Haarlem preferred to be the agricultural； or； more strictly
speaking； the horticultural metropolis。
In fact； girt about as she was； breezy and exposed to the
sun's hot rays； she seemed to offer to gardeners so many
more guarantees of success than other places； with their
heavy sea air； and their scorching heat。
On this account all the serene souls who loved the earth and
its fruits had gradually gathered together at Haarlem； just
as all the nervous； uneasy spirits； whose ambition was for
travel and commerce； had settled in Rotterdam and Amsterdam；
and all the politicians and selfish worldlings at the Hague。
We have observed that Leyden overflowed with scholars。 In
like manner Haarlem was devoted to the gentle pursuits of
peace； to music and painting； orchards and avenues；
groves and parks。 Haarlem went wild about flowers； and
tulips received their full share of worship。
Haarlem offered prizes for tulip…growing； and this fact
brings us in the most natural manner to that celebration
which the city intended to hold on May 15th； 1673 in honour
of the great black tulip； immaculate and perfect； which
should gain for its discoverer one hundred thousand
guilders！
Haarlem； having placed on exhibition its favourite； having
advertised its love of flowers in general and of tulips in
particular； at a period when the souls of men were filled
with war and sedition； Haarlem； having enjoyed the
exquisite pleasure of admiring the very purest ideal of
tulips in full bloom； Haarlem； this tiny town； full of
trees and of sunshine； of light and shade； had determined
that the ceremony of bestowing the prize should be a fete
which should live for ever in the memory of men。
So much the more reason was there； too； in her
determination； in that Holland is the home of fetes； never
did sluggish natures manifest more eager energy of the
singing and dancing sort than those of the good republicans
of the Seven Provinces when amusement was the order of the
day。
Study the pictures of the two Teniers。
It is certain that sluggish folk are of all men the most
earnest in tiring themselves； not when they are at work； but
at play。
Thus Haarlem was thrice given over to rejoicing； for a
three…fold celebration was to take place。
In the first place； the black tulip had been produced；
secondly； the Prince William of Orange； as a true Hollander；
had promised to be present at the ceremony of its
inauguration； and； thirdly； it was a point of honour with
the States to show to the French； at the conclusion of such
a disastrous war as that of 1672； that the flooring of the
Batavian Republic was solid enough for its people to dance
on it； with the accompaniment of the cannon of their fleets。
The Horticultural Society of Haarlem had shown itself worthy
of its fame by giving a hundred thousand guilders for the
bulb of a tulip。 The town； which did not wish to be outdone；
voted a like sum； which was placed in the hands of that
notable body to solemnise the auspicious event。
And indeed on the Sunday fixed for this ceremony there was
such a stir among the people； and such an enthusiasm among
the townsfolk； that even a Frenchman； who laughs at
everything at all times； could not have helped admiring the
character of those honest Hollanders； who were equally ready
to spend their money for the construction of a man…of…war
that is to say； for the support of national honour as
they were to reward the growth of a new flower； destined to
bloom for one day； and to serve during that day to divert
the ladies； the learned； and the curious。
At the head of the notables and of the Horticultural
Committee shone Mynheer van Systens； dressed in his richest
habiliments。
The worthy man had done his best to imitate his favourite
flower in the sombre and stern elegance of his garments； and
we are bound to record； to his honour； that he had perfectly
succeeded in his object。
Dark crimson velvet； dark purple silk； and jet…black cloth；
with linen of dazzling whiteness； composed the festive dress
of the President； who marched at the head of his Committee
carrying an enormous nosegay； like that which a hundred and
twenty…one years later； Monsieur de Robespierre displayed at
the festival of 〃The Supreme Being。〃
There was； however； a little difference between the two；
very different from the French tribune； whose heart was so
full of hatred and ambitious vindictiveness； was the honest
President； who carried in his bosom a heart as innocent as
the flowers which he held in his hand。
Behind the Committee； who were as gay as a meadow； and as
fragrant as a garden in spring； marched the learned
societies of the town； the magistrates； the military； the
nobles and the boors。
The people； even among the respected republicans of the
Seven Provinces； had no place assigned to them in the
procession； they merely lined the streets。
This is the place for the multitude； which with true
philosophic spirit； waits until the triumphal pageants have
passed； to know what to say of them； and sometimes also to
know what to do。
This time； however； there was no question either of the
triumph of Pompey or of Caesar； neither of the defeat of
Mithridates； nor of the conquest of Gaul。 The procession was
as placid as the passing of a flock of lambs； and as
inoffensive as a flight of birds sweeping through the air。
Haarlem had no other triumphers； except its gardeners。
Worshipping flowers； Haarlem idolised the florist。
In the centre of this pacific and fragrant cortege the black
tulip was seen； carried on a litter； which was covered with
white velvet and fringed with gold。
The handles of the litter were supported by four men； who
were from time to time relieved by fresh relays； even as
the bearers of Mother Cybele used to take turn and turn
about at Rome in the ancient days； when she was brought from
Etruria to the Eternal City； amid the blare of trumpets and
the worship of a whole nation。
This public exhibition of the tulip was an act of adoration
rendered by an entire nation； unlettered and unrefined； to
the refinement and culture of its illustrious and devout
leaders； whose blood had stained the foul pavement of the
Buytenhof； reserving the right at a future day to inscribe
the names of its victims upon the highest stone of the Dutch
Pantheon。
It was arranged that the Prince Stadtholder himself should
give the prize of a hundred thousand guilders； which
interested the people at large； and it was thought that
perhaps he would make a speech which interested more
particularly his friends and enemies。
For in the most insignificant words of men of political
importance their friends and their opponents always
endeavour to detect； and hence think they can interpret；
something of their true thoughts。
As if your true politician's hat were not a bushel under
which he always hides his light！
At length the great and long…expected day May 15； 1673
arrived； and all Haarlem； swelled by her neighbours； was
gathered in the beautiful tree…lined streets； determined on
this occasion not to waste its applause upon military
heroes； or those who had won notable victories in the field
of science； but to reserve their applause for those who had
overcome Nature； and had forced the inexhaustible mother to
be delivered of what had theretofore been regarded as
impossible； a completely black tulip。
Nothing however； is more fickle than such a resolution of
the people。 When a crowd is once in the humour to cheer； it
is just the same as when it begins to hiss。 It never knows
when to stop。
It therefore； in the first place； cheered Van Systens and
his nosegay； then the corporation； then followed a cheer for
the people； and； at last； and for once with great justice；
there was one for the excellent music with which the
gentlemen of the town councils generously treated the
assemblage at every halt。
Every eye was looking eagerly for the heroine of the
festival； that is to say； the black tulip； and for its
hero in the person of the one who had grown it。
In case this hero should make his appearance after the
address we have seen worthy Van Systens at work on so
conscientiously； he would not fail to make as much of a
sensation as the Stadtholder himself。
But the interest of the day's proceedings for us is centred
neither in the learned discourse of our friend Van Systens；
however eloquent it might be； nor in the young dandies；
resplendent in their Sunday clothes； and munching their
heavy cakes； nor in the poor young peasants； gnawing smoked
eels as if they were sticks of vanilla sweetmeat； neither is
our interest in the lovely Dutch girls； with red cheeks and
ivory bosoms； nor in the fat； round mynheers； who had never
left their homes before； nor in the sallow； thin travellers
from Ceylon or Java； nor in the thirsty crowds； who quenched
their thirst with pickled cucumbers； no； so far as we are
concerned； the real interest of the situation； the
fascinating； dramatic interest； is not to be found here。
Our interest is in a smiling； sparkling face to be seen amid
the members of the Horticultural Committee； in the person
with a flower in his belt； combed and brushed； and all clad
in scarlet； a colour which makes his black hair and
yellow skin stand out in violent contrast。
This hero； radiant with rapturous joy； who had the
distinguished honour of making the people forget the speech
of Van Systens； and even the presence of the Stadtholder；
was Isaac Boxtel； who saw； carried on his right before him；
the black tulip； his pretended daughter； and on his left； in
a large purse； the hundred thousand guilders in glittering
gold pieces； towards which he was constantly squinting；
fearful of losing sight of them for one moment。
Now and then Boxtel quickened his step to rub elbows for a
moment with Van Systens。 He borrowed a little importance
from everybody to make a kind of false importance for
himself； as he had stolen Rosa's tulip to effect his own
glory； and thereby