The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1915-04-15

WITH Wrbnd efment, Although they are
CITIES covering small AREAS What
then, can be said of Holland, where
the land, made and reclaimed from
the sea. spreads out in great fertile
plains and meadows thousands or
square miles in extent.
The wind has furnished the power
in the battle through which the land
was wrested from the sea while even
the water against which Dutch in
gennity so long and successfully plot
ted, has repeatedly obeyed their sum,
mons and come TO the rescue OF be
sieged cities. overwhelming their
enemies ana preserving the nation.
One-quarter OF the whole kingdom
lies below the level of the sea while
30 percent or all the territory OF the
country would be submerged but for
the bikes. @..."
For a time Holland was one OF the
three leading powers of Europe. War
fare has marked the existence OF her
sturdy people from the first. For when
not fighting with swords they were
battling with picks and shoVels.
Mr. Chaplin then tells how, although
the country is largely treeless, one
of the finest forests in the world is to
be found at the Hague, and describes
the affection OF the people for it.
often saving 1t, in time of stress by
sacrifices and voluntary offerings. He
reminds us that Amsterdam Is built
on 80 islands. connected by more than
$50 bridges; that the Royal Exchange
lis built on $4,000 piles and the Royal
Palace on nearly $4,000. He says thai
1000 of Amsterdam8 Jewish popula.
ton are engaged in diamond polish
ing. and that Holland deserves her
reputation of being the most liberal
in charities, of all the European coun.
tries. He continues;
On the front facade of many houses
hanging between the windows, are
mirrors placed at such an angle that
those inside, without being seen, may
view the street in any direction, in
Guiding the front door and any one
seeking entrance. The home life OF
many of the people is said to be so
quiet, that wishing to see all that is
going on about them they employ
these spies. 1 ..
/ The Dutch differ from the Chinese
in announcing to the world the birth
Oh sJHlluTbH only III the dItlNlC uiopiuS
ed. The Chinese hang piece of gin
ger over the main entrance to the
house, while the Hollanders indicate
the event by piece of lace, combin-
ing with the lace pink background
for a boy and tinsel for girl
The orphans of some OF the cities
of Holland are quite conspicuous, and
especially so when seen in the streets
of Amsterdam, dressed in what might
be termed half-and.half clothing. The
east half of a bays coat, including
the sleeve, is red, and the west half
black. The dresses of the girls are
topped off in a similar manner.
Mr.. Chaplin states that Holland,
one-fourth as big as New York in
area, ranks third among the countries
of the world in the number OF its col
onials, AMI fifth in the area il its col
onies; that she rales six times as
many colonials as home people; and
governs an outside area fifteen times
as large as her home domains; that
if France were as densely populated
as Holland she would have 96,O0O,0OO
people instead of 100000. In spite
of this lack of elbow room her i'm
ports amount to $23640 per capita to
our $1S,41, and heEiexports to $2OS.69
to our $24.66.