The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-04-12

cay thnt runs through Il there s a lght.
airy. sunny color over 81, and the end Is
gay and bright as n fairy tale.
The time of the tale is that of the IA
nous tulip craze in Holland, craze that
overwhelmed almost the entire nation and
stirred men so deeply that IL has remained
as an important historical occurrences. For-I
tunes were won and lost. Regulations and
careers were ruined. AS much as 10000
flcrins was paid for a single bulb. and for
three bulbs OF special variety the lucky
grower obtained 10000 forms Bulbs were
gambled in as stocks are to-day.
When the Tulip Growers Association
of HARLEM offered 100000 florins for
without a spot. even the widest tulip
enthusiast of that tulip-mad time did
not believe 1t possible that the prize
would ever be claimed Yet such was
the power of the mania that the Dutch
horticulturists thought of nothing else
from that moment.
Chief among the most eager was DR.
Cornelius van Baerle, who had become
famous for his achievements in the work
of creating new and wonderful varieties.
A man of great scientific attainments
he was aided by great wealth. and
within two years he succeeded in Gul-
tivating tulip OF shade of brown go
deep that it hordered closely on black.
The good Cornelius gazing with all
a fathers love on this extraordinary
growth, itself sufficient to make him
happiest man In Holland. And any
stranger. entering his native town OF
bort and beholdlng hts beautiful house
standing among the equally beautiful
streets. with wonderful silken Indian
and Chinese rugs floating from the
graceful balconies that overhung the
shining river. and with ever brick and
timber scrubbed, waxfd and polished
until 1T dazzled. would have agreed
with him.
Rich, young, strong as iron, hand
rome and learned, what more could
mortal wish?
So Cornelius van Baerle thought, and
lived among his gorgeous subjects like
the potentate of some fantastic Orien-
tai wonder realm. blissfuly uncon-
scious that day and night he was be-
ing watched BY malign eye. and that
every new success added new poison to
the hatred of an unseen spy.
The spy was his neighbor, Isaac Box
tel who had been tulip grower be.
fore Cornelius took UP the pursuit, and
becoming famous himself when Dr.
van Baerle outstripped him. This in
itself would have We been quite enough
but when he discovered that Corne
Illus actually was breeding a tulip that
promised in time to produce bulb
cuptdity was added to professional
jealousy. and he tortured himself with
plans to obtain possession of a bulb.
He left his own bulbs to molder
the garden beds. while ne wasted his
eyesight and his life in spying on Van
Baerle. From dawn till the last light
was extinguisheG at night in his un-
telescope followed his every motion.
One day there was great cort,mo-
,ion in quiet bort. Cornelius de, Wlst,
Governor Of Pulten and deputy to the
n
godson, DR.. Van Baerle.
Around Cornelius and his eminent
brother, John de Witt. there already
was gathering the black storm that
was to break in dreadful ruin over
the heads of the two patriots. but DR..
van Baerie. immersed in his life Of
the mutterings and rumblings of the
coming tempest.
Cornelius de Wits visit was direct
" connected with it. however, although
He looked at Van Baerle's art treas
ures, his pictures painted by himself
and even his tulips, though the states
man cared little for the flowers. Al
from his pocket white package
carefully sealed, which he asked hin
TO put away in a secret place Var
Baerle took it respectfully and laid Il
away in The back of large drawer
which contained his finest bulbs.
BoXtel watched all this with his
telescope. vastly puzzled,
Eight months later on the goth OF
August. 1912 Corneiius de Witt
maimed and distorted from the rack
was lying in a cell in the Buytenhof
the formidable prison of The Hague
waiting for his brother John to take
him away 10 the exile to which both
had been sentenced by the victorious
party of William of orange
A fierce mob besieged the place
crying for the blood of the two great
the Buytenhof through secret way
in the rear that John succeeded In en-,
fering.
unseen, for they realized that though
the deputies had sentenced then
merely to exile, there would be NJ
check to the bloodier intent of thu
mob But before they left the eel
Cornelius. told John that lie had siver
DR.. van Baerle important document
for safekeeping. which would ruin hin
II they were found, now that the D,
lWitts We're in Disgrace Therefore h
tore leaf out of his Bible and wrot.
a letter with his MANNED fingers. Thi
he gave to his servant with orders t
ride at top speed to bort and delive
It to DR.. van Baerle.
Less than half an hour afterwar,
the massacred bodies Of the two states
men We're hanging heads down from
scaffold near the prison, and tn
mob that had caught them befor
was Offering shreds of their flesh an,
clothing for sale on the streets o
on tSat VERY day DR. van Baerl
was sitting in his plant room contem
plating with delight three perfec
bulbs which he had just separate
from the mother bulb--pure, unblem
ished absolutely perfect, and as Ger
tain as horticultural science could max
1t TO produce black flower III In
following spring.
He. was lost as in. a delicious dream
In his fancys eye the black tulip VII
folded its amazing petals and bloome
regal and unique while the world ran
with his name. Suddenly tho door
that sacred door which none OF II
servants dared approach save on til
toe--was torn open and Dc Wits se
want rushed in and thrust sheet
paper into his hand, crying to him thu
1t must be attended TO at once The
he turned, without waiting a lnomer
and fed to join his master at the rel
devious that had been appointed
Cornelius did not hear his word
for his mind was occupied with som
thing far more Important. The SUI
den entrance had startled him so tn
he had dropped his precious bulbs. al
q before the door had clsshed benin
the intruder again he was down
his knees picking them mp.
Ma had scarce1V alIcpap1ad hafo