The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1875-08-18
Vol. XII.

condemned to perpetual imprison-
ment in the fortress of Loe7estein.
This prison was situated on the
River Waal, the largest of the three
branches into which the Rhine di-
vides itself on entering the Neither
lands; and so strongly was the
castle fortified that there seemed
to be no hope of escape from it
While in prison he spent nearly all
his time in study, and for exercise he
procured a huge top which he en-
ployed himselfin whipping for sew
eral hours each day.
The great scholars in Holland did
not forget him in his captivity and
they obtained permission TO send
him from time to time a chest full
Of books which were great solace
to him in his confinement. Thus
in spinning his top, studying his
books, and writing his great works,
which were to be read and quoted
for ages after, Grotius managed to
spend comfortably the first two
years of his prison life.
But one cannot be contented in
captivity, even with plenty of books,
and Hugo Grotius and his noble
wife who shared his home in the
castle had long been brooding over
some means OF escape. Madame
De Groot, as she was called, often
looked at that chest of books as
it came and went to and fro. Alas!
it was only four feet in length, and
her husband was a very tall and
stately gentleman; but they talked
the matter over, and she did not
easily yield to despair. One day
they tried an experiment; Grotius
got inside the chest and his wife
sat beside it with an hour glass in
her hand; for two hours at least he
could lie there with the lid fastened
down. The risk WAS great, but lib
erty is very sweet, and they resolv-
ed to try the dangerous experiment
Of gaining liberty for the captive
by means of the book chest.
Madame De Groot was not a close
prisoner as was her husband ; while
she and her children shared his
captivity, she could: 60 when she
liked across the river to the town
of Grocum to purchase provisions
for the family. One day she stood
in the doorway of the house to
which the chest of books was con-
signed before it was sent across the
river to the fortress, and jokingly
sounded the mistress Of the house
as to the reception her husband
would meet if he instead of the
chest, were to appear.
'sHe shall have a warm welcome" "
replied the good woman. This an
swer gave great confidence to Mad
anne De Groot.
The day of escape fixed upon was
that of the great fair at Grocum at
which time the commandant Of the
fortress of Loevestein was to attend
the fair and remain all night absent.
AS husband and wife made their
plans it was thoughtadvisablefo for the
wife to remain in the fortress, so as
to prolong ignorance Of his fight
and thus give greater opportunity
for escape.
There was in the family a coura-
geous young maid servant by the
name of Elsie van Houwening, who
was strongly attached to the fami-
ly, as they were to her; and she it
was who undertook the care of the
chest; this time not filed with
books, but with the great scholar
himself.
Early in the morning, Grotius
curled himself up in the chest. A
large Testament was placed under
lis head for pillow, with some
punches of thread to render it less
hard, and some papers were stuffed
around him to soften the fall should
the chest be thrown roughly. down.
I do not think that trunks were
handled as roughly as they are now
adays, or this poor gentleman could
scarcely have survived the jour-
ney in his cramped condition!
Madame De Groot took solemn
farewell of her husband, and kissed
the key as she placed it in the
brave Elsie's hand, after locking
the chest. She threw his clothing
on the chair and placed his slip
pers near it, so as to make itap-
pear as if Grotius was in bed when
the soldiers came up for the trunk.
It happened to be g. very stormy