I didn’t abandon Theresa or the Paake/Pake/Peek/Paak family. Here is George, Theresa’s father.
George Paake
When Theresa was sixteen or seventeen, her father wrote her a letter. (Note that the spelling of the surname for George that I settled on is not one used further on in this post).
He wrote it in Dutch, but Theresa no longer could read or speak Dutch. Professor Lawrence introduces the translation he had prepared of the original letter:
The mention of the floods reminds me of a book I read when I was a child. The Little Ark, by Jan De Hartog, was the story of two children caught up in a horrific flood in Holland. I remember that the book seemed to be an adult book, although it was about children. It was very realistic, but like a good “adventure story,” it gave me confidence that if I were faced with a similar situation I could use my wits to survive.
Professor Van Zeitoff who translated for Professor Lawrence gave him the information to prepare this “glossary” for some of the first names, surnames, and geographical names associated with the family.
Most of my knowledge of The Netherlands comes from my early education and the books I read that romanticized Dutch culture. The book Hans Brinker, or The Silver Skates, by Mary Mapes Dodge, is one of those books. She was an American writer and at the time she wrote the book she had never even visited Holland. Part of the romance of the culture was the threat of flooding and the significance of the dikes.
What I want to know is why we never hear on the news about these Dutch floods? Is there technology today that prevents these floods from occurring?
The Children After the Fire, 1902
George Paake’s Legacy, Part II: Theresa’s Pre-Professional Education
George Paake’s Legacy, Part III: Theresa’s Professional Education
The Family Kalamazoo 
The Netherlands are beautiful. We were in Amsterdam last year and also visited a few other cities and some of the surrounding countryside on bikes. You still see the dikes all over the countryside, and we crossed one very wet field where little bridges connected parts of the field separated by small streams. So it’s still very wet—but perhaps technology has reduced the risk of serious flooding.
Amy, my husband and I went with our kids there about 14 or 15 years ago, but only got to see a small portion as it was tied in with seeing other countries. I wish I could go back–your description really makes me want to even more!
We loved it. Amsterdam is such an interesting city in so many ways, and we went to the seaside, biked north of the city, and went to The Hague and Haarlem. I even did some genealogy research while there! (My GGGgfather was born in Amsterdam, but I didn’t find anything helpful.)
Goodness, the idea of receiving a letter from a parent that I could never read… what an unhappy thought!
Brandy, I was thinking about this a lot recently! How sad that she lost the ability to read Dutch and that he never learned to write her in English (although I love that it’s in Dutch).
So I wonder, why does the writing seem so cold? Is that a cultural thing or just the stilted state of their relationship? I think I would kind of want to kick the old coot…sorry I interrupted your dirge towards the grave Papa! Sheesh!
That’s hilarious. I actually didn’t read it like that at all. I thought it sounded like a man who as he says is not used to writing and is struggling in a formal pattern that he learned decades before as a child and in a previous country. He sounds respectful and as if he wants to impart something to his daughter about the land of his origins. I thought it was touching!
Interesting information about the Netherlands I never knew. So, is/was that the primary purpose of the windmills, I wonder? And 29 ft below sea level. I’d still love to visit! 🙂
Linda, here is a site that tells a little about the windmills. They are used for land drainage, power, and also were regular mills for grain, etc. http://www.windmillworld.com/europe/netherlands.htm
Thanks, Luanne! I always think of the old cliches — windmills and tulips! 😀
That’s what Holland Michigan promotes too! When I visited the Netherlands they were promoting wooden shoes and cheese. Next time I want to get a little beyond that!
I believe the Dutch are way ahead on the Global Warming/Ocean rising curve. They have been planning for it for years. I think I heard something on NPR a while back about it.
Very interesting!! Yes, they would have a vested interest . . . .
It’s really interesting what he decided to write to his daughter. It seems like he really wanted his daughter to know about the homeland–though his use of Dutch made it impossible for her to understand the message.
It’s so bittersweet!
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