The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-08-30

They Work Very Hard and Are Care.
full Housewives.
New York Tribune.

New York Tribune.
In little Holland the hardest work seems
wearing a crown or pulling peat boat on a
canal. This latter we actually saw in Gron-
ingen, city in the northern part of Hol-
land. 1t was large boat, heavily laden. A
man, probably the husband, was in ii,
steering 1t safely along past other similar
freight boats, while a woman was on the
towpath pulling with all her might. The
tow line was attached to a sort of wooden
yoke fastened to her shoulders and waist.
Market day is peculiarly woman's day,
and what a busy scene 1t makes! In Holland
there are always scores and scores of fish
women, with their two pals of fish hung
from wooden Jokes placed over their shout
ders. There are women with butter, women
with eggs. women with fruit, women with
vegetables; again others presiding over
rows Of long tables covered with cheese.
There Is always table or booth where
flowers are sold, for every one, even the
comparatively poor, must have a bouquet Of
fresh flowers. One Is sure to find table
of sweetmeats for the children. We bought
some delicious ice cream sandwiches on one
of these occasions, consisting of two of the
daintieSt waters with q layer Of ice cream
between them. Besides the regular market
days, every morning fishwomen may be
found near the railroad station or other con-
venient places selling Their wares. They
must take what they can set for the fish,
and on bad days, when buyers are scarce.
they get little enough.
The good housewife sometimes sends the
maid to market, but more generally she
goes in person to select the supply of fresh
fruit and vegetables for her family. In
deed the lady of the house in both Holland
and Germany follows the commendable Gus
tom of looking after the many wants of her
family in person. even when her wealth and
position do not make this necessary. For in
stance she will let the girl set the table for
luncheon, but after the family have gath
cred my lady herself makes the tea and
cuts and spreads the bread 1 said "cuts
and spreads the bread" This should be re-
versed, for, in reality, after spreading a
napkin her lap she takes the loaf of
bread, spreads one end with butter then
cuts off a slice, spreads again, cuts another
slice, and on, all the time holding the
loaf in her hand Once when we were enter
tanned at luncheon where there were two
children our hostess passed US the butter
and some slices of bread, explaining that
she had heard that in America it was Gus
tomary for each guest at table to spread
his own bread. For her husband and chill
dren she had made the sandwiches as usual
The little girl, watching us break off bits of
bread with the fingers. either initiated us
unconscioHsly or preferred our method to
that of cutting her sandwich into neat little
squares, as Dutch etiquette required How
ever, her conduct did not pass unobserved
or without rebuke. Her mother reminded
her that If she had not learned to eat prop
erly she would have to leave the table.
ventured to remark that we had set the
| child a bad example. oh" she said 1T is
| all right for you ladies, but Sientie knows
better