The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-09-17
HOLLAND CHILDREN.
How They Am,lse Themselves in Suin-
mer and in Winter.

How They .Amise Themselves In Suin-
mer and i'll Winter.
The dearest, funniest little country
in the world is Holland, the home OF
the Dutch. As you have probably
heard, the country is a perfect network
of canals. In Amsterdam, the biggest
city of Holland, there are so many OF
them running criss-cross that the city is
divided into so small islands. But more
interesting than anything else about this
country are the children. And such
good times as they have!
These canals have been speaking Of
run down the center of the streets,
taking the place of a driveway, and leav-
ing only a strip of brick pavement OH
each side. A row of trees grow on
each side of the canal. Out here, I'M
der their shade, the children of Amster-
dam play.
Have you ever seen a pair of shoes
worn by these Dutch children? They
are not like ours They are made
of blocks Of wood, shaped like a shoe
and followed out to fit the foot These
shoes are called '.sabots, and il is
very funny to hear lot of young peo-
pie wearing this queer footgear go run
ming down the street, clackety -clack.
Bless me. From a little distance it
sounds as though a whole army of cav
airy were coming up the street!
As there are no stone walls or
ratings along The edge OF the
canals, it is not infreguent that
child falls in. But that
doesn't seem to worry anybody. They
can all swim like little ducks. IL they
bounce into the water they quickly
bounce out again. Sometimes they
scramble out to find that their little sab
OTIS are slowly sailing down the canal.
Then there is much laughing and sholt-
ing till the truant shoes are landed by
means of long stick
1t is in the winter time, however,
that the children of Holland NEST en-
JOY life. Then the canals are frozen
over. and person may travel all
through this quaint country without TAX
ing off his skates The Dutch skates
have long runners, which curl up over
the toe. With this kind they can dc 10
fancy skating, but, then, everything the
Dutch people do is plain and practical
The boys and girls when they skate to-
gether do not go side by side, as we do
in this country. The boy stands right
behind the GIRL and puts his hands
on her waist, keeping step with her
just as soldiers do. In this way the
boy can push the girl along if he does
not think she is going fast enough.
Most all the Dutch boys have skate
sail which is almost diamond shaped,
and is kept spread out by means of
two sticks.
This sail is held against his back.
As Holland is such a low country there
is generally good, strong wind sweep
ing across it, With these sails the boys
go Swimming along over the frozen
canals for miles. And they can sail
as close to the wind, too, as in fine
yacht.
Every one skates in Holland. The
men 20 to work, the women to market
and the children to school on skates.
The Exchange in Amsterdam is
called the Beurs. Once year, at the
end of August, the merchants and bro
kers who transact their business there
are turned out and the place turned
into play ground for the boys. The
building is very old, and, according to a
curious and interesting tradition, the
boys of Amsterdam, while playing
there, over 200 years ago, discovered Il
plot on the part of the Spaniards, TO
capture the city, and so in commemora-
ton of this the boys are allowed one
day in each year to play on the floor
of the Exchange.
The people of Holland are very good
to poor little orphans. There is one
place in Holland where about 1000 or
phans are taken care of. There they
take children, mere babies. and keen
them till they are of age. In the mean
time they teach them any kind OF a
trade they may wish to learn. The
boys are taught to be carpenters, black
smiths cabinet makers, printers. book
binders. etc. The girls are trained to do
all kinds of household work. Then when
they are of age they are ready to battle
with the world If sickness or misfor-