As Seen from a Dutch Window 



629 



ual, but all go forth to dinner. This is 

 given by the bride's parents, by friends 

 of the contracting parties, or at a restau- 

 rant, where each guest adjusts his score. 



It is a merry, happy day. No drunken 

 carousing, no boisterous chiavari. There 

 is but little senseless romance in the 

 courtship; no thriftless waste in trous- 

 seaus that poorly fit the daily life; but, 

 realizing that partnership has been en- 

 tered upon, the battle of life is taken up 

 in the consciousness that each is a con- 

 tributing member of the firm and is in 

 part the custodian of the other's happi- 

 ness. 



No one must think that the Dutch- 

 man's stolidity congeals the springs of 

 love or that his practical nature cannot 

 harbor sentiment. At frequent intervals 

 during the past twelve years I have 

 found a resting place in front of the 

 mirrors, reflecting the busy life of Am- 

 sterdam. It was more than a place of 

 rest; it was a home, and each coming 

 was made welcome by the recollection 

 that a decade ago I made a photograph 

 of the dear old face and form that soon 

 after left vacant the arm-chair opposite 

 which Mevrouw now sits in sad lone- 

 liness. 



the; municipal, playgrounds 



Over the bridge at our corner is a 

 playground which belongs to the city 

 and is maintained by it for the use of the 

 children. Even during vacation, the 

 teachers of the various schools take their 

 children in turn to one of these grounds, 

 where they can enjoy the many games 

 there provided or try their skill with the 

 different pieces of gymnastic apparatus. 



In Amsterdam the playing of the 

 school children is looked upon with rev- 

 erence, and even the busy money-makers 

 on 'Change turn over the historic Ex- 

 change Building to the unrestricted use 

 of the children during the afternoons of 

 the third week in August. This is done 

 to commemorate the saving of the city 

 on one occasion, when the children at 

 play discovered the approaching Span- 

 iards and gave the alarm. 



These municipal playgrounds seem to 



serve as a convenient place in which the 

 children can work off their superfluous 

 energy. _ Play is natural to childhood, 

 and its interdiction at this period is but 

 postponing the outbreak of pent-up ener- 

 gies. Again, this combination of play 

 with gymnastics puts at a discount the 

 senseless toys that amuse but do not en- 

 tertain with profit to the mind or body. 



The school-houses, being municipal 

 buildings, are put to various uses. They 

 are utilized as polling places. Elections 

 are not wholly devoid of excitement, 

 though the torchlight processions are 

 not deemed of value in imparting the 

 principles of civic government. Before 

 the date set for election, there is sent to 

 every voter a ballot bearing the names 

 of all the candidates in his district. He 

 eliminates at his leisure the names of the 

 persons for whom he does not wish to 

 vote, and on the day appointed visits the 

 polls. After identification and the as- 

 surance that all of the prerequisites have 

 been complied with, he deposits his bal- 

 lot. In preparing this ballot at home, he 

 is uninfluenced by the pressure of the 

 candidates, and is also free from the ex- 

 citement that might mar his judgment. 



It is a wise provision that designates 

 certain city officers as "wethouders," 

 holders of the law or constitution. The 

 very name emphasizes the importance of 

 their trust and suggests that any dere- 

 liction means a failure to carry a burden 

 as well as a betrayal of a trust. 



To observe the law is natural to a 

 Dutchman, though he protests against 

 nature in his daily war with the sea. His 

 existence in many instances has de- 

 manded obedience to a call to strengthen 

 a dike or make it higher, to prevent the 

 water from following the law of gravity 

 impelling it to seek its level. He joins 

 his force to that of others to prevent dis- 

 astrous overflows and day by day gives 

 an affirmative answer to the question, 

 "Am I my brother's keeper?" While 

 law-abiding, he sees to it that no laws 

 are enacted that are impractical to en- 

 force, and, above all, that his rights as 

 an individual are not encroached upon. 

 In no land is so high an estimate placed 



