HOLLAND is the country for skating. People of all ages engage in it.
The rivers there are very numerous. It is a pretty sight to see a grand
plain of ice covered with persons thus amusing themselves. The most
skilful skater is at the head; each catches the coat of the one before
him--the weakest in the middle.
Some of the best-trained ones perform all manner of dexterous tricks,
much to the amusement of the great crowds. A good skater makes twelve
miles an hour. Some who do not like skating have a curious sledge,
resembling a ship, in which you may go twenty-four miles an hour. Is
not that very wonderful?
They fasten to the vessel a very strong piece of iron which cuts into
the ice. It has a sail larger than that of a real vessel of the same
size, so the wind propels it, and it is steered as though on water.
This, however, is quite a dangerous amusement. They are often dashed
against something and broken to pieces. Besides, some cannot endure
cutting the air at such a speed.
It is a grand sight to see all things like a fine panorama before you
whilst travelling at lightning speed, in one of those singular sledges.
In these they often go from Amsterdam to Saardam; this latter place is
one of the nicest in Holland. The houses are wooden, and all nicely
painted. The people are so neat that they will not permit a carriage to
pass through their streets. Wealthy Dutch merchants reside here. Here
Peter the Great once worked as a carpenter, to learn ship-building.
Near by are two thousand windmills, and one for grinding coffee, and
also sawmills, which saw thirty planks at a time.
There is a story told which I think will amuse you. An ambassador wrote
to the Emperor of Morocco, that during certain seasons all the rivers
of the Netherlands were covered with something resembling sugar-candy,
and which could bear horses and carriages, and that vast multitudes
glided over these cakes like ostriches, with smooth irons fastened to
their feet. The Emperor thought this so marvellous that he called him a
story-teller.
The people are very reckless; sometimes go gliding over the ice in
sledges when it is really bending under their weight.