The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-07-22


his linguistic powers. and the little Gallo
bridal couple had to be content with what
they could see: which was quite SUFFICIENT
eeefng that they had each other
We noy returned to the yacht and found
that little tables covered With spotless
white clothes had been set BY our chairs
the size being for two or four, as the case
might be. An excellent lunch was served
At a moderate price.
Meanwhile our yacht had been making
Its way through the canal to Monnikendam.
our next stopping place. We were given .
half hour to walk through the town, while
our yacht went around 1t. Monnikendam.
which dates back to at least the year 1000
A. D., Is called q dying town." and has
but little of its former Importance. It once
had considerable commerce. but when the
great canal to Amsterdam was opened some
years ago. 1t saw its trade diverted to the
larger city. This canal is fifty miles long,
deep enough for ocean steamers Of any size,
and wide enough for two OF the largest to
direct from deep water and avoid the shall
lows Of the Zuydcr Zee, for which reason
1t has been Of inestimable advantage to
Amsterdam.
A Funeral Procession.
AAAS SoiAOuS OAQ lOWA RlEbcubo l4o ace
ture so noticeable In Rotterdam, Of houses
leaning far out Of perpendicular, In con-
sequence of the settling OF the piles dris an
beneath them. The story Of the TOWNS
decay was intensified by funeral process
sion slowly passing from the village
church to the adjacent yard. the coffin
with its black pail borne upon the shoul-
ders of stalwart men, and the male mourn
orr n ~ M
carefully brushed silk hats following.
Most OF our party stopped at a curious
shop crowded with antiques Of all de-
scriptions in silver, pottery, etc. The pro-
prietor and his assistant had sufficient
command of broken languages other Than
their own to take in a handsome SUN of
money, no doubt at a good profit, but in
many instances Offering rare bargains ac-
cording to our standards OF value. We
certainly would not part with our fine old
Dutch brooch of exquisitely carved ivory
set in solid silver OF quaint pattern and
undoubtedly genuine antiquity, for treble
its cost, even regarding it as an article OF
merchandise, and saying nothing OF its
sentimental value as a souvenir.
Our walk was continued, and we came
to our boat lying on the border of .he z sc
and re-embarked to cross to Marken. AS
We left the little town behind the beauty
OF the landscape formed by the receding
shore was indelibly impressed upon is.
The curving, dixie bound land Of vivid
green, checked with canals and hedges,
with here and there a strong armed wind
mill towering aloft, formed, as 1t lay
bathed in bright sunshine, a picture that
well might compare with that which in
spired the proverb See Naples and Gle"
But we were soon beyond this and at
the island, a peculiar ward OF the STATE,
which has felt the lapse Of centuries less.
perhaps, than any other part Of Holland.
Possibly three or four hundred souls live
in the queer houses which, when near the
shore, are raised on a framework OF piles
to guard against foundations. But few
men are to be seen by the tourist. as near
ly all go OF Monday morning in their fish
ing boats to be gone for the week AS we
land. the solitary policeman allotted to the
island joins US for protection against the
importantly Of the swarm of children that
at once surround u.s. Otherwise they would
be little short of banditti when traveller
approached, but the guardian of the law
reduces them to a comparatively quiet con-
dition, unless some one with camera has
yielded to the temptation OF those who
have learned to pose for q national group.
Then each member of the tableau clamors
for reward with no uncertain sound, albsit
in a strange tongue. We notice the high.
tight-fitting white caps, from each side {. :.
which one long faxen curl escapes, and
bright-colored vests Of the women. and are
shown how the young children are dressed
alike, save that the marchild has circular
spot embroidered in red on top of his
white cap. These tight caps form dis
tinct crease in the neck. Equally eharac-
teristic are the orientally voluminous knee
breaches of the men and larger boys.
Qunint Houses Worth Seeing.
We are given free access to some speci-
men houses, the proprietors of which are
pretty sure to present horny palm for
contributions as We leave, but the sight is
worth the small coin which satisfies them.
1t is a wonder how they keep warm, al
though the houses are tightly built, and
well coated with tar on the outside, as tn.
only place for fire is small hole in thu.
floor, where smolders a tiny blaze, ov.x
which food is cooked. There are no CHM
neys. a trapdoor in the roof, worked by
cord, serving to release an excess of smoke
if not needed within for curing fish in the
loft. The beds are in the wall, as noticed
in Brock, only here the one for the chill
dren is lower cupboard as it were, with
a door beneath the bunk of their parents
They can be slowed in here very snugly.
The element of neatness is naturally never
SO conspicuous in a fishing village as in a
dairying community, and still there is a
brave effort at tasteful display in the great
number Of plates and dishes of blue Dutch
ware hanging from the walls. These rep
resent the accumulations of generations
Each house that We entered had thus al
most the appearance of a shop; We. not
one piece was for sale. We were also
shown the deliberately embroidered we'd
ding vests that have come down as heir
looms from an indefinite period to bedeck
one bride after another among this con-
sentative people. Outside the door is an
array OF family wooden shoes of varying
sizes, suggesting the entrance to a mosque,
though not for the same reason. On high,
among the rafters, hang the abundant
fishing nets which gain the livelihood for
the family.
As there are, Of course. no good wells.
rain water is used for drinking. This is
carefully husbanded against possible time
Of drought, and cannot be spared for
washing. Hence articles for the laundry
are given first course in sea water, and
taken to the more nearly fresh water of u
canal by the patient, hard-working women,
to be rinsed.
There are two Protestant churches, one
of which has the village school connected
with it. 1t would seem that one might
suffice, but as the same can be said Of
many n New England village that finds
need for an even larger number, with no
more inhabitants, there is no room for
criticism.
The most primitive feature Of the place
is, without doubt, the cemetery, which is
simply a large mound in which tie bodies
are inferred without Distinguishing. marks,
SO far as can be discovered
The people themselves are Tot on the
whole prepossessing. Some OF the girls
have q wholesome rnunilness nf form and