Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1908-06-24

1000 to 5000 ducks, each in pens
! bordering on the canaD of 500 each.
IONS of small sardine-like fish are
/ ied TO them until such time as they
are ready for market, when they are
! quarantined to get rid of the fishy
flavor. Enormous quantities of ducks
| eggs are used in confectionery and
IN the making of delicious bread.
was Informed that the annual profit
from each bird averaged so cents, so
that the MISUNDERSTANDING the smell
Is not to be sneezed at OF course.
II one travels to Volendam by the
railway this unpleasantness arising
from the duck farms is considerably
iessened; but, for all that, the Trek
schuit, l am happy to say, still flour.
ishes.
The habitable part of the village is
built on either side of the dyke, which
forms barrier to keep out the waters
OF the Zuyder Zee, and is about mile in
length. Midway along the dyke is the
harbor that shelters every weekend an
enormous fishing fleet This fleet,
together with the tiny cottages all
huddled together about the harbor and
the tsher-folks in their quaint cos
tunes, are a source of immense at.
traction to artists of whatever nation.
| atty.
Many impressions by different
writer's have been published, but none.
to my mind, gives a full idea of the
charm of the place. No one could
ever be dull in Volendam. What with
the bright red roofs and gayly-painted
doors and windows of the cottages.
the white or tawny sails of the fishing
smacks, the endless variety of coolr
in the clothing worn by the natives.
the fascinatingly beautiful reflections
of the shipping in the water of the
harbor, even the filthy canals contrib
uting their quota of weirdly-distorted
images of the many-gabled and tiled
houses on their banks, a veritable
feast Of color is spread before the be-
holder.
The population of Volendam is al.
most entirely Roman Catholic; hence,
Sunday is a regular show day, and on
that day the people are most assid.
uous in their church-going, many of
the houses displaying patriotic flags.
| We were fortunate in having a beau
tifully fine Sunday, when from early
| morn until the evening the scene on
! the dyke was of the most brilliant and
Kaleidoscope character, the fisher
| folk-men, women and children-in
holiday costumes passing to and from
| their church, the men and boys walk
| iTlQ tOOnthQr ole
| girls, the children in the matter of
dress being exactly like the parents
the boys in the same wide, baggy
trousers, coats and tall hats as the
men, and the girls with spotless white
head-dress, very full skirt and bodice
of some contrasting color with its
pure white chemisette This fashion,
l was told, never varies in style win,
ter or summer.
What one fails to understand 10
that, in country Offering such ad.
Vantages in natural effects, and its
really wonderful treasures stored in
the different museums so openly and
gratuitously displayed, SO much de-
lSand for the glaringly vulgar daubs
obtains. The picture postcard craze
has much to answer for in Holland,
But-"to return to our muttons." 1t is
the custom in Volendam to pay a fec
to any man, woman or child acting
as model. Photographers also dc
the same, so that the sum total ex.
pended during busy Photographic
week amounts to considerable item.
This, / think, is a sufficient reason
for want Of progress in the place.
Anyone with unprejudiced eyes can
see the effect Of this system in the
generalization of many of the people,
who prefer "sponging" to actual work.
AS fishing village it is unique. and
among its inhabitants there are many
men of physically fine aspect, with
massive features bearing a grimly-de-
termined look to make the best of
life. One could not view these men
without considering the history of the
nation Of which these Volendammers
are the backbone as well as an impor.
tant national asset. No nation has
ever experienced more cruel buffet.
ings in the past than the Hollanders:
but, having seen these splendid ex.
amples of men, one wonders no long.
er why they ultimately prevailed and
came out on top. When the time came
for our departure we made the neces,
sary preparation with much regret. for
although we had walked the dyke for
some portion Of each day, somethine
new always presented itself, and we
both truly felt that the latter part of
the old saying: God made the cAun
try and man made the town." did ~
apply to Volendam.
n. DUNluAA