New-York tribune., 1913-07-25
LITERARY CRITICISM
AND BOOK NEWS
Holland at the Close of Its Era Of Greatness
Manners Maketh the Father of the Man
Devon, Mother Of Famous Englishmen.

Journey, generally not TO reach the
Hague and their High Mightinesses
again until the war in which partici-
patton was demanded had been fought
or the dispute been settled. The uit-
mate result was a growing eXaspera-
tion with dilatory Dutch ways on the
part of foreign governments.
Not the least valuable part of Mr.
van Looms exceptionally readable book
is his review of the history Of the
Dutch Republic in its Golden Age IL
is brief but most informing, an ad-
mirable piece of condensation. The
author explains at length the chaotic
system of government Of the Union
the lack Of real central power and au-
thority. which made the States Cen
eral not what they had been intended
to be. House of Representatives and
Senate in one, with the addition of Ger
tain executive powers, but sort or
conference Of ministers plenipotentiary
from independent miniature republics
who were willing to discuss coumon IN
terests and common action, but were
bent. above all else. upon asserting and
maintaining their own particular prov
ince's full and absolute autonomy. The
system had been inherited from the
Middle Ages, and worked only as well
as il did through sheer force Of habit y
Finally, there was another power OF
uncertainty defined authority, the Stad-
holder. Nowhere else than in Mr.. Van
Looms book can be found so compact,
so clear, a statement Of the govern
ment of the Dutch Republic.
The struggle for increased power Of
the Stockholders. the stern opposition to
| it of the ruling upper middle class, were
/ continued through the eighteenth CEN
I tuTy, which was, indeed, the great op-
portunity Of the Regents who consid-
cred public office "a private snap" and
! the country their oyster They were
/ the most comfortable of all comfort
| able Hollanders in an age of effOrtless,
ambitionless comfort. II all came 10
an end in the Donnybrook fair Of Pa
} triots" and "Orangemen." which
! brought the sans -culottes of the French
Republic to Holland And they, in all
liberty, equality and fraternity, bled
the country white. Napoleon did the
rest.
In his economic chapters Mr.. van
Loon is as readable as he is sound. His
social studies have life, and politically
he has all the detachment of the true
historian. He has also a refreshing
sense Of humOr, pointed occasionally
with cynicism. England was entirely
in the right when she began her last
war on the republic, but, says our au-
thor:
When the mail brought authentic news
of the battle off the Isle Of Wight, Divine
Providence was kept working overtime
lin Hollandl listening TO all the prayers
of patriotic citizens who implOrcd
speedy and Just revenge upon the heads
Of such unbelievable scoundrelS as the
subjects of His Majesty King George III.
The pamphleteer worked with a Zeal
only surpassed by the yellow reporter OF
the Spanish Anne cican War. The spirits
Of De Ruyter and Tromp were called
forth from the grave TO avenge the in
suit which the Dutch flag had just SUI
fered. Cato Bdtavus and other
pseudo-ClassCdl poets (and oh, how bad
the poetry of these Batavians wasD called