(137) Belgium and Holland
city, founded by Count Dietrich of Holland in
the eleventh century. It is said that in the
middle ages all produce brought into Holland
had to pass through Dordrecht and pay custom
duties there. As a result the town became
very flourishing. Its neighbor, Rotterdam,
became envious and finally secured a great
portion of this trade.
The first Congress of the Netherlands Com-
monwealth was held at Dordrecht. The city
was the birthplace of many famous painters,
among them Arij SchefFer and Nicholas
Maes.
In the Groote Kerk the choir stalls are finely
carved, and represent work of the sixteenth
century artists. They portray scenes of Bible
history. The tower on this church is the only
square thing in Dordrecht. The town is full
of artistic houses with gabled roofs. Some of
(138) Travel Sketches
the women wear lace bonnets which are most
picturesque.
In Holland a camera at once attracts a
crowd. When about to photograph a lady
with a wonderful lace bonnet I was dismayed
at seeing a lot of others trying to crowd into
the picture. I had to promise them to take
their picture after I had secured that of the
lady. In the second picture, where the lead-
ing lady is sharing the limelight with so many
others, she is not wearing so pleasant a smile.
I have been asked if the crowd is the lady's
family.
While walking along the main street one
day I saw an artistic figure approaching, ac-
companied by a peculiar odor. It proved to
be a woman peddling kerosene. She was not
anxious to be photographed, but submitted
with passive interest. Later in the day I aim-
(139) Belgium and Holland
lessly turned into an alley and there was the
kerosene peddler delivering a morning supply
of kerosene to a customer. She promptly gave
me a cordial bow, and explained to the lady in
Dutch that I was a friend of hers who had al-
ready taken her picture. My heart was
warmed by this little human experience, and
I felt more welcome in Dordrecht.
Here, as in all Dutch towns, one sees most
peculiar draw bridges which look like those
over the moat of a feudal castle.
Proceeding to the wharf to take a boat for
Rotterdam, we were attracted by the clanging
bell of a ferry boat, impatiently waiting for
its last passengers, a boy and girl with large
brass milk cans. They cheerfully took the
risk of losing the boat for the sake of two cop-
pers I tossed them while taking their pictures.
An excellent modern steamboat plies be-
(140) Travel Sketches
tween Dordrecht and Rotterdam. It stops at
Kinderquek [Kinderdijk] and other points long enough to
take aboard the butter and cheese brought
down to the quay by the busy Dutch house-
wives. Rotterdam is a commercial town. Its
hotels are situated in noisy places, consequently
we did not stay there long.
