Evening star., 1932-03-06
Women of Diplomacy
Interesting Interviews With Interesting Person
ages Now in Washington.
BY PAULINE A. FREDERICK.
BY PAULINE A. FREDERICK.

There is something interesting about
the fact that a nation little more thar
the size Of Maryland, and "snatchec
from the sea-" as it were, should be
written down in history as a meeting
place Of the powers
This observation was made recently
by magnetic little Nine. Albertina Win
throp van Royen. She was talking
about the Netherlands, the country OF
her adoption since marrying the pres
ent Dutch Minister to the United
States.
In the Peace Palace at The Hague
she pointed out, there converge many
Of the judicial and arbitral efforts OF
the nations of the world. The Hague
Court of Arbitration and the Permanent
Court of International Justice bear
testimony to this fact.
But one would be attracted to this
little Dutch nation for other reasons
too. Somehow, when the Netherlands
is mentioned, it evokeS pictures OF
quaint costumes with stiff white head
pieces: clumpy wooden shoes; pictur-
esoue windmills, and sturdy dikes with
a courageous little Hans stopping a
hole in one of them with his f[ger,
then his hand, and finally his 3em, to
keep the sea from breaking Through
and rushing destructively over the
land
Nine. Royen retinted these pictures
with her own glowing words as she de-
scribed the costumes and people OF ner
adopted country, and referred 70 the
we'll known story of the little Dutch
boy who saved Holland from flood.
Among the many things in the
Netherlands of which 1 am extremely
fond, too, are the tulips, NINE. van
Royen explained. The great orlgnI
beds of them are surely beauti1ul
sight"
toms which are interesting. For eX-
ample. one of the favorite ways OF
travel is by bicycle In fact, this mooe
is so popular that it is estimated there
are more than 100000 bicycles owned
throughout the country.
Descriptions of various Dutch cele-
hrations entered into the conversation
For instance, almost before Americans
have started their annual Christmas
shopping, the Yuletide gltt-glVng sea-
son in the Netherlands is over.
an the Netherlands December o.
the name-day of st. Nicholas !SanCa
}.
Mime. Van Royen pointed out. Pres
ents are also given on birthdays IN
Holland. but in all so-called Cathollc
countries the name-days OF saints are
of greater Importance, and besides cele-
brating ones own birthday one always
celebrates the day of the saint whose
name one bears. >,
s.St. Nicholas, in the Netherlands,
she continued, lis separate ana olStlnct
from Christmas, the birthday OF CnrlsC;
Here in America the two are confused
and observed on one OCCASION Decenn-
Der rs"
Nine. Van Royen has captivating
personality. Although a silvered hair
bellies youth, the freshness OF her lace
and ewes indicate that the years rest
gracefully with this little American
horn Dutch lady. She looked especially
charming in simple gown OF amethyst
crepe. with a bit of white chlfton at
the neck.
It was % years ago, as Albertina T.
Winthrop, that she first met the pres
ent Minister of the Netherlands to
time secretary of the legation. The
meeting took place in New York, where
Nine. Van Royen was born, and where
her father was banker.
Minister and Nine. Van Royen nave
two sons. Robert Dudlen, the younger
LIS studying law in the Netherlands
The elder son, Jan Herman, Jr., Is al
The present time attache OF the lega-
tion. Thus he is having the unusual
opportunity Of serving out his appren-
ticeship" in the diplomatic service
under the tutelage of his own father
The Van Royens have been located
at a number of interesting diplomatic
posts in different parts of the world.
from the secretaryShip of the Wash
tngton legation Minister Van Royen was
aent to Constantinople to fill similar
position. From there he went to Lon
don as counselor Since 1908 he has
served as Minister successfully at Toxic,
Madrid, Rome and Washington. AND
he American-born woman who is MS
tEife has become an ardent supporter
of the interesting country she has
adopted.
"How I love Hollands sceneryi" Nine.
Van Royen exclaimed ardently. When
that topic was broached she made one
long for a magic carpet-you know
close your eyes, mutter wish and
SVish-you are transported to land OF
beauty But to quote Nine. Van Royen:
People think that Hollands land
scape is rather monotonous, contem-
plative and peaceful and all that sort
of thing, but more or less limited, like
an instrument with one string" she
said But the opposite is true. OF
course, the traditional pastures, dotted
with cattle and q row of windmillS in
the background, are beautiful, and one
can understand how soothing such a
perfect peace was to the minds of Hol-
lands great men. I imagine that few
countries could have produced Spi-
noza, q sage with such a perfect peace
of mind.
But, then, part Of Holland is hilly,"
she went on refiectively, with an oc-
casional fir and pine tree wood. Large
stretches Of moorland are in the north
Erica covers the heath in the north and
south. And one cannot forget the vel
vety loveliness of the dunes and the
ocean, Hollands boundary In the north
and in the west"
The Dutch home of the Van Royens
stands Just across the street from the
Peace Palace at The Hague. 1t Is a
pleasant, modern building in a garden
where big oak trees recall the beautiful
park that in former times covered that
part Of the city.
To this home there have been sent
many perishable treasures such as
porcelains, lacquers and Italian paint
ings.
They are too fragile to be a part Of
our furnishings, that must be moved
from place to place" this envoys wife
explained.
There are, however, gorgeous ew-
dences in the royal Netherlands lega-
ton Of the keen interest which this
diplomatic couple have in collecting