The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1905-09-06
THE DUTCHWOMAN'S CAP.
II Is Not Only Pretty, but II Denotes
the Wenrer's Wealth.


The caps of the women OF Holland
are not only beautiful, they are full of
Significance and eloquent through their
decoration and jewellng of the worldly
estate and condition of their wearers.
The wealthy burghers wife in Amster-
dam or The Hague or In Dordrecht,
who lives perhaps in one of the numer
Gus fine old sixteenth century houses,
who Is of ancient and respectable 'lin-
cage, who has retnue of buxom
handmaids to do her win and to keep
her home in order, tells of her good for
tune when she walks abroad to take
the air, for she wears beneath mod
ern bonnet her Nuts, the lace of which
Is old, rare and costly and was per-
haps made in Bruges or Brussels or
some famous Flemish convent. Be
meath its delicate gossamer CLEANS the
heavy gold Krullen, and from its horns
or Spiegels depend hanging ornaments
of rich gold set with great cleaning
pearls.
The jeweled Krullen is often of great
age, having been handed down from
mother to daughter for n succession of
generations-an it is on that account
an object Of great value to its wearer.
But if one is impressed by the beau
ty of the headdresses In the large and
important towns of Holland, 1t is only
when visiting the smaller towns and
the villages that the full significance
of the cap makes itself felt. Especial
ly Is this the case in the provinces of
Zealand and Beveland, though in the
north and by the shores of the Zuyder
Zee there are many fascinating caps In
evidence. Thanks to the work of mod
ern artists, the little village of Volen-
dam has been immortalized, and the
world is well acquainted with the cos
tune Of its women and Its sturdy men.
Cleanliness is the keynote in the har-
mOny which Volendam stands for. 1t
Is strikingly apparent in the spotless
cap, as in every detail of the costume,
down TO the white or black polished
Klompers which are universally worn.
Her home, the pride of every Volen-
dam woman, Is pattern of cleanli-
ness befitting its mistress. Her snowy
cap and broidered kerchief are mir
rored in hundred sparkling brasses
or polished plates of china or delft, and
there is not Granny or corner which
does not bear testimony to the thor
oughness with which she has welded
broom or duster.
Wherever one travels in Holland one
finds the cap telling its story. In the
southern provinces in the island of
Bevel one may gather from its length
whether the wearer follows the teach
ings of Luther or Is a member of the
Roman Catholic church. Is the child
an orphan? Then by her cap her con-
dition shall be made known. Has
some one member of the family gone
to join the great majority? The plain
soft white headdresses Of the women
folk shall tell the pathetic story
through the depth Of their linen bor-
ders and their lack Of lace.
At the kermls, at the weddings, at
the jolly country dances where men
and maids gather to make merry, the
young marriageable women tell of
their single state, for ON their fore
heads they wear an ornament of gold
called the naald. This piece Of jewel
ry Is fastened to the Krullen; 1t covers
the left temple and broadens out to
its end on the forehead between the
eyes. Thus glance at the young
women's caps Is all that Is needed to
acquaint the interested swains as to
whether the fair charmers are in the
marriage market, which simplifes
matters rably.-Delineator