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 to consider themselves vastly superior to the rest of the Dutch nation. It affords the former pleasure, but the latter treat the matter with cool indifference. Outside of The Hague the Court does not affect social life much, if at all, but the provinces delight in doing honour to the House of Orange.

The central part of the Dutch capital—that round the Vijver—has retained the old characteristics, while the modern part may be compared with Brussels. Like every other Dutch town or city, The Hague possesses a grim historical interest, for many dread scenes have taken place within its limits. From among its quaintly carved buildings arise the phantoms of the murdered dead—Oldenbarneveld, Cornelis and Jan De Witt, and Aleid van Poelgeest, the mistress of Albert, Count of Holland. With the exception of the