AT THE HAGUE PEACE CONFERENCE: IV 1899 315 



June 17. 



The morning was given largely to completing my draft 

 of our memorial to the conference regarding the immu 

 nity of private property in time of war from seizure on 

 the high seas. 



In the afternoon drove to Scheveningen to make sundry 

 official visits, and in the evening to the great festival 

 given by the Netherlands Government to the conference. 



Its first feature was a series of tableaux representing 

 some of the most famous pictures in the Dutch galleries, 

 the most successful of all being Rembrandt s &quot; Night 

 Watch.&quot; Jan Steen s &quot; Wedding Party &quot; was also very 

 beautiful. Then came peasant dances given, in the midst 

 of the great hall, by persons in the costumes of all the 

 different provinces. These were characteristic and in 

 teresting, some of them being wonderfully quaint. 



The violinist of the late King, Johannes Wolff, played 

 some solos in a masterly way. 



The music by the great military band, especially the 

 hymn of William of Nassau and the Dutch and Eussian 

 national anthems, was splendidly rendered, and the old 

 Dutch provincial music played in connection with the 

 dances and tableaux was also noteworthy. 



It was an exceedingly brilliant assemblage, and the 

 whole festival from first to last a decided success. 



June 18, Sunday. 



Went to Ley den to attend service at St. Peter s. Both 

 the church and its monuments are interesting. Visited 

 also the church of St. Pancras, a remarkable specimen of 

 Gothic architecture, and looked upon the tomb of Van der 

 Werf, the brave burgomaster who defended the town 

 against the Spaniards during the siege. 



At the university I was much interested in the public 

 hall where degrees are conferred, and above all in the 

 many portraits of distinguished professors. Lingered 

 next in the botanical gardens back of the university, which 

 are very beautiful. 



Then to the Museum of Antiquities, which is remark- 



