New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-04-01
DUTCH CHARACTERISTICS.
A HISTORY AND A LITERARY STUDY
BRAVE LITTLE HOLLAND AND WHAT SHI
TAUGHT Us By William Elliot Grfs. PIP tx
252 Houghton. Mfn a. Co.

TAUGHT Us. BY William Elliot Grifis PIP. ix
252. Houghton, Mihn Co.
THE HGMoR OF HOLLAND. Translated with an
Introduction by A. Werner. illustrations by Dud-
ley Hardy and others. PIP XIV. $685. Imported
by Charles Scribners Sons.
These books exemphfy each in Its own way,
the enthusiasm which seizes every one upon TAX
ing up the study If Holland in its history and
literature. The story Of the lowlands at the
mouth of the Rhine and of their inhabitants is
an exceptional among the nations Of the
earth. But at the heart Of the thing Il is not
the romance Of that age-long battle with the sea-
nor even the heroic deeds Of the Netherlanders
in war that hold the attention Of men at the
present day. Other groups CT people have shown
equal bravery in conflict and have overcome OBJ
stacles that seemed insuperable. But in general
these groups have had ideals which seem to the
modern man incomprehensibe, while the thoughts
of those Rhinelanders from first to last have been
just such now dominating the world The
civilized world. whole. is just beginning to
take cognzance of the fact that democracy is
worth thinking about But from the time that
Caesars Belgae first attracted attention indi-
vidual, or at least tribal freedom has been their
prominent characteristic. Doubtless the never
ending struggle with the had much to do
with fostering that spirit Of self-reliance which
is indispensable to liberty What was done
against the Spanards-thatis, to food the country
in case of invasion-has always been possible
since the dykes were first raised Thus II the
sea was a merciless foe. 1t has also been an in
vincible ally; and when men feel that, though
they may be vexed and harassed by their enc
mics, they cannot be conquered, they naturally
acquire the habit Of standing up for their rights
The traces are not few that this independence was
characteristic Of the people when the land they
lived upon was mainly morass. Mr.. Griffis fol-
lows classical authorities In dividing the popu-
laton between the Cets and the Germans He il
thus enabled to bring In the defeat of the Ro-
mans under Varus by the German chieftain Ar
minus a part Of Hollands history, since the
Frisians were also Teutons. But the real start
ing point Of all that is peculiar to the Neither
lands in history Is the work Of the Roman engi-
neers In protecting the land from the ocean. The
spirit of liberty. driven from every other corner
OF the world was sheltered by these dykes The
English-speakng peoples owe to the Frisians
their language and the simplest elements OF their
political system. Mr. Griffis points out that a
Lowland Scotchman can make shift To under
stand the conversation Of Frisians But Lowland
Scotch is merely a wcl-preserved early English
dialect The fact that two dialects have re-
NAMED so like each other for ages indicates a
similar persistent likeness among those who
speak them, and Mr.. Werner emphasizes this by
pointing out the canninesG and practical shrewd-
ness which mark the humor OF both Lowlander
and Netherander He adds distinctions, but 1t
is not certain that they will appeal to the minds
Of outsiders who remember that incapacity to
see or TO make joke has been charged upon
both Scot and Dutchman. The Scot was long ago
INDICATED But the rather grave plea entered for
the Dutchman by Mr.. Werner makes one sus-