black, not brow
:, and is also eaten by the horses. We
: covered over with butter it has not :
= i'll taste For regular fare t would vel
= soon have no relish. In Schleswig- Ho
J stein. away from the cities. milk flu
= nished for drinking is first boiled.
9 have no fondness for boiled milk, az
latter being victimi2eu number
: times | tried asking for cold milk. wi
q the emphasis on the adjective. AS tn
n only resulted in the same article cooli
u / gave up in despair. The question
: drink becomes a very serious one TO =
Z traveller who does not use liquors in