Fired with enthusiasm, I approach the girls who are talking to a couple of old women, and am about to make a "snap shot" of the group, when suddenly perceiving my intention, they fly into the house like frightened deer, to the amusement of the old women, and the grief of the writer. Determined not to be outdone, for now this picture beyond all others is the desire of my heart, I enter the house and learn that the young damsels have sought refuge in the loft, and are hiding, ostrich like, with their heads buried in a mass of clothing. All my persuasions, aided by those of the older women, accomplish nought, even the liberal offer of silver guilders is not sufficient to move these obdurate maids, and I am obliged to relinquish my desire. However, I have made a valuable discovery, and that is that it is better under some circumstances not to ask for the privilege, but to resort to strategy. I request one or more of our party to engage the proposed subject in conversation, while I retire to a suitable distance with my camera, focus the group, then fire away. This plan succeeds admirably, and my collection increases steadily and satisfactorily.
[Illustration: "One old woman is fascinated with the camera." (_See page 171._)]
However, upon better acquaintance with the townspeople and the repeated assurances of our skipper, who speaks some English, that our purpose is an innocent one, we are allowed to photograph the whole town freely, and all its valuable possessions. Occasionally a guilder slipped quietly into the hand of one of the older women opens a new vein of good fortune, for they insist that "the gentleman shall be allowed to take the picture;" whether it be an old-fashioned interior with its quaint belongings, or a pretty maid too shy to hold her head up properly. One old woman is so fascinated with the camera that she asks me to take picture after picture of her homely wrinkled countenance. At first I do so to her extreme delight, but finally I only pretend to take her picture, and the last bewildering poses and bewitching smiles are all wasted upon an unimpressionable plate.
[Illustration: "We walk along the narrow streets." (_See page 177._)]
Marken Homes--Beds in the Wall--Family Heirlooms--An Ancient Clock--Precious Treasures--Quaint Customs--Betrothed Couples--The Hotel--Its Interior--A Lack of Patrons--Costumes of a By-gone Age--Farewell to Marken--Remote Districts--Monnikendam--Ancient Houses--Hotel de Posthoorn--The Postman of the Past--A Difficult Stairway--We Stroll about the Town--Our Retinue--In Front of the Hotel--Such Curious Children--Supper--We Visit the Shops--Pantomime--A Novel Experience--They Cannot Understand--No Candles--We Attract a Crowd--The Clothing Store--A Marken Suit--"Too High"--Bargaining--A Stranger to the Rescue.