Sistersville daily oil review. [volume] (Sistersville, W. Va.) 1902-1905, 1902-08-26
WONDERFUL BROCK
THE ORIGINAL SPoTLESS TOWN IS
IN NORTHERN HOLLAND.


Far I'D in northern Holland among
the bikes and canals Of the little king
dom hes Brceck, the original Spotless
Town. The palings Of the fences of
Brock are sky blue. The streets are
paved with shining bricks Of many col
ors. The houses are rose colored,
black, gray. purple, light blue or pale
green. The doors are painted and gid
ed. For hours vol may not see soul
In the streets or at the windows. The
streets and houses. bridges. windows
and barns show neatness and bril-
liancy that are absolutely painful. At
every step q new effect is disclosed,
new scene is beheld, as if painted upon
the crop curtain Of stage. Every
thing is minute, compact, painted,
spotlcss and clean. In the houses or
Brock for cleaning purposes you Will
find big brooms, little hroOms, tooth
brushes, aqua FORTS, whiting for the
window panes, rouge FOR the forks anu
spoons, coal dust for the copper, emery
for the iron utensils, brick powder for
the floors ard even small Spin;ers or
wood with which to pick out the tiny
bits Of straw in the cracks between the
bricks. Here are some Of the rules OF
this wonderful town:
Citizens must leave their shoes at the
600r when entering a house
Before or after sunset no one ig allowed
to smoke excepting with a pipe having
cover so that the ashes will not be scat
tered upon the street
Any one crossing the village on horse
back must get out OF the saddle and lead
the horse.
A cuspidor shall be kept by the front
door of each house, where 1t may be ac-
cessible from the window.
It Is forbidden to cross the village In
carriage or to drive animals through the
streets.
In addition to these established rules
it is the custom for every citizen who
sees leaf or bit Of straw blown be-
fore his house by the wind to pick 1t
I'D and throw it into the canal. The
people go 500 PAGES out Of the village
to dust their shoes. Dozens Of boys
are paid to blow the dust from be-
tween the bricks in the streets four
times an hour. In certain houses the
guests are carried over the threshold
so as not to soil the pavements. At
one time the mania for cleaning in
Brock reached such point that the
housewives of the village neglected
even their religious duties for scrub
bling and washing. The village pas Hr.
after trying every sort Of persuasion,
preached a long sermon. in which he
declared that every DutchWoman who
had faithfully fulfilled her duties to-
ward GCd III this world would find in
the next house packed full OF furni-
ture and stored with the most various
and precious articles Of use and orna-
meut. which, not being distracted by
other Occupations, she would be able
to brush. wash and polish for all ctcr-
hty. The promise Of this sublime
recompcuSp and the thought Of this
extreme happiness filled the women
with such fervor and piety that for
months thereafter the pastor had no
cause for complaint.
Around every house in Brock are
buckets. benches. rakes, hoes and
stakes all colored red. blue, white or
yellow. The brilhancy and variety Of
eolors and the cleanliness. brightness
and miniature pomp Of the place are
| wonderful. At the windows there are
embroidered curtains. with rose COL
ored ribbons. The blades. bands and
| nails of the gayly painted windmills
shine like silver. The houses are
| brightly vanished and surrounded
with red and white ratings and fences.
The panes Of glass in the windows are
| bordered by many lines Of different
hues. The trunks Of all the trees ara
painted gray from root to branch
Across the streams are many little
wooden bridges, each painted as white
as snow. The cutters ar" ornamented
| with sort Of wooden fcStoon, per
forated like lace. The pointed ia
cadCs are Surmounted with Il small
weathercock. little lance or some
thing resembling a bunch of flowers
Nearly every house has two doors.
one in front and one behind. the last
| for everyday entrance and exit and
the former opened only on great occa'
sionS, such as births, deaths and mar
riageS.
The gardens are as peculiar as the
houses The paths are hardly wide
enough =. in. One could put
his ar - fowerbeds. The
dair!. barely hold two
per$' ,Ogether The lit
tie l.: I'll scarcely reach
to thu ur-year-old child
Betwcci =, and the flower
beds run ll,.... ,....alS whchSeem made
TO float paper boats. They are crossed
by miniature wooden bridges, with
colored pillars and parapets. There
are ponds the size Of Il bath. which
are almost concealed by lilliputian
boats tied with red cords to blue
stakes, tiny staircaSes and miniature