class something about Jacoba of Ba varia. As he appeared to know 

 nothing about her, a boy whispered to him: "Say something about 

 the jugs!" i). It is amusing that on telhng this story in later years the 

 then professor added to this: "I had already learnt to detest history". 

 In the second form of the secondary school he once wore a green 

 jacket which, probably owing to the family poverty, was rather old- 

 fashioned. The boys laughed at it, and Martinus took it to heart. It is 

 not unlikely that such continual teasings contributed to the fact that 

 Martinus in later years was mostly gloomy and reserved. 



During his school days Martinus associated with older people. 

 Amongst these, special mention should be made of Mr. Frederik 

 Willem van Eeden 2), a well-known botanist who did a great deal 

 to arouse interest in the flora of the Netherlands at home and over- 

 seas, and who ultimately rosé to be Director of the Colonial Museum 

 at Haarlem. 



Martinus had the great privilege of taking many botanical walks 

 in the surroundings of Haarlem with van Eeden, and it seems 

 extremely probable that it was this naturalist who aroused his 

 interest in plants and animals. He also made several excursions with 

 Mr. Knipscheer, an older gentleman who formerly held the high 

 position of resident in the Netherlands Indian Civil Service, and who- 

 se grandson Hendrik went to the same school as Martinus did. 



It was also at this school that young Beijerinck got to know two 

 boys, Leo and Carel de Leeuw, whose parents, Mr. and Mrs. de 

 Leeuw-Penninck Hooft, lived in the Anna Paulowna polder. The 

 reclaiming of this polder had been carried out owing to the initiative 

 taken by Mr. de Leeuw who fittingly became its first dike-reeve and 

 major. Martinus often enjoyed the hospitality of the family. Here he 

 also made friends with the daughter, Amy de Leeuw, who later be- 

 came well-known under her pen-name Geertrui da Carelsen. 



This friendship continued for long years, and was based on their 

 common love for flowers and plants. During Beijerinck's visits to 

 Anna Paulowna they used to study the development of the flora of 

 the new land, and many times made botanical excursions to the island 

 of Wieringen. In these years also HuGO de Vries was at severaJ times 

 a guest at the Anna Paulo wna-polder house. 



In this period of his life Beijerinck is described as having a 

 gift of application coupled with a steady nature, and since he was 

 also pleasant and witty, his people were very fond of him. It is 

 noteworthy that a cousin at the beginning of his secondary school 



ï) Jacoba of Bavaria, Countess of Holland (1401-1435), is a notorious figure in 

 the history of the Netherlands. She lived for some time at the castle of Teilingen 

 near Haarlem. Afterwards many jugs have been found in the castle moat. They are 

 supposed to have been thrown therein on the occasion of the festivals organized by 

 Jacoba. 



*) Father of Frederik van Eeden, famous Netherlands man of letters and socio- 

 logist. 



