6 DUTCH BULBS AND GARDENS 



interesting, rather crowded, real, busy, homely, and 

 genuine ; not suggestive of devastating passions 

 or high romance exactly, but very comfortable and 

 wholesome. One would expect it to dine early, to 

 attend to business, and have a substantial supper. 

 This is not meant to imply that everyone in 

 Amsterdam does these things, only that that is the 

 general impression produced by the town. One 

 can perfectly understand Amsterdam being the 

 diamond mart of the world ; but one cannot 

 imagine an Amsterdamer ruining himself to buy 

 a parure for some fair woman's caprice ; or an 

 Amsterdamess jeopardising her immortal soul to 

 secure some special jewel. One no more expects 

 it than one expects the Jews, who are the art 

 dealers and bijou connoisseurs of the world, to be 

 the producers of these same articles. Not that one 

 thinks the less of them on that account. Artists 

 and romancists and subjects of the grand passion, 

 though no doubt adding to the joy of nations, 

 make indifferent folk to live with ; the sturdy man 

 of business and the shrewd and kindly citizen 

 might be a deal better for everyday use — and 

 most lives consist principally of such usings. In 

 Amsterdam one can perfectly understand the 

 famous struggle with Spain and some of the 



