The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1902-06-27

By
BARON W. A. E. GEYERS,
Minister from The Netherlands to the
United States.

In Holland the education Of young
girl is very serious. religious and thor
ough. She learns all the accomplish
ments-nusic, literature and languages
as do the girls CT other countries
The Dutch are a patriotic people. In
their long struggle for religious free
dom there was much OF the romance
which appeals directly TO the young
National history is an important part
Of every girls education
Above and beyond these subjects. yet
closely connected with them, is the fine
development OF the domestic side Of the
girls of HoIIa:z,i. When they enter SO
ciety at eighteen most Of them speak
1uently three languages, besides their
own-German, French and English. The
Holland girl nay be erudite and clever
but her highest ambition is to be q good
hcmemaker-
OF late years much attention has been
given TO out-of-door sports Lawn ten
MS and skating are the favoTites- Hol-
land is the one country where bicycling
IS still fashionable.
The children II Holland live healthy
lives. Our young girls when they enter
society have the compilations which Ru-
bens loved to paint. They are as fair
and sweet as the flowers whose care
is a part Of their everyday life.
4 love Of art is Unborn IN The Dutch.
Every town is filed with "reminiscences
Of the old masters Choice collections
OF modern art are numerous All this
aids IN the development OF the artistic
in the Dutch girl
After she has seen a little Of the
world and tn time has come for her to
make a home for herself she is allowed
TO do as she pieases. Her husband is
entirely Of her own selection. There
are 70 marriages Of convenience in Hol-
land as there are in some other CONT
mental countries
Her training has been such that she
Is less Eighty than her French neigh
bors, less sentimental than her German
cousins. she does not marry without
serious consideration, and her selection.
once made, she abides by Marriage in
Holland is surrounded by so much for
maI.ty that It is not easily dissolved
The Holland woman IS a most devoted
and sacrificing wife L may be added
that Dutch husbands are not auJhori-
tative and dlctatorial, as are the hus-
bands Of some other countries. They
seldom forget the smaller courtesles
which mean so much in the everyday
life Of z woman. Between husband and
wife there is always the best of under
standing. Large families are the rule
Small jeaIousies and suspicious are IN
known
These ideas OF education have been
those followed N the home training OF
her majesty the Queen Hers was typ
zeal Dutch education-o1e which ap-
pealed 10 her young subjects
As child she was the Idol OF her
contemporaries a story is told of her
which illustrates her intense patriotism.
One day among her guests was Z small
boy whose fond goyernesses had taught
him to speak French better than ais
own language.
4 can only speak French" he said to
the Queen
Then" responded her young males
" II you 90 not SPEAK your own IAN
guage I cannot play with you"
Nothing could show more plainly her
loyalty toward her people.
As q wife the Queen is looked upon
as an example for all Dutch women.
The happiness of her home life with the
husband of her choice is proverblaI in
Holland. The invidious and mendacious
rUmors spread By the foreign press last
autumn were absolutely without foun-
dation-
The press Of Holland Is as free as that