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THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE 



land, since financial ratings here are com- 

 monly given as so many windmills ; and 

 when we realize that one of these tireless 

 toilers is as valuable as a farm, their im- 

 portance can be appreciated. The variety 

 of work these mills perform includes al- 

 most everything but cultivating the soil. 



WINDMIIvI^S AND FAMILY STANDING 



It would seem that the possession of 

 at least one windmill is a condition prece- 

 dent to the forming of the family ties, 

 as the windmill furnishes not only shelter, 

 but occupation and income. 



One must not take it for granted, how- 

 ever, that these wind engines are all en- 

 gaged in grinding out florins for their 

 owners. Many hundreds of them are 

 constantly at work pumping water over 

 the dikes ; otherwise much of the father- 

 land would soon be reclaimed by the 

 Father of Waters, who has ever carried 

 on a vigorous warfare in his dispute for 

 possession. 



In addition to Zaandam's wealth, the 

 city possesses what Napoleon the First 

 called the finest monument in Holland — 

 the little hut occupied by Peter the Great 

 in 1697. After his triumphant entry into 

 Moscow, he returned and worked here 

 at the trade of ship-building until his 

 identity was discovered. This incident 

 for a time gave the place the name of 

 Czardam. The interesting little cottage, 

 containing two rooms, is encased in a 

 small brick building for protection from 

 the weather. 



While the cattle of North Holland have 

 long held a world-wide reputation for 

 productiveness and beauty, their impor- 

 tance to the entire Dutch nation can 

 never be fully realized until one traverses 

 this wonderful country where so much 

 of the land lies below the sea-level. Here 

 not only the boundaries of farms are de- 

 scribed by narrow canals of fresh water, 

 but the fields are separated by connect- 

 ing waterways. These prevent any crop 

 failure from drought and contribute to 

 produce ideal conditions for the raising 

 of cattle. 



THE CHEESE TRADE 



The manufacture of cheese has as- 

 sumed such proportions that it may al- 

 most be regarded as a national industry. 



It is estimated that there are 150 va- 

 rieties of cheese made throughout the 

 world. Each sort is said to bear an in- 

 dividual trait or flavor which is as dis- 

 tinct and peculiar to the land or district 

 where it is produced as is the language. 

 That there is foundation for this claim 

 in the output of Dutch dairies is clearly 

 demonstrated. 



No visitor should fail to visit Alkmaar 

 on Friday, its market day. It is best to 

 arrive Thursday night, so as to be on 

 hand for the early morning sights. The 

 town is surrounded by a region of great 

 fertility, on which are pastured large 

 numbers of Holland's black and white 

 beauties. 



In the center of i\lkmaar stands the 

 old weigh-house, erected in 1582. Con- 

 nected with the town clock in the tower 

 of this building hangs one of those tink- 

 ling chimes which plays a melody even 

 stranger than those heard in Amsterdam. 

 It is in this building that all of the cheeses 

 are brought from the square in front, to 

 be officially weighed, before they are de- 

 livered to the purchaser and stowed away 

 in the packets or barges waiting near by 

 in the canal. 



From this, the principal cheese market 

 of Holland, thousands of tons of golden 

 spheres change ownership each year for 

 millions of golden disks (dollars). On 

 approaching, one might easily imagine 

 that preparations for a bombardment are 

 being gotten rapidly under way, as the 

 9-inch cannon balls of bright yellow, 

 tossed from hand to hand in rapid suc- 

 cession, are being piled in double tiers of 

 about 10 or 12 feet square. 



THE CHEESE SALE 



So numerous are the strange dog-carts 

 and scows with which the farmers bring 

 their loads to town that the adjoining 

 streets and canal are completely filled, 

 and the noon hour has nearly arrived 

 before the cheeses are transferred to the 

 square, where it is necessary to place 

 them in perfect order before the sale can 

 begin. 



However, when all is in readiness the 

 sales proceed very rapidly, and on the 

 close of a deal, which is confirmed by 

 solemn, and sometimes oft-repeated, hand- 

 shakings, porters appear, dressed in white 



