The Columbus journal., 1908-06-17

ated on the windward side of the
canal. This was something new in
the way of smells. and on relating our
experienced In the hotel at Volendam We
were greeted with roars Of laughter,
they having had some" evidently. At
any rate. 1t was q useful initiation,
and for the remainder of our stay we
carefully avoided approaching q duck
farm and tackled. il possible. or held
our breath while hurrying past. These
duck farms are an institution Of this
part of Holland, and contain from
1000 to 5000 ducks. each in pens
bordering on the canaD Of 500 each.
Tons of small sardine-like fish are
fed to them until such time as they
are ready for market. when they ars
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 industry-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. l 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 a 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 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 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 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 !
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.
l was told. never varies in style win
ter or summer.
What one fails to understand Is
that. in a country Offering such ad-
vantages in natural effects, and its
really wonderful treasures stored in
the different museums so openly and
displayed. SO much de-
mand for the glaringly vulgar daubs
obtains. The picture postcard craze
has much to answer for in Holland
But Ito return to our muttons." It is
the custom in Volendam to pay q fee
to any man, woman or child acting
as q model Photographers also do
the same, so that the sum total ex-
pended during a busy Photographic
week amounts to a considerable item. ]
This, l think, is a sufficient reason
for want of progress in the place.