224 Hans Brinker

they would relinquish it, and use iron; but they could not
do without their ornaments.

« What of that?” said the vroww, kindling again. “It is
no sin to love beautiful things, if you adapt your material to
circumstances. All / have to say is, the women saved their
country, and, indirectly, introduced a very important branch
of manufacture. Is not that so, Jasper?”

“ Of course it is, sweetheart,” said -mynheer; “ but Peter
needs no word of mine to convince him, that, all the world
over, women have never been found wanting in their country’s
hour of trial, though ” (bowing to mevroww) “ his own country-
women stand foremost in the records of female patriotism and
devotion.”

Then, turning to Ben, the host talked with him in English
of the fine old Belgian city. Among other things, he told the
origin of its name. Ben had been taught that Antwerp was
derived from ae’nt werf (on the wharf); but Mynheer van
Gend gave him a far more interesting derivation.

It appears that about three thousand years ago a great giant,
named Antigonus, lived on the river Scheld, on the site of
the present city of Antwerp. This giant claimed half the
merchandise of all navigators who passed his castle. Of
course some were inclined to oppose this simple regulation.
In such cases Antigonus, by way of teaching them to practise
better manners next time, cut off, and threw into the river,
the right hands of the merchants. Thus hand-werpen (or
hand-throwing), changed to Antwerp, came to be the name
of the place. The escutcheon, or arms, of the city has two
hands upon it: what better proof than this could one have
of the truth of the story, especially when one wishes to
believe it?