New-York tribune., 1902-03-16
SUNDAY IN HOLLAND.
HOW ME yROUW" AND "MYN HEER"
SPEND THEIR TIME on THE
SARRATH

Many unfavorable criticisms have been made in
respect to the European method of spending Sun
day, but believe the Holanders at least can make
a brave defence of their time honored custom of
venerating their Sabbath. said recently returned
| traveller
| ON Zoddag' quiet hush seems to fall upon the
! land OF windms and dykes the great sleepers-
| wagons Carts cease their rumbling over the
cobbled streets. The 'BoOmpjes Qittle tree street,
| is quiet though every talks (shp) had left
its quaint port for distant shores for here the
| River Mas lie the steamers for America, India.
| England and other foreign shores. Along the canals
! the squarely built boats have been scrubbed ana
polished and scrubbed again, to immaculate neat
| ness. The little curtains the cabin windows are
! spotless, and at his sits the skipper.
quietly smoking his long pipe from Gouda the pipe
| of peace indeed
"One Sunday the chimes from the copper dome
of the old Catholic Church on the Wynhaven
were ringing out their melody, me Vrouw and
myn Heer, arm in arm, led through what
seemed an endless maze of streets, forming gro
! tesque vistas bridges and through lanes lined
on either side by quaint old houses
Here last sand my good host. but
| rubbed my eyes in vain for nowhere did l
evidence of a church. a Of houses still more
fantastic in architecture than those had just
passed alone confronted me. Smiling, myn Heer
opened a little door, and passed through be-
tween narrow walls. then a courtyard until final
ly with reverent uplifting OF the hat. myn Heer
made way for pass. Here separated. and,
led by the quaintest little old woman in the world
me Vrouw and l were shown to our seats or bet
ter said, chairs, old rush bottom seats that would
delight the heart of antique miSer. Further
comfort was bestowed upon us by This seIfsame
gentle dame, in the shape OF a stool stove with
the bit of turf all aglow. For this kindness, and
kindness It was, the damp old church chilled
one through and through We dropped a 'dubbeltie'
Gour American cents into her hand and then set
tied ourselves for the service, madam arrang-
ing her little box OF peppermints her bottle OF
loEne and her small change for service, the first
to be passed along TO her friends and neghbors
THREE CHURCH COLLECTIONS
The body of the church filled by the women
of the congregation, the seated In circle
of high pewS. believe this custom arose when
defence necessary. for you must know this
church 'Remonstrant hidden away. built be-
tween the walls OF the houses OF sympathzers and
It's existence kept secret during the famous &c
clesiastcal conflict between the 'Remonstrant' and
the Contra -Remonstrant.' during the life of Olden
Barneveld
Imagination ran rife, I sat there. facing the
'ouderlangen (elders and dlakenen' (deacons).
who seated in row upon nigh backed chairs. be
meath the pulpit looked patrarchiaI indeed. their
Bibles before them chained their desks
we sang strange long forgotten melodies from
books Of fabulous value, the whole notes soar
ing and stretching their musical vocabulary to
suit the Dutch intonation. and. far above the
music. rang my hosts deep bass Time held no
terrors for him. He finished before the others and
quietly closed his book and awaited the end
Then down the aisle came the young men Sc
cCted from the congregation to- fll the office Of
coNectanteu, each wearing full evening dress and
carrying in his hand "A long. long rod with a black
velvet bag suspended from the end. In my excite
mcut dropped all of the coin with which madam
had been so kind as 20 provide me before leaving
home into the bag thrust beneath my nose. hut
great my chagrin when for a second and a
third time these selfsame fcstivcy clad youth pre-
Sented that yaWnirg mouth to be fed. first for the
poor. second for the missions and lastly for the
church.
To say that tho sermon was interesting 10 me
would he 10 tell bare untruth, for did not uu-
derstand one word. hut to say that the sermon was
lonC-how many heads that blessed sermon was
provided with do not know. Of the frStlvS
seCondlys and thirdlys but do know that the ser