SELECTED PAPERS 



type. The Times cited some ten expressions in order to give convincing 

 documentation for its main thesis. My own daily paper commented 

 on the article by remarking that this survey was far from complete: 

 among others, the expression 'to talk double Dutch' was badly missed. 

 I cherish the hope that your abhorrence of this type of speech will 

 make you more tolerant of my imperfect English ! 



It is far from my thoughts to dwell on this rather baffling use of the 

 word 'Dutch' by way of complaint. In the first place, the incriminating 

 expressions are not of American origin; undoubtedly they are all 

 British-coined and date from the far-off days when the relations be- 

 tween England and Holland were not always of a friendly nature, espe- 

 cially when a Dutch admiral sailed up the river Thames. Secondly, a 

 rebuttal of the article of the Times would be quite out of place, be- 

 cause its tendency was to deplore the misuse of the word 'Dutch' and, 

 above all, because the article wound up with a strong recommenda- 

 tion to send contributions to the treasurer of the Holland Flood Relief 

 at New York. May I seize this opportunity to express to you the pro- 

 found gratitude of the Netherlands as a whole for the magnificent re- 

 sponse American citizens have given to this appeal? In the midst of 

 our deep consternation over the terrible disaster which struck a con- 

 siderable part of our country, our hearts were warmed by the world- 

 wide sympathy and the very material support given to us by the 

 United States and many other countries as well. 



I may not, however, dismiss the discussion of the word 'Dutch' with- 

 out mentioning here my recent discovery that there are combinations 

 in which the word 'Dutch' apparently has a positively favorable tenor. 

 At least, I came to this conclusion on reading in the kind letter of in- 

 vitation from your President the revelation of his 'Dutch descent' 

 without any allusion to a possible depreciatory character of this com- 

 munication. 



I hope my audience will forgive me this long digression which may 

 only serve to explain that the pleasant surprise experienced by the 

 Netherlands Academy on receiving your invitation was still enhanced 

 by its contrast to the current evaluation of the word 'Dutch' in collo- 

 quial English. 



Having been invited to make a speech, I have, of course, meditated 

 on the choice of a suitable subject. It is only natural that I at once 

 felt a strong impulse to avow common ideals, for instance, by enlarging 



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