Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-02-20


out to do things grandiy.
The action of the Nederlandische ex-
tended beyond the frontiers. Its bureau,
assisted by a dozen foreign societies.
International organization. plus vast
council of hundred persons. The CON
gress that was to have been held al
Berlin to study the basis OF a durable
peace. II is understood, has not scored
any success
In the commencement of the war a
mischierous waE at The Hague wrote
on the photograph OF the Palace OF
Peace posted on the wall this notice:
To be sold because of failure" Pass
ers-by laughed significantly.
III pacifsts have not increased in num-
oers in Holland there are certain
NUMBER OF people who manifest their
disgust at the war by wearing in the
outtonhole of their coats a small
round veneered white plate the size of
=, nhItN,cent piece. on which is printed
IN plack letters: 'Spreek nit met mtj
over den oorlog" C"Do not speak to me
OF war ,. These people are met in rail-
way wagons. but ii Is said the most of
mem are commercial travellers. who
which is fruitful.
Hollands charity is always active
ana generous toward the Belgians.
Charity to was invaded. sought ref
p.,,;. uge in Holland to the
number of 100000 or
more. The village of Nunspeet thus
sprang into existence. then GueIdre at
Eda. then Brabant at Uden. On the in
itiative of Mr.. Rockefeller the mode of
construction has been modified. The
American philanthropist would extend
the utility OF these constructions by
making them capable of being taken
apart. When the hour of repatriation
arrives the house may be removed and
serve the occupant re-esta blished as a.
permanent refuge on the soil of his
own country. These houses at present
are erected in the fields and outside of
the villages. They are elegant, and are
cheerful in aspect
The idea, eminently delicate and gem
erous. was due to the financial support
OF the Holland government and Of the
rich and beneficent American who has
thus employed his wealth in attenuat-
ing the misery of the Belgian refugees.
When the first days of agony had
passed, 1t was thought well to organize
and uprooted people could be aided.
To give them work was an urgent
necessity. Workshops for the manu-
facture of lace and sewing for women,
Sdi PSHtIy ioHWOTk men were
established. In payment of the work,
a curious system was adopted. for the
work was not compensated by money,
but by points" according to the time
and difficulty of the labor. which was
valued by Belgian taskmasters In the
shops of the village the workers pay
their purchases with these points;
their economies only will be counted In
money later on.
Besides these three villages, there
may be found Belgian colonies OF less
Importance in most Holland cities. In
termed soldiers have not been neglect
ed. and it was found necessary to take
measures to render their existence less
squads to labor in the different fac
tories and workshops. Even in the
neighborhood Of the mines Of Heerien
in Limbourg. villages have been es-
tablished. where the married informed
may reside with their families and
circulate, on their word of honor not to
attempt to escape. These may gain q
maximum salary of francs a day, but
the surplus is sent to The Hague to be
distributed later.
Committees of relief have also organ.
lied religious and intellectual life for
the Belgian refu-
Organized Works gees. Such journals
dS the ECHO DciSC
VI AseiieA. and De vlaamsche
Stem. edited by Belgians. appear with
entire freedom and are sold almost
everywhere in Holland. Flemish pat
riots have established, in accord with
the Belgian government. the Belgische
Dagblad. published at Amsterdam.
In the beginning of the war there
were journals in Holland which were
timidly Germanophile. and this was es-
sentially so of the Toestand, which. in
deed. was a German journal outright.
edited by a German and created with
German money. The Toestand soon lost
its timidity. and becoming ultra-auda
cious it was finally suspended. It was
replaced by the Toekomst the Future.
Some days later the Ozijzinning Demo-
craat announced that DR.. Bos, men,
Der of the second chamber. had de-
nounced the creation of the Toekomst
as quite as bad as it's predecessor. the
Toestand. The Telegram Is frankly
anti-German. 1t publishes the cele-
brated caricatures of NJ. Roemaekers,
and has wide circulation in Holland and
over the frontiers.
instruction has been provided for a
great number of Belgian children, and
special classes have been formed in the
villages for boys, girls and women and
sewing schools have been established.
Students have also been cared for.
Those informed as soldiers have been
given instruction in the province of
Utrecht at Amersfoort, where univer-
sity courses have been organized Other
refugees have been furnished with su-
perior instruction by professors of Hol-
land universities and by masters from
Louvain and Gand.
The sympathies of the people of Hol-
land are largely opposed to the Ger
mans and directly favorable to Belgium
and the allies Since several months
many Hollanders are making excellent
affairs with their neighbors. Naturally,
this class are inclined to side with those
who permit them to gain large sums
of money. They are generally hostile
to England, whose maritime restric-
tions embarrass their transactions.
whose commercial relations
with Germany are very active, is Ger
while Amsterdam, on the
is very favorable to the
quadruple entente.
There is a circle in Holland which,
however restricted, is distinctly pro-
German-the aristocracy. The latter are
united to the German nobility beyond the
Rhine Pro-Germanism is professed in
a minor way among certain officers OF
the army and also among the clergy,
whose sympathies are advocated by the
journal the Standard.
Nevertheless, Hollands attachment
to the principles of neutrality, indie.
pendence and preparedness Is above all
a national sentiment.
CHI. CHAILLE-LoNG.
COMMENT ON rAnnvcnAf