Evening star., 1901-02-23
A HOLLAND VISIT
With a Fortunate Glimpse of the
Young Queen.
A PLATE RACK FROM FRIESLAND
Strolling Through an Old Curiosity
Shop.
ODD PICTURES AND WARES

Written for The Evening Star
In all their descriptions of the past few
weeks, first of the preparations for the
marriage OF Queen Wilhelmina of Holland,
and then of the wedding itself. my thoughts
have often reverted to the beautiful Sep
tember day several years ago when In a
brief visit to The Hague 1 was so fortu-
nate as to get a glimpse of the young
queen.
We were a trio of Americans with only
week for Holland before our steamer
for home sailed from Antwerp. but for
tune smiled on us from first to last of that
trip, and everything was charming, to cor
respond with the country itself In the
first place. the weather was perfect, like
the Indian summer days Of our autumn
farther north than Washington and this
was after a letter from Brussels was writ
ten to us while still in Germany warning
us that rains were incessant and we must
expect nothing else for our Holland trip.
Instead we saw everything under sunny
skies, and while We were at The Hague
our satisfaction was made complete when
sight of the queen was added to the en-
1oyment of the pictures and historical
buildings We went toward the palace
about o'clock one day, as we were told
she would probably take drive then, and
people always assembled to see her set
forth. Quite small crowd had gathered.
which interested us at first, but nothing
rewarded us further, and we soon tired of
gazing at the facade of the palace with Its
paved half circle in front and just outside
the statue of William of Orange facing It.
We hovered around some time, however.
until the boldest spirit of our party ap-
preached the wooden sentry at the angle
OF the building and asked in German If the
queen was expected to take her drive that
DAY, and as she always received answers
even from the most wooden of men she
was informed that she had already been
gone hour!
Regretting our wasted time We started
on our own drive to the Hus ten Bosch
Where we leisurely enjoyed everything, and
were Just leaving the great hall when the
pieasant-faced woman in charge asked if
we mad seen the queen, so our German in
terpreter told her of our fruitless waiting
early In the afternoon.
A Word of Comfort.
She gave us her ready sympathy and said
that If we would then go directly to the
palace We would, without doubt be in good
time to see her return on which advice we
accordingly acted, as our regulation sight
seeing was all done and we felt a little
piqued at our first failure especially as
one or us was making her fifth visit to
Holland and never a sight of the queen in
any of them. By the time we drew near
the palace in town for our second visit the
crowd was much larger than that of sew
eral hours before, and every minute it grew
larger, so that people were pretty close
to each other, and had some amusing
Views of the loyal Dutch people, who,
though it must have been an old story to
them, seemed just as anxious for good
view as the curious tourists from other
countries. AS the small crowd pressed
closer together the ladies nearest the great
statue were attracted by the ledge afford
ed by the base, and after one woman had
dared plenty OF others were ready 10 fol-
low in getting a sitting. more or less un-
comfortable, but relief to weary teet
around the edge, while the chains encir-
cling 1t held lower tier, making ludi-
crous pyramid effect. The shittings and
false alarm when a carriage filled only by
some attaches of the court appeared, will
ing apparently, however, to accept all the
homage intended for royalty, entertained
us during comparatively short time OF
waiting. and then, dashing up in d Vicio-
ria, came the queen and her mother. the
wide, open sweep Of the semi-circular ap-
proach giving fine opportunity to observe
her face, figure and costume.
Both Graceful end Pretty.
Her face and figure were both pretty and
graceful as she leaned forward bowling to
the interested spectators, and her costume
girlsh and becoming. Her gown was of
bright light blue cashmere or some other soft
goods, and over it was a short green velvet
jacket, close-fitting and on her fair hair.
setting well back. was a dark green toque
with high aigret in front.
Her manner was most gracious, and after
| leaving the carriage at the entrance, which
we could all see plainly, she almost imme-
diately appeared at an upper window Of
the palace bowling several times. after
which she withdrew, and in few minutes
the crowd had melted away from the pal
ace and We were Strolling over to our hotel,
bringing pretty picture in memory of Will
hemina and one that all references to her
since in these times, when she has figured
so prominently, bring back to me.
Even in her wedding gown 7 read of
its glories, diamond tiara and all, mentally
1 a fair-haired. slim girl in blue and
green, no matter what the printed words
We're
Favorite COlors.
Blue and green seem to be indelibly as
ISOLATED in my mind with Holland in more
ways than one, anyway, and as 1 love the
combination in itself the thoughts
brought up by it are pleasant ones. num-
ber of years ago 1 came acrass a little
plate rack here in Washington which was
made in Friesland by some peasant for his
own cottage. 1t is not only shaped in a
decorative way but is also painted-mer-
maidens are on either side, with green
leaves and blue flowers surrounding them
while at the top, In a small group, are two
gossips seated at samovar-a Dutch ver-
sion of one-each with her cup Of tea.
On the Island of Marken I saw a tall
clock in one of the f1shermen's cottages
with the same mermaiden and flower mo-
1--WE dEu dlSO III D4ue ana green cOlOrlng,
and that same trip to Marken was one OF
the delights Of our few days in Amsterdam.
Steaming Between Meadows.
One goes by steam launch out through
canal and small river winding in and out
among meadows on to the island lying In
the Zuiderzee; stops are made at Monni-
kendam and Brock and one may wander
about for half an hour or so in each place.
Brock Is always associated with Irving in
an Americans mind, I suppose, and his de-
scription is what everyone takes a stand
ard for the place to come up to. A stroll
through its shady streets was interrupted
with us by seeing that one Of the prim
little houses was evidently arranged as a
curiosity shop and was Irresistible in its
way. OF course, we gave more time to It
than we should, but I did not regret It
when I bore away a charming sampler.
about twenty-seven inches square. the
largest, most elaborate and the finest
canvas of any I have ever seen. Baskets
seem to have been the prediction Of the
youthful worker, for fifteen are embroid-
cred in various sizes and shapes, besides
funeral urns. lambs couchant, parrots on
their perches, birds, cherubs and a unicorn.
Inclosed in a wreath are the letters G.
B. D., and above loud jahr' (aged) ten. so