THE DUTCH AT HOME AND ABROAD 79

Dutch pluck has sailed all over the world. It has put
its stamp on commerce, science, and manufactures. It has
set its seal on every quarter of the earth. Dutchmen were
at home in Japan before either the Americans or English
had dared to intrude upon those inhospitable shores.
There were great obstacles to encounter in any attempt at
trading or becoming acquainted with that strange hermit
of an empire in the east. She had enough of her own, she
said, and asked no favors of the outside barbarians.
Would they be kind enough to stay away? Most of the
world gave an unwilling assent ; but Holland undertook to
show Japan the folly of rejecting the benefits of commerce ;
and in time, and after many a hard struggle, succeeded in
establishing a Japanese trade.

Talking of ships, whence did the ship sail that brought
the good Fathers of New England safely across the sea ?
And, for months before, what country had sheltered them
from the persecution that threatened them in their native
land? Ask the books these questions, if need be, and ask
yourselves whether to shelter the oppressed, to offer an
asylum to innocent but hunted fugitives from every clime,
is not a noble work for pluck to do.

Whence, too, did some of our New York oddities come ?
Why are you, little New Yorkers, so fond of watftles, crul-
lers, doughnuts, and New Year’s cake? Dutch inventions
every one of them. Why do you expectantly honor the
good St. Nicholas, the patron saint of New York? Why
is this city turned topsyturvy in a general “ moving”
whenever the first of May comes round? Why, until very
recently, did your fathers and uncles on the first day of