The Republican journal., 1905-06-15

:
pounds of tobacco and two pipes. We
visited the market place where stands the
statue of ErazmuS, whose life and works
as the first literary light of Holland were
| recounted at the time by Miss Hopkins. The
art museums we were to visit at another
time, so we continued our journey to Delft
and The Hague, in both places finding
much that was attractive and interesting
We were under the guidance of Miss Cutter
here, and she described to us very clearly
the misfortunes of Delft, its destruction by
fire, the assassination OF William the Silent
iii 1854, and the pathetic tradition of the
storks who would not abandon their young
in the great fire. They were too heavy to
carry and after trying all sorts of desperate
efforts they gathered them under their
wings as if to retard the fatal moment and
so awaited the end. The splendid mauso-
leum of William the Silent and the simple
| tomb of UgO GrotinS were visited. Some of
the ladies very kindly gave the history of
these noted men and we remember it was
| Grotins who when condemned to perpetual
imprisonment was saved by his wife, who
! caused herself to be TAX en- into his prison in
box believed to contain books, which same
box went out again with the prisoner in it.
GrotlnS after varied experiences returned
to his own country, where he died full of
years and hOnorS.
The thing we remember most about The
Hague, the political capital, was its broad
streets, and no canals, in contrast to other
places visited, its vast squares, full of trees,
elegant houses and splendid hotels, and its
population made up of rich mobiles, officials
and artists and being of more refined Or
der than most Dutch cities. OF course we
visited its forest, said to be The Hague's
finest ornament, and strayed among the
! beautiful oaks and beeches and admired
! the little Swiss chalets scattered here and
| there among them, and the famous Forest
House. Our route lay through the court
how no 4 ,I,o,,,
of the States General and we were given a
/ chance here to see more of the fair sex
We noted that they were possessed of d
finenesS of feature, an innocent tranquil
grace and prettlnesS that is very pleasing.
, We admired the smoothness OF their clear
red and white skin and their wealth IF
blonde hair, as well as their dresses from
Paris The whole time at the capital was
full to Overlooking with instructive and en-
Joyable events and we said good bye to it
/ with regret.
Our faces are now turned to Amsterdam
of the ninety islands, Venice of the north,
queen of the Zuyder Zee, and we cannot
restrain an exclamation of astonshment,
even after seeing other parts of Holland, at
the multitude Of lofty windmills in the form
OF towers, steeples, pyramids, lighthouses
and truncated cones waving their enormous
arms like cloud of mOnStrOuS birds beat
ing their wings over the city. 1t seems to
us at first disorderly city, but after trav-
eling its two wide streets, bordered with
linden trees, sailing its canals, and visiting
its splendid shops, the Royal Palace, Ex-
change, and the New Church, we term it
delightful city of contrasts. We could not
,, leave without glimpse of the "Tower of
Tears" SO called because here in ancient
times Dutch sailors embarking for long
voyages took leave of their families. Over
the gate was rusty bas relief bearing
date 1869 and representing the port with a
ship about to sail and weeping woman.
OF our visit to the Jewish quarter, said to
be infinitely dirtier than any which you
have heretofore considered the drtiest in
the world, to the botanic and geological
gardens, and to the various industries, we
have no time to recount, but we refer
briefly to the hours spent in the picture
gallery in studying the paintings of Rem
brandt, particularly the "Night PATROL
which i'll spite OF cenSure and conflicting
judgments has been there for two centu-
ries, triumphant and glorious You will all
remember the description given us of how
it was painted. We carry with us from this
/ famous city an impression of its grandeur
and power not cancelled by any other.
| From Amsterdam we go to Utrecht the
Solemn, with her great deserted squares,
| broad, silent streets and wide canals in
which are mirrored houses of antique form
and gloomy colors. 1t was here, however,
| that one of the most pleasant incidents OF
the whole trip occurred. Our chaperOne,
! MrS. SlDloy, nau WITHOUT our KnOWleQs e,
induced large number of the husbands to
join us for this special trip, and she de-
lightfully entertained us all during their
stay, ST. Valentine night serving reason
for giving sumptuOus banquet and an
evening Of perfect enjoyment. The ladies
of the party chose this, too, as the occasion
to present our beloved President with
souvenir of the trip in the form of fine
picture of VIM. II. Prince of Nassau, which
now hangs in one of the rooms of her
beautiful home.
We journey on to Zealand, to Bruges and
Client, to antwerp, but shall not weary
you with many more details. In Bruges we
sought out the old belfry made famous in
+. song by our own L0ngfellow and found it a
square brown tower in one corner of the
open market square,,
"Thrice consumed and thrice rebuilded,
Still it watches DER the town."
and as we viewed it in the twilight, the
chimes, said to be the finest in Europe, rang
out in clear silvery tones, beautifully must
| cal.
One of the most delightful days was spent
| in studying the home life and pictures of
Rubens, and another the landscape painters
| of Holland, and we own to fondness for
the subjects of Ruysdael. Surely none are
more beautiful than his Landscape of
Amsterdam" and 1.-THE Forest"
% 1E L. !. \