Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1855-08-01
AN ITEM OF oLD-TIME DIPLOMACY.



For twenty minutes and more Sir Peter
abused the Dutch, he called them hard names
in English, and some very strong epithets in
bad French. Meanwhile his courier busted
himself in preparations for departure, and the
"Honorable Jack'' undertook to shawl the
young ladies, performance which, whether
from the darkness of the night, or the intri-
cacy of the muffling, took most unmerciful
time to accomplish.
ssWe shall never find the hotel at this hour" +"
said Sir Peter angrily.
ssThe house will certainly be closed" chin
ed in the young ladies.
Take you five to two on the double event.
replied Jack, slapping the alderman on the
shoulder, and preparing to book the wager.
did not wait TO see it accepted, but step
ped over tho side, and trudged along the
s. Boomjes," that long quay, with its tall elm
trees, under whose shade many burgomaster
has strolled at eve, musing over the profits
which his last venture from Batavia was to re-
slize and then having crossed the narrow
bridge at the end, traversed the Erasmus
platz, and rang boldly, as an old acquaintance
has right to do, at the closed door of the
"Schwein Kopf." My summons was not long
unanswered, and followed the many -petticoat-
ed handmaiden along the well-sanded passage,
/ asked, &c Is the Holbein chamber unoccu-
pied 9'' while 1 drew forth a form from my
purse.
ssAh, Mynheer knows it then,' said she,
smiling. &c 1t is at your service. We have
had no travellers for some days past, and you
aware that, except greatly crowded, we
never open it.''
This I knew we'll; and having assured her
that was an habitue of the Schwein Kopf, in
times long past, persuaded her to fetch some
dry wood and make me cheerful fire, which,
with krug of scheidam and some canastre.
made me as happy as king.
The IS Holbeiner Kammer'' owes its name,
and any repute that it enjoys, to a strange
quaint portrait &C that master seated at fire,
with fair headed handsome child sitting cross
legged on the hearth before him. A certain
half resemblance seems to run through both
faces, although the age and coloring are so
different. But the same contemplative ex-
preston, the deep-set eye, the massive fore
head and pointed chin, are to be seen in the
child as in the man.
This was Holbein and his nephew, Franz Won
Holbein, who in after years served with dis
tinction in the army of Louis Quatorze. The
background of the picture represents a room
exactly like the chamber few highly carved
oak chairs, the Utrecht velvet backs glowing
with their scarlet brilliancy, an old-fashioned
Flemish bed, with groups of angels, Neptunes,
bacchanals, and dolphins, all mixed up con-
fusedly in quaint carving and amassive frame
to very small looking-glass, which hung in
a leaning attitude over the fireplace, and
made me think, as gazed at it, that the plane
of the room was on an angle of sixty-fve, and
that the least shove would send me clean into
the stove.
"Mynheer wants nothing said the pro,o
with court'sey.
1'Nothing," said 1, with my most polite
bow.
sGood night, then," said she; ssscklaf
acohl, and don't mind the ghost.''
eAh, know him of DID, replied 1, strik-
ing the table three times with my cane The
woman, whose voice the moment before was
in tone of jest, suddenly grew pale, and, as
she crossed dherselfdevoutly muttered-sN Nein
nein q! don't do that" and, shutting the door
hurried down stairs with all the speed she
could muster. ~
/ was in no hurry to bed, however.<The |