Show some dutch characteristics special correspondence I 1 ca canals nals intersect the country in in every direction they serve a threefold service first As lugh roads for purpose of tr trat allic fic second As drains by which superfluous water is removed from the tile cultivated land third As in closures for houses lio fields and gardens being as c commonly orrim only used for this tills purpose in 11 holland olland as walls wall and hedges in other countries tho tile dutch canals differ from those in moist other countries in acin being generally generall broader but variable in width while locks are rare as the level of the water is nearly always the same those canals however k which are connected with the tile sea are ar closed at their extremities by massive floodgates flood gates to prevent the encroachment of the sea when its level is higher than the water in the canal the principal pal canals are about sixty feet in and six feet in depth not only the tile surface of the water but the bed of the canal is often considerably above the level of tile surrounding country the three most important works of this kind in holland are the great north holland canal forty two miles in i length forty th three re yards ards in width and arid twenty feet in ind depth it i tile north sea se 11 canal across a c ross holland rid op ayn connecting amsterdam and the north Sea Spa and the Willi wilhelms elms canal in north brabant brabant duinen dunes I 1 or downs are the I 1 low sand hills 30 to feet in height Z which extend along the coast of holland and Fla anderen having been thrown up by the action of the wind and waves those nearest the sea are of very unsubstantial consistency consi steney and being frequently quentin altered in shape by the wind they tile afford a f ord little or no support to vegetable life between the central downs tile I 1 and arid broadest and those bartl farther I 1 cr inland is situated an almost uninterrupted tract of pasture and arable land mith m ith cottages and arid producing r 0 excellent potatoes I 1 most mos t of rhe the downs are honeycombed with rabbit warrens which often afford excellent sport in ili order to prevent the sand of tho the downs from covering the adjacent land they tile are annually sown with the plants that most readily take root in such poor soil asp especially the reed grass in course of 01 time the roots spread and entwine in every direction thus gradually consolidating the sand A substratum of vegetable soil once formed the tile arid and and useless sandhill sand hill is converted into a smiling and fertile agricultural ri district in which even plantations of pines appear to thrive the chimes in i n tile towers of alie ti 10 churches clin relies or other public buildings proclaim r the tile quarter of every bour by playing p a a few bars of some popular or operatic op air a pleasing custom of which however er the effect is is destroyed by too frequent repetitions the gaper a painted turks or monks licad head is the customary sign of the druggists shops A large crown decorated with box leaves and gilding suspended beneath the dutch flag is an indication that new herrings herrins have arrived in tile chois thus adorned Tap pery tap taproom room or I 1 hier veri kropt men sterle dr anken strong drinks are sold here with the addition of I 1 Iver vcr licensed are the common signs for taverns foot warmers are universally employed by the female members of the community and arid are seen in great numbers in the churches |