The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1903-02-27

=" there came the sound of revelry by night" only
to be broken by the news that two OF Europe's
greatest masters of the art of war were preparing
to grapple in a death struggle next day on the
ever memorable field of Waterloo. The battle
| field is not far from Brussels-the Lion of Water
loo looking complacentely over the field which
Wellington beheld that gloomy night after the
battle as he remarked to Butcher that there is
only one thing in the world sadder than a great
! victory, and that one thing is defeat" The
Iron Duke" doubtless had more tenderness in
his nature than the " Man of Destiny" Anyhow,
you come away from Waterloo full of thought
and speculation about some things which hap.
pened around about there.
1t is not a very long ride from Brussels to
Antwerp, the other Belgian city at which
stopped on my way to Holland. Antwerp is a
busy city and especially interesting to those who
are interested in shipping and commerce. They
have fine large docks; and ships are coming and
going loading and unloading all hours of the day
and night
From Antwerp you may reach the Belgian bor-
der in short time and then you are in one of the
most picturesque countries of the Continent.
suppose nearly every one has formed some sort of
an lued Vi hOIluuu IlcLuTeS Oh CuOSS great DutCl
windmlls, the clnals the bikes, and the familiar
figure of the Dutch peasant woman have rendered
the general appearance of the Netherlands familiar
to every school-boy. The Boer war has aroused
an interest in the minds of many for these prim.
tive Dutchmen.
Holland is a very interesting country. Its his
tory has been tumultuous one and of no little
account has been its influence upon politics, re-
nd ToJo tbo Il,
suppose, the shadow only of its former SELF it
ELECTS sympathy for what its past has been. The
people are kind, courteous, hospitable, honest,
and Industrious They possess an innate shrewd-
ness which is predominating trait of the national
character. 1t is a most delightful country in
which to travel; the hotels are good, they put you
up in such fine BEDS and give you such good food
to eat.
The people are vastly different from the Bel
gians. The Latin influence pervades Brussels;
while the Dutch are more Teutonic in their in
stiDcts Rome never succeeded in making felt her
influence to any extent on the country north of
what is now Belgium.
The language spoken by these people is a most
extraordinary one-the words containing a con-
fused mass of consonants. 1 think it was in
Dumas somewhere that read description of
two Norsemen talking. Dumas said it sounded
like pebbles falling on rocks. This might almost
apply to two Dutchmen-especially if they pro-
nounce their words as they are spelled. 1t is
good thing that the word beefsteak is generally
understood the world over.
The Hague is quantity beautiful. Canals wind
their way along the principal streets, here and
there widening at the center squares into pictur-
esque little lakes. This city bears to Holland
about the same relation that Edinburg does to
Scotland, being the center of the aristocratic
element of Dutch life while Amsterdam would
correspond more closely to Glasgow, being the
| home of the trading classes
| Amsterdam is really a very interesting city. 1t
retains much of its pristine commercial glory and
is business center OF that part of the world. The
diamond business is quite an industry; and while
| it may not seem interesting to think of spending
an hour or two in one of these great polishing and
refining factories. were you to go through one OF
them, I am sure you would feel amply repaid for
your time and trouble.
| Amsterdam contains much art that is worth
seeing. know that while " art is long" it is also
tiresome By the time had reached Amsterdam
| If anyone mentioned artgallery to me, 1 imme.
dately became faint One does become tired Of
being dragged into these countless places where
you pass in front of endless works OF the old mas
tiers. Europe surely has art " to burn" However.
there some things you would scarce care to
miss seeing. For one who really understands and
appreciates art, it must be joy and delight to
pass the day in the two great galleries at
Amsterdam.
But after all it is not the apa treasures and an
cient temples of these lands YOU care most about
the chances are you will soon forget them all.
We're 1 to write about them, 1 should have to sit
with open Baedeker in front of me. But no guide.
book is necessary to recall memories of the people,
your experiences. your ludicrous mistakes, and
above all the very humor of the thing.
| B. R.