HOLLAND TO-DAY 95

ever, it was one immense surface of ice, stretching itself
out as far as the eye could reach. It was quite the thing
this winter to go out and see it; so, of course, we went
there and visited the small island of Marken, which is
situated near the coast.

«... Asmall steamer goes daily from Monnickendam
to the island, or three times a week—I ’m not sure about
that; now all the communication was done by sledge and
on skates over the ice. Thousands of people have seen
Marken this winter in that way, and the place is quite a
curiosity, especially for strangers. (If you happen to have
a map of the Netherlands you Il be sure to find where it
lies in the Zuider Zee.)

“The quaint costumes worn by the peasant men and
women are alone well worth the voyage to the place, being
quite different from those worn in Scheveningen, and be-
sides the pokey little wooden houses are charming in their
way, and exceedingly clean and neat, with rows of colored
earthenware dishes along the walls, and carved chests and
painted wooden boxes piled one on the top of the other
containing their clothes. Although so near the civilized
world these good people live quite apart, hardly ever
marry some one not from the island, and seem quite con-
tented. They earn their living by fishing, and occasion-
ally get as far as a harbor of Scotland.

“When we arrived at Marken across the ice we were
very hungry, and on asking a peasant if he could procure
us something to eat, were very hospitably received in his
little house by his wife, who regaled us on bread, cheese,
‘and milk. Enormous hunches of bread! but what will a