HOLLAND OR NETHERLANDS.

PART I.

Holland or Netherlands is the queerest little country in the world. Years ago it was known only by the name of Holland, but today the new geographies call this little division of Europe Netherlands.

"Neither-land Nor Water," would seem a very appropriate name for it, as it is difficult to say whether land or water predominates, or whether Netherlands belongs most to the continent or to the sea.

Some say it should be called "Odd-land" or "Contrary-land," for in nearly everything, it is different from other parts of the world.

One oddity is the fact that most of the surface of the land is below the level of its rivers, lakes, and the sea. The land is protected from inundation only by vast walls, built mostly of earth, straw and stones. These walls are called dikes.

The dikes are built and kept in repair at a heavy cost of money and labor. On certain parts of the coast, the ocean dashes and beats with all its might, and presses with all its weight against the dikes and it is as much as the little country can do to stand this pressure.

Sometimes the dikes give way or spring a leak and the most disastrous results follow. The greatest care is taken to prevent accidents. Engineers and workmen are

stationed all along the threatened places; and a close watch is kept up night and day. When a general signal of danger is given, the inhabitants all rush to the rescue, eager to combine against their common foe.

Everywhere else straw is supposed of all things to be worthless in water, but in queer little Netherlands it is the mainstay against a rushing tide. Huge straw mats are pressed against the embankments, fortified with clay and heavy stone; and, once adjusted, the ocean dashes against them in vain.

The dikes are high and wide, and the tops of some are covered with buildings and trees. They also have fine public roads upon them, from which horses may look down upon wayside cottages.

Often the keels of floating ships are higher than the roofs of the buildings. The stork clattering to her young on the housetop, may feel that her nest is lifted far out of danger, but the croaking frog in neighboring bulrushes is nearer the stars than she. Water bugs dart backward and forward above the heads of the chimney swallows; and willow-trees seem drooping with shame, because they can not reach as high as the reeds near by.

Canals, water-roads, ditches, rivers, lakes, and ponds are everywhere to be seen. High but not dry, they shine in the sunlight, catching nearly all the bustle and the business, quite scorning the tame fields stretching damply beside them. One is tempted to ask which is Netherlands, the shores or the water? Even the very verdure

that should be confined to the land seems to have made a mistake and gone to the fish-ponds, for most all the ponds are filled with green sprouting grasses.

Water-roads and canals are more numerous in Netherlands than common roads and railways in America. Water-fences in the form of lazy green ditches often inclose the children's play ground, a garden or farm.

Mothers may be heard calling to the children not to swing on the garden gate for fear of being drowned.

Some houses stand on wooden legs and even some horses wear a wide wooden stool on each hoof to lift them out of the mire.

The poorer people wear wooden shoes shaped much like the canal boats. The boys and girls recognize the likeness and have a habit of sailing their shoes on the water. This is fine sport, except when they overload the small craft causing it to sink. This disaster brings sure punishment from their parents.

These poor children have very few playthings, but they have glorious times in the summer, wading, rowing, fishing, and swimming. The whole country is a paradise for ducks.

With all this water you would never think it possible for any of these people to suffer of thirst, yet they sometimes do. In many districts they cannot get water fit to drink, and must carry it from the more favored localities. Even then they would often go thirsty if they did not drink milk, wine, or beer.

The many canals serve as a drainage for the land, as public highways of the country, and as a place for homes.

Persons are born, live, and die on canal boats. Some families who live on these boats, do not only have their gardens on the boats, but also keep ducks, chickens, pigs, and cattle.