The times., 1899-10-29
Two Books About Holland.


the People OF the Netherlands " by Fetrus
Johannes Biloxi, professor of Dutch History
IN the University of Leyden, has appeared.
The first was published in this co.ntry
last year. II carried the history of the
Netherlands from the beginning of their
civilization 10 the beginning Of the IF
teenth century. and was translated by
Oscar Bierstadt and Ruth Putnam. The
present volume continues the mar a We to
the year 1853, and the name OF Ruth Put
nam appears alone as translator The
book contains a genealogical table which
viii be Of value TO the reader in studying
the dynastic conditions Of the feUdal epoch
II the Low Countries.
The history OF any European country dur
ing the fourteenth, fifteenth, and sixteenth
centuries must present an almost incOm-
prehensible mixture ~ names. families, in
terests, and plots 10 she uututored student;
but the present historian makes these as
clear as may be. Tie frivolous may be
struck with the odd iuxtaposition Of names
n one hereditary feud in Holland. that be
tween the Cod and Hook families. There is.
however, 50 much to:eXplain that this vol
ume is little more thau mere chronicle OF
bare facts 1t viii ssrprise some people to
learn that NetherlanzI music as developed
3n the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries woL
q reputation through the civilized world be-
fore the painters Of these provinces were
heard of. As TO literature, there was bur
little OF il. notwithstanding the prominence
OF the great scholar Desiderius Erasmus.
and Of one or two others.
Those who own the first volume Of the
series viii, Of course. add this 20 IT, and
those who have not may well add one or
both volumes 10 their reference Libraries.
CNew York: G. 2. Putnam's Sons $3.50
Per volume).
Holland and the -Hollanders, by Da-
vid S Medium, treats Of the Hollander OF
the present day. and is, in its way, quite
as vel done as the more erudire work OF
Prof Blok 1t is emphaucally a popular
edition, fully illustrated, entertainingly
written. and a sort Of encyclopedia Of the
customs and conditions OF the little country
OF dikes and windmills The binding de-
serves special mention. being blue and
white. ornamented with quaint little hg-
ures characteristic Of the country, and in
the midst Of them a huge tulip
While the style of the author is sinp.e
enough for a child TO understand, the book
is, on the whole, one which adults VIII en-
Soy even more than young people. Il
would be a valuable book to any teacher
Of geography, both for private. personal
reading, and for use in the classroom. It
is g pretty gift book, and viii be inter
esting 70 any student OF current events,
or 10 anyone who expects to travel in Hol-
land. Altogether il should be one OF the
most widely-read books in the seasons
output.
Mr.. Medium explains. among other
things, the government Of Holland, the
educational and the rrn-fTliar h
cd by which the seas encroachmerts ere
resisted. He describes the character.
ways, and dress Of the people. Then he
takes up the various provinces in detail.
The costumes OF the different localities are
carefully described. and there a-e pictures
which give a good idea Of almost all Of
them. Most OF the faces are clean, bright.
3ntelligent-the faces OF the euterprising
yet calm and good -huuored folk who
founded New Amsterdam.
Mr. Meldrum notes the close kinship be-
tween the people Of the Netherlands and
those Of Great Britain, and speaks particu-
larly Of the similarity between the Ian
guaEes Of FriesIand and England. There is
g proverb that Butter, bread, and cheese
IS good English and good Fries, and ii is
said that Scots drovers il Frisian markets
can easily make themselves understood
Scotch and Dutch are more alike than Eng
lish and Dutch, especially when spoken. For
instance the word for lark is 'laverock' in
the one and "laverok' in the other. The
author mentions the fact that Ian Macls-
ren's Drumtochty sketches are finding many
interested readers in Holland. Both Ian
guages have the same cultural sounds and
10 Dutchman would have any trouble in
prolounciug Auchtermuchty.
The part Of the first chapter which treats
of The LCIe life OF the Dutch viii De fasci-
mating 10 anyone who wishes TO know a
foreign people IS they are in their family
lie. The picture is that Of people COM
Portable and happy even though poor. We
have all heard Of the cleanliness Of the
Dutch. though Nr Ncldrum thinks that
this has been somewhat exaggerated. The
burghlrs Of CID New York have bequeathed
70 us Americans many OF our most tooth
come dishes. and their kinEmeu in the old
country sin love good eating. This is
what the present author has 10 say about
Dutch tables.
Dinner Is at amy hour from 5 10 Z. The quail
IT, u THE beef u holland j. not q the best, but
ElUlsr always it is Wrll-cu1Eed and Wei.-~grved-
There Is little mutton used Fish is generally
good all rather difficult 90 get Plaice and salss
and other let tE ara brought round for sale alive,
and when bought are +iIle6 ard cleaned 81 the
door tn rEe E~l-seller. salmon Is served iiG-
slel-a-e.r before tle game and game j. plentiful
" -s l.t really sg and excellent clarlt and hook
Ere iulla 90 t.e family table. 7 lr crown of the
dime 1l eeurst, Is tHe vegetable cooked ac-
ccrolIE o. the national recipe, ''DC not spare
tie butter. and lhe Dutchtnau eats great quau-
tliles lf ti.am- All through dinner. indeed he
cl@aaFerz himself good treucheunau. But he Is
rot gasrulnd. The truth IS that be has earned
r. reIufation st beng great cater by his de-
Lgat lu special fgast--a delight in the viauds
70 Doubt but quite as much in the social and
Festive spirit II fEe occasion The Dutch are q
lomeiy people, though their homeliuess Is bieut
with i1rmality- even as their sentiment Is bIert
Wit cll us la. clszs- They cultivate simple joys
A. their little dinner parties you have excellent
cooking excellent winc. fine old silver and ware.
suc aUciert-yisagCd walters iu white cotton gloves
with loose finger tips buL the guests DO not dress
they carry 1UGE with them sweets oT hduLaus
fnr the children at home. J have little doubt that
Chs kindly habit of carI2 ing home 10 the children
E1ue rleucEto q 80 outing In which they have not
shared accounts foI tie extraordinary number u
local rart.etluur and sweets that have = Tepura-
ton 81. gvlr thc country.
Here comes IN a list Of unpronounceabIe
hnd nearly uuspellable names Of goodies.
A people ai simple JOYS, Thus ii Is natural that
thines 90 e-t and things 90 drink accompany Jhe
tafse--saH et f.aair many fci-itati0gE. They con-
Eratui.t te 500 Algn zaur second cousin pIl alsfes
: neEe-. ~ sleu yCur uieaes baby IS shortened"
Or eH f-Hr eg.n birthday and iaf egzen other
eTeE-s Fau would rather NOT remember: and births
su- hetHratlais, marriages, au upward stop iu
4ler promotion ta a university degfre-aE have
their -tle tlast- aud particular ceremonies To
E7ne families j. l- s-i. tle custom 90 eat ''als-
cults and mice" 81 @ hrth-tae mice s-saerrd
caE-NaN -sesl- smooth % glH is born. TslzII ii
5 boy There 5 Do brides cake ~ q marriage
but tH1rc are lrl.l-uiseIs. ur marriage sweets
which sra tied up 30 square white bass Irttcrrd
''Ergu bride and ariL# groom. lfl as el.d .i:u
Ir1 ala green -ar-Hlst ribbon trHd- rHe color of
love. and green. % hope ara are given t0 the
a. |r- ID