New-York tribune., 1903-03-22
Good 6fmeS in Holland.

This Is about the time that Holland mammas are
hacking away the skates and sleds and winter togs
which the little folks have thoroughly enjoyed
the whole winter long. From long before Christ
until only a little while ago, almost any day
and anywhere might have beheld = scene like
this in the picture other villages have their
parks and commons, the Holland towns each have
their Waterways which with the first cold snap
become the most delightful skating places imagn-
able.
And from that time on long the Ice lasts.
these are the pleasure grounds CT young and old
alike Women bring their knitting. and the needles
sy swiftly in and out they swing gracefully On
their skates in the long the Hollanders love
Old men, so fat would think they could hardly
walk. skating races with each other. With
young girls and scarcely any winter snort IS
thought Of that cannot be INDUCED in the ice
and for children. they learn skate almost
they walk. They seem take It
does q fish to water, and feel little fear.
The small boys wear biz biousey trousers. which
q distance sled make II difficult some
times 10 distinguish them from girls. All have the
brightest colors. both boys girls. stretch
OF shining ice with the snow covered sand hills in
the distance. the of great gaunt vyindu1ilIs
waving against the deep blue sky. and the many
colored little moving figures giving life to 1t ALL is
one Of the prettiest scenes one can imagine.
Attle folks do always have skates Of their
very own. 5Ust their funny little wooden
shoes. They often learn on those Of Il Erorn-u0
brother or sister, and keep the skates in usa
from early morning till late at night for skating
BY moonlight is considered the finest sort Of snort
They have little chairs. and even stools shod with
Zee runners when their Tapas cannot afford steek
eleedJe or sled propelled with iron-spiked sticks.
Sometimes they harness dogs 30 their little
sleoges and drive about like lords and strange to
say the dogs know more about avoiding the danger
Gus places in the ice than the grownups some
times. DOG has often been known 10 take The bit
IN his mouth and. despite his small drivers pro-
tests and punches with his ice9oIe insist upon
going well around a place wEicn would afterward
he found 10 he unsafe. Usually the scouts tfat
employed 10 test the ice keep such places covered
with straw reeds.
Stalls made Of punches Of reeds tied c!nsa TO-
Eether break the wind. CT even rough portabia
shelters Of boards scattered here and th-re
town 10 town IN these stalls o. inns ore can got
hot meal Ct something hot to drink especially q
sort OF s9ced mill, fun of ansese-d t:l:t Ht,:c
folks IN Holland especially love Maps are made
OF the waterways with the position OF these shei-
tiers marked for the use If skaters
A favorIte sport Is skim over the i-o In hands
OF a dozen or more. hehimd the either. each
taking his lea deT. because the head one e
the row gets all the wind. Sometimes thev OIL
hold HANDS ~ even apron strings. bur II they can
put their pennies together and get = skaiirC noe
no prouder Of children can t,e found the world
over.
Skating poles look verE Ike slender harher,s
poles OF different lengths with knobs or each ,,s
They are red and hite OF any ,oio- tf.ofr small
owners may desire. and 50 precious are they CON
sidered that they Often nj Snusc!cI u, in
bed with little Hans Gretchen ssn.r The dream
fairies have at !ast sh-J Their tired eyes On the
Ice world and all its pleasures
game that the nttle people @: Holland es-