Bisbee daily review., 1908-07-08

1000 to 5000 ducks, each in pens
bordering on the canal of 500 each.
Tons of a small sardine-like fish are
fed to them until such time as they
are ready for market, when they are
quarantined to get rid of the fishy
favor. 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 ndustry-barring the smell
is not to be sneezed at OF course
IL one travels to Volendam by the
railway this unpleasantness arising
from the duck farms is considerably
lessened; but, for all that, the Trek
schuit, am happy to say, still -four
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 feet. This feet,
together with the tiny cottages all
huddled together about the harbor and
the fisher-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 yeritable
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 oil
the houses displaying patriotic flags
| We were fortunate in having a beau
| tifulIy 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
ing together, as also the women and
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
was told, never varies in style win
| ter or summer.
| What one fails to understand Ii
that, in a country offering such ad
vantages in natural effects, and fits
! really wonderful treasures stored IN
the different museums so openly and
gratuitously displayed, so much de
mand for the glaringly vulgar daubs
obtains. The picture postcard craze
has much to answer for in Holland
| But-"to return to our muttons." It is
the custom in. Volendam to pay a fee
to any man, woman or child acting
as a model Photographers also dc
the same, so that the sum total ex
pended during a busy Photographic
| week amounts to a considerable item
This, l think, is sufficient reason
for want of progress in the place
Anyone with unprejudiced eyes car
see the effect Of this system in the
decentralization of many of the people
who prefer "sponging' to actual work
AS a fishing village it is unique, anC
among its inhabitants there are many
men of physically fine aspect, Will
massive features bearing a grfmIy-de
teTmined look to make the best O.
life. One could not view these mel
without considering the history of tn,
nation Of which these Volendammeri
are the backbone as well as an impor
tant national asset. No nation hai
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 ant
came out on top. When the time cam,
for our departure We made the neces
sary preparation with much regret, 70
although we had walked the dyke TO
some portion Of each day, something
new always presented itself, and W,
both tray felt that the latter part o
the old saying: God made the cour
try aud man made the town" did no
apply to VolCnGam
II u. DUN.EESG2