Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 39, Number 93, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 July 1907 — "MILKMEN" OF BELGIUM. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

"MILKMEN" OF BELGIUM.

Queer Rigs of Mills Peddlers Who Are Mostly Girls. - There is a land across the sea, sandwiched in between Holland, Prussia and France, that Is more densely populated than any other country In the world. It Is the kingdom of Belgium, where there are a little more than 550 inhabitants for every square mile of territory. The Inhabitants are of French and German origin of about equal proportions, are quite numerous enough to engage In great manufacturing who are, nevertheless, pastoral in their pursuits and depend on the soil for a livelihood. canals and a network of railroads through the country enable the farmers to transport their products to the markets, and the climate in general Is de-

liglitfully temperate. Cattle Is one or the chief products,. and the corn and fruit crops come next. Many engage in fishing, and in recent* years the coal and Iron ore mining has grown to great proportions. Lumbering Is also carried on to a considerable extent. But cattle raising and fruit farming appear to be the national occupations. The inhabitants seem naturally adapted to such tasks, and they are surely more picturesquely interesting to the traveler when thus ehgaged. Dairy products cut no small figure In a country where cattle raising is an important industry, and the milk peddlers of Belgium are without a doubt the most Interesting characters the traveler will meet In any country In Europe. All through Belgium you will meet the milk peddler, whether on the city streets, the villages and towns or the country highways. And ns a general thing they are the robust red cheeked girls from the farms, with their milk cans and Jars loaded on carts in which dogs are the motive power. 'The picture with this article shows a milkmaid with her cnrt and dog. Milk and butter are ridiculously low priced In Belgium, and the peddler has got to make a lot of sales before a dollar is earned. However, the purchasing power of a dollar is a lot greater In Belgium than it Is In this country, ao things alMHit even up. Next In Importance to stock and fruit raising Is agriculture, and, although Belgium Is not large. It excels most of Europe.

TYPICAL BELGIAN MILKMAID.