The Portland daily press., 1895-09-09
FOREIGN CORRESPONDENCE.
A Tour Through Holland, the Quaintest
Country in Europe.
Morresnonaence of the Press


the Netherlands the most Eof it redeemed
from the sea.
When Napoleon first Appointed his
brother King of Holland, he declared that
it belonged to France since it was FORMED
from the alluvial deposits OF french
rivers. This was after the golden era OF
Charles ", when the whole OF the
Netherlands were united. 1t was after
the eighty years struggle with Spanish
oppression. It was after those glorious
DAYS of Dutch liberty founded by William
of Nassau. Prince of Orange, and per-
petuated by his son and grandson, during
which time the Dutch Republic became
consolidated, commerce and the arts and
sciences reached their highest point. 1t
was after the zenith in the history OF the
Netherlands had been reached by the
Peace of Westphalia. 1t was after the
commencement of it's decline, its in
ternal discussions, it's foreign wars and
alliances, after the usurpation of the
"Grand Monarch when it's influence was
at its ebb and when, after its union wi tn
the crown of England, the Republic fell.
session of the country, Napoleon monopo7
liked it and placed king over it's govern
ment, declaring that by right it was his
1t was after these various reverses that
the kingdom of the Netherlands was
finally divided and the government OF
Holland established which we find here
today.
Whether it is because we as a nation
love the spirit of a Republic, even when
it fails, or because the sar"e elements OF
character which make one nation love
liberty respond in the breast of all liberty
loving people, I do not know. but it is
certain that as a nation and as 1ndlvld-
uals we always feel pride and good Eel.
loWship towards all countries that have
sought the same end, For the American,
fascination that the history Of the brave
Netherlands has ever inspired, and today
we visit their country with mixed feelings
of curiosity and respect and when there
we find that the question OF environments
on character has worked itself out IN
their brave struggles with the natural
formation of their country as we'll as IN
the civil and political history of their
past. g7
THE PEOPLE OF THE HAGUE
1t is almost incredible the surprise one
feels when he enters this strange country
for the first time. He finds that its
boundaries are more than geographical
lines and imaginary limitations, they
represent the barriers of strange Ian
guages, the difficulties of an usual none
tary system, the differences of individual
customs, some of them SO gTotesque that
instead of defining territorial divisions
they distinguish a nation SO diverse In
habits and disposition that one feels as If
visiting not only new hemisphere. but
almost different world.
Like oysters, mushrooms and pate de
foie gras liking for the Hollander is no
doubt an acquired taste. For one can
hardly imagine what a revulsion of feel
ing is inspired when arriving at the
Hague from Belgium's gay capital late at
night. One feels indeed as if he had
come from metropolis into the woods.
This is not because there is no agreeable
society at The Hague and that one is not
Hospitality received, it is not because there
are no fine squares, substantial buildings
and broad and handsome streets, for
strangers always speak of these; but not
withstand1ng this, in thinking OF it one
is reminded that before Louis Napoleon
conferred on it the privileges OF town 1t
had always been called sthe largest vii
lage in Europe.
At first to people accustomed to the
large cities of Europe the inhabitants at
The Hague seem very primitive and their
style of living very much like that OF the
earlier times. The arrangement OF the
chambers in the hotels is after the old
Dutch style, and the canopy of the beds Is
not square but Gothic, the white shroud-
ing rising to peak in the center in
very ghostly way. The manners Of the
common people are rather unpublished al
though they themselves are decidedly
keen. They resemble the old typical Yam
kee who is supposed to have made and
sold wooden nutmegs. Perhaps the
Temporary residence of our Pilgrim Faith
ers in their exile to this land of dykes
and poldars, before their mournful de-
parture across the seas had something to do
in establishing a resemblance which the
laws of heredity could not overcome. But
certain it is that the people of Holland
are close on bargain and get the better
of the New Highlander every time.
SCHEvENINGEN.
In looking back at the first day spent
at The Hague it seems like a romp in
the country, or stroll in the woods, for
the environs are full of 'tHaagsche
Bosches" and t'Huis in Bosch" (Holland-
ische Woods and Chateaus in Forests, and
the trip itself to Scheveningen is altogeth-
or rural. since it is nothing less than a
drive through wooded park. But in this
consists the delight of the two thousand
wealthy visitors who frequent Schevenin-
gen each year, for it is said to be an es-
pecially attractive resort on account Of its
nearness to The Hague and the proximity
of these very woods and shady walks and
rural ohateaus which furnish great
diversion from all the ills they come here
to cure. The beach at Scheveningen is
also exceptionally smooth and when the
sea lashes it and the wind blows, as it
did the day we were there how the sand
flies and what delight it is to run to
the dunes and watch the harbor full of
W ,ird Dutch and foreign crafts which
look as if they had come from "No Mans
Land'' and were bound for some strange
island or planet outside Of space
THE HAGUE.
Bat from what has been said one must
not infer that the Hague ITSELF is devoid
of interest or of native charm, for the
squares which have been mentioned are
delightful and numerous and very Dutchy