The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-11-27
ROMANCE OF The TULIP
How Holland Was COnyulsed by a
Rage Which Became a Mania.

In 1900 the first tulip bulbs were planted
in England, purchased from the florists of
Vienna. The prophecy Of Gesner was about
TO be fulfilled. BY 1854 delight in the tulip
itself by cultivation became more delight
full; was popular rage
In 1886 the rage had become a mania.
The widest vagary of fancy could never
have endowed flower with such bewitch-
ing powers as a tulip now displayed.
She haunted the dreams of citizens, In
terfered with policies of states, disturbed
the pulsations of the market, and drew the
most extravagant expressions OF regard
from such men as Pompelus de Angels aud
Lepsus of Leyden.
We laugh now at the stories related of
those exciting times; how one poor botan-
ist was flung into prison as a debtor for the
amount of 1900 forms because he had used
his penknife in a studiOus excursion to the
interior of IAN extraordinary onion" and
how n sailor, having brought TO wealthy
merchant the tidlngs of the safe arrival of
rich consignment from the L5yant, was
presented with a fine red herring for his
breakfast, to which he nnOcently added the
piquant relish of a vegetable, discovered by
accident out of place, as he left the count
ns-roOm.
He got clear on with his prize, and pro-
ceeded to the quay to eat his breakfast.
Hardly was his back turned when the
merchant missed his valuable 'Semper
Augustus" (or Emperor Augustus), tulip
bulb worth $4,000.
The whole establishment was instantly in
an uproar; search was everywhere made
for the precious root, but il was not to be
found. Great was the merchants distress
OF mind. At last some one thought of the
sailor. The unhappy merchant sprang into
the street al the suggestion.
His alarmed household followed him.
TIE sailor, simple soul, had 10 thought of
cOncealment. He was found quietly sitting
on q coil OF ropes, masticatiug the last NOR
sci OF his onion.
In the folio volume of 1000 pages record
ing the history OF the tulipomania many such
stories are given automatically; as likewise
long lists of properties, including houses
and lands, oxen, sheep. hogsheads of wine,
clothes, drinking cups OF silver. even beds
and butter, that were sacrificed willingly in
Amsterdam and HARLEM for single nu,b
According to their species and their
weight in perIts, tavOrte tulips ranged In
value among the thousands and tens of
thousands of forms; and. at last, there
came q crash that tumbled the crazed popu-
latiOn from sudden riches and imueasur-
able hopes of riches into poverty and de-
spar.
The Provincial Council at the Hague de-
liberated week after week upon some method
OF restoring peace, but therr was no court
in Holland that could enforce gambling
debts; and such were debts for tulip bulbs
declared to be, now that tulip stocks had
hopelessly fallen.
Confidence was destroyed beyond hope of
revival, and actions for breach of contract
had no effect upon the panc-strlcken mani
acs. The few who had contrived to enrich
themselves are said to have hidden their
wealth from the knowledge of their fellow
citizens and invested it in foreign funds
Many who for a brief season had emerged
from the humber walks Of life were cast
back into their original obscurity. Substan-
tlal merchants were reduced almost to beg
gary, and many representative of a noble
line saw the fortunes of his house ruined
beyond mption.-Illustrated American