Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1906-03-14
A PEEP AT HOLLAND
MANNERS. CUSTOMS AND cAARAc-
TERisTics or the PEOPLE.

~
ting Holland for the first time" says n
traveller who has recently returned
from n tour OF Europe aud who records
bis Impressions OF Holland and its In
sabitants In New York paper. "is the
taet that large portion OF the country
Is from eight to twenty feet below the
nigh water mark at Amsterdam. In
deed its name, Holland or Hollow
iand, Is derived from its peculiar topo-
graphical connguration. But for the
expenditure OF vast sums OF money and
uhceasing watcbfulness and tireless
industry In maintaining the barriers
against the encroachments OF the son
much OF the country would be sub
merged. Nearly ST0.OO0.OO0 has been
expended In constructing the 1.G0O
tniies or defensive dikes. which seem to
say to the waves. as did King Caaute.
thus far shalt thou come, but no far.
ther'
The Dutch people are generally be-
low the middle stature, inclined to COR
puiency and remarkable for n heavy.
awkward micn. The women have ex-
eeedingiy beautiful complications. Their
skins are OF pure white, but generally
they fail I'm expression and resemble
me waxwork. IL Is not a little re-
markable that they retain their ex-
quisite complications even beyond three
score and ten And yet you would not
call the Dutch women beautiful-their
persons are too short and robust Your
admiration OF then would be much the
same as suggested by the representa-
lions at Mime. Tussaud's or the Eden
Musee.
The faShionable ladies OF Holland
dress like those OF England and Amer
lea, but fashion has little 10 do Ia fhe
rural districts of Holland. The peasant
women wear caps OF immaculate
whiteness. resembling somewhat the
white portion OF the headdress Of our
Sisters OF Charity. fitting closely TO the
head and surmounted by an outer hood
OF wool or silk-this when visiting or
travelling. When at home their head.
dress is an immense hat OF straw near
~ as large as an umbrella, adorned
with representations OF stars. birds.
beasts, etc. Their waists are Of Oxtrav-
agant lengths. and the other portions Of
their dress are stuffed and padded TO n
degree that mocks proportion and sym.
metry. This distinctive and never
changing fashion Is handed down from
mother 10 daughter and is substantially
Just as ii was I'm the days OF the Duke
OF Alva.
The most striking feature OF the
Dutch character is antagonism to dirt
ana filth, the extravaganza efforts 10
insure cleanliness In some Instances
amounting almost TO insanity. II IS
scrub. scrub. scrub. even when the for
eign eye falls TO detect anything obJec-
tionabe. The Dutch housewife sets
apart certain day for the cleansing
Of the bedroom. and upon that day the
bedroom must be cleaned. Even II no
dirt be discernible. sufficient time has
elapsed for its accumulation. she req
sons. Ii is the bedrooms day. and IL
must pass the ordeal.
The lower parts of many OF the
north Holland houses are lined with
white Dutch tiles. and some OF the
rooms are paved with small square
tiles. put together without cement.
The kitchen furniture-in copper. tin.
pewter and Iron-afrords a striking
proof OF the mistress regard for neat
ness In arrangement and cleanliness in
appearance. The beds and tables are
covered with the finest linen, and the
rooms are adorned with pictures and
the yards and gardens with flowers.
The houses In almost every portion OF
the province or north Holland present
a gay appearance. The windows and
doors are generally painted green. and
the most lavish use OF water is induIg-
ed in, not only the windows, but the
entire fronts OF the houses. being wash
ed two or three times each week The
same care is extended 10 the streets in
which the more Opulent inhabitants re-
side
THE traveller is impressed with the
fact that Holland is emphatically a
country or large towns. The larger
towns are surrounded by market gar
dens. many OF which are small. every
inch OF land being cultivated TO the
highest possibility OF productiveness.
These small gardeners do not keep
horses as beasts OF burden. since their
maintenance would involve a too con-
which are as much members OF. the
family as tn sons or daughters. These
dogs are powerful brutes. capable OF
drawing loads out OF all proportion to
| their size.
1.-THE custom OF smoking is so preva-
| lent in Holland that a genuine Dutch
boor. instead OF describing distances
| between placeS nv miles or hours will
say q town or house is so many pipes
away. Thu n man may reach Delft
from Rotterdam in four pipes, but IL
he so on to The Hague he will consume
seven pipes during the journey. All
| Dutchmen of the lower class and not
few in the higher walks of life carry
in their pockets all requisites for smok-
ing-an enormous box holding at least
half a pound OF tobacco. pipe OF
clay or ivory according TO inclination
| or means, instruments to cleanse II, a
pricker to remove Instructions from
the stem, = cover of brass to prevent
sparks or ashes from flying about and
a bountiful supply OF matches \
Dutchman in Holland without n pipe
would be a rara avis. and such pipes!
Some OF them are OF an antiquity which
entities them to veneratiOn. but GER
tainly not 70 respect. and so mon
strous in size that as weapons OF Of
Tense or defense they would certainly
prove formidable.
1.-The chief characteristics OF the
Dutch are patience. ingenuity aud per