Omaha daily bee., 1909-03-21


lomatic answer came that she had chosen
a special shade Of Well or for the nursery
and would prefer the same color for the
cradle.
TrOussenu II Ready.
The baby trousseau had. indeed. already
been ordered when the queen was the first
time dis appointed In her expectations. The
dainty li.tle garments were made in diff
ferent schools ord workshops in Holland.
The queen is fond OF elaborate handmade
embroideries and she is a very good Judge
OF needlework. so that II is needless 10
say with how much loving care the layette
was ordered.
The coming event has already set many
heads at work In devising plans to cele-
brate 1t. Throughout the country commit
tees Of society women and others have
been formed 10 collect funds and make ar
rangements. The queen has intimated her
desire that the major portion Of the funds
so collected should be used for philan-
thropic purposes and not he employed in
making her presents, as was originally in
tended.
At Hollands chief naval station Of the
Helder the military and civil authorities
in committee have decided on a great fete
to which the united musical societies OF
the town and surrounding districts are to
be invited. A philanthropic lady at The
Hegue has decided to give all the poor
children of Tn, Hague and Scheveningen
a treat ~ biscuits ana sweets (caraway
candies called muisjes). It is the custom
in this country to give biscuits and car.
away candies when n child Is born, smooth
candles being chosen when the newcomer
is a girl and rough ores when "A boy, so
that from the character of the sweets re-
ce!ved ono can know the sex of the new
born child. The recent plans at The
Hague, which are under consideration by
the committees. are for the celebrating
Of the event four weeks after the actual
birthday.
Even the Shoes.
Throughout the country Of late there has
been a brisk trade In orange paint. in red.
white and blue ribbons, in flags and flag
staffs. In secret many peasants have
painted their best wooden shoes orango.
putting them aside until the festive mo-
mont. Careful housewives nave had the
flagstaffs of their houses newly painted
and the flags cleaned, so as to nave every-
thing in readiness. And with every house
displaying the red, white and blue, with
the bells ringing, the old churches playing
their carillons and the crowds singing in
the streets. the towns will be festive
enough.
Queen Wilhelmina has signifled her will
II gDess to accept the suggested work Of
the pupils OF a needlework school at The
Hague, who iHtend making six sets of in
fants' clothing, which will be presented
to women who have the good fortune to
become mothers pm the same day as the
queen, and numerous gifts nave been prom
ised to the lucky babies that will be born
on the same day as the hoped for heir
to the throne.
At Winschoten It has been decided to
employ all money collected in establishing
holiday settlements in three provinces, to
which poor and weakly children can be
sent to recuperate. In this way they think
to associate the idea of the birth OF a
young prince or princess with the recovery
of health and strength by some poor chill
dren.
GIFT for the Queen. ~
In every town and village committees
have been formed to allow all the women
In the place to contribute. A central COM
mittee has been appointed for every prov
ince to arrange one gift in the name OF the
whole province. In this way there will be
money enough to present the queen with
an article of value and sufficient will be
left over for charity.
The province of iceland, for instance,
will give a white perambulator. The lace
sunshade over it for summer use will be
made by the famous Sluis lace makers.
The Hague gives a cradle, the embroidery
OF which is entrusted to the same hands
that embroidered the queens coronation
robes and her wedding dress. Leeuwarden
gives a silver book on an antique oak
stand, In which the events of baby life will
be noted down-the baby's weight every
week, the date of the first tooth, of the
first step, of little ailments, etc.
Rotterdam gives a silver mug, plate,
spoon and egg cup; Amsterdam a wash
stand with silver ever. basin, etc. A screen
painted by Dutch artists, an antique oak
chest for linen, a press for baby clothes.
white lacquered furniture. a clock in Hin
loper carved wood and a weighing machine
are among the other gifts.
The larger towns preferred not TO ioin
the provincial committees. The East and
West Indian colonies and the Dutch people
living abroad are following the same
course. The Dutch colony in London hopes
to collect money enough for a free bed I'm
one of the London hospitals, to be always
at the disposal Of a Dutch patient.
To Announce the Event.
As soon as the doctors 90 to the palace
a battery OF artillery is to be put up in the
Malieveld, a large open space at the en-
trance Of the Hague Wood. Men with
flags will be stationed along the route from
the palace to the Malieveld. AS soon as
the royal baby is born they will communi-
cate the news from one to another with
different signals for a prince or a princess
Then the cannon will boom forth the
happy news OF the queens deliverance
Telephones and telegraph will convey the
news to every part of the country ana the
colonies.
AS soon as the queen has regalned her
strength the royal family will go TO the
queens country residence of the Loo
where she spent the greater part of her
happy childhood, under the old trees IN
the healthy Gelderland air.