Черный тюльпан
Haarlem
Haarlemofferedprizesfortulip-growing;andthisfactbringsusinthemostnaturalmannertothatcelebrationwhichthecityintendedtoholdonMay15th,1673inhonourofthegreatblacktulip,immaculateandperfect,whichshouldgainforitsdiscovereronehundredthousandguilders!
Haarlem,havingplacedonexhibitionitsfavourite,havingadvertiseditsloveofflowersingeneralandoftulipsinparticular,ataperiodwhenthesoulsofmenwerefilledwithwarandsedition,—Haarlem,havingenjoyedtheexquisitepleasureofadmiringtheverypurestidealoftulipsinfullbloom,—Haarlem,thistinytown,fulloftreesandofsunshine,oflightandshade,haddeterminedthattheceremonyofbestowingtheprizeshouldbeafetewhichshouldliveforeverinthememoryofmen.
Somuchthemorereasonwasthere,too,inherdetermination,inthatHollandisthehomeoffetes;neverdidsluggishnaturesmanifestmoreeagerenergyofthesinginganddancingsortthanthoseofthegoodrepublicansoftheSevenProvinceswhenamusementwastheorderoftheday.
StudythepicturesofthetwoTeniers.
Itiscertainthatsluggishfolkareofallmenthemostearnestintiringthemselves,notwhentheyareatwork,butatplay.
ThusHaarlemwasthricegivenovertorejoicing,forathree-foldcelebrationwastotakeplace.
