The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1913-07-24

lance Is their one WatchWOrd and
numerous bands of dyke watchers
are constantly on the lookout, and
when they raise the shout Come
Out! Come Out!' not man, woman
or child must hold back from the
call to strengthen the weak point
which has been discovered.
The canal population of this
country is very interesting and a
study in itself. 1t is estimated that
at least fifty thousand people live on
the canals. For these people the
barge represent their fixed homes,
and the year passes in ceaseless
movements across the inland wat
ers, except during the interval
when the canals are frozen. Even
then the barge remains their home
for the simple reason that they
have no other. The years of toll
from youth to old age are passed on
these barges, and it is the ambition
of the youth who tugs at the rope
to have barge of his own, and he
diligently seeks for a maiden whose
dowry will assist him, with his own
savings, to make the purchase.
Most every village in the Neither
lands has it's ancient relic IN it's
old Church." where is generally
laid away the remains of some one
of it's patriotic sons. In the old
Church" at Delft. is laid away what
was once mortal of that patriotic
Prince William of Orange. He
was generally known as the Silent
Prince, so they called him will
lam the Silent" While l was Wis
iting this church and incidentally
reading the inscriptions upon the
tomb of the one time prince, a par
ty of American tourists came
through, and after carefully looking
over the inscriptions one of the
party remarked: That he thought
that the old boy was silent now,
alright"
1t certainly sounded fine to me
to hear good old United States
spoken again, and / got homesick
right away.
The standing army of the Neither
lands is very small, somewhere be-
tween four and five thousand, but
on moments notice there can be
called into actual service two hun
dred thousand trained reserves.
The officers are all gentlemen and
scholars and are not inclined 10 brag
over their accomplishments, and the
men as a whole are a well kept and
orderly body of soldiers.
It's navy would look like mere
toy in comparison with some of the
other nations, but it's personel is
made up of the best gentlemen of
the land, for the life in the Dutch
navy is considered a luxury, al
though the compensation is very
small.
When one visits this country they
should spend at least day at the
only summer resort in the Neither
lands. This place is called Scheven-
ingen, mile and half from The
Hague, and is considered one of
the finest bathing beaches along the
North Sea. Here also is erected
one of the finest recreation piers on
the European continent, extending
a quarter Of mile into the North
Sea with large pavilion at it's far
thermost end. where during the sea-
son are held some classical band
concerts.
Many people, if they happen to
know that you are Hollander,
will ask you about the Zuider Zee.
1t is a body of water about ten
miles in diameter caused by the great
flood of the thirteenth century.
This sea tells no tales, but if one
could see the great forests of Kreyl
petrifying in its ooze, and the small
villages lying at it's bottom there
would be small wonder why the
watchword of this nation is: "Eter-
nal Vigilance. This country is
forever threatened with the North
Sea on one side and the, flood waters
of the Upper and Lower Rhine on
the other.
Time is pressing and | would like
to write more upon this subject, but
before closing | will give sketch of
what is sometimes called the Flow