the  i)reservation  of  their  very  lives,  but
also  for  their  re-quickened  faith  in  life
and  humanity.  .  .  .  Through  her
magnanimous  love  of  humanity  has
Holland,  iu  these  days,  gained  more
than  a  battle  of  arms.  She  has  earned
the  eternal  gratitude  of  a  sister  na-
tion, compelled  the  admiration  of  all
combatants  and  brought  upon  herself
a  blessing  from  on  high."'

While  bleeding  Belgium  is  thus  a
recipient  of  Dutch  (and  American)
bounty,  the  relation  of  Holland  with
the  other  combatant  nations  are  no
less  close  and  essential.  Germany,  as
might  be  expected,  looms  very  large
in  the  Dutch  consciousness.  From  Ger-
many their  language  and  customs  are
derived,  the  royal  house  of  Orange  is
of  German  descent,  as  are  also  many
Dutch  citizens  whose  forefathers  fled
to  the  Netherlands  during  the  religious
wars  in  Germany,  or  who  themselves
are  of  more  recent  Immigration ;
much  of  their  science,  philosophy  and
arts  is  of  German  Importation,  while
the  phenomenal  growth  of  their  com-
merce, industry  and  trade  within  the
last  forty  years  has  been  in  great  part
due  to  the  equally  remarkable  develop-
ment of  Germany  in  the  same  period.
