| Show DRUMMERS IN THE BEURS how the llor of aln tl I 1 the leys ol 01 amsterdam are happy in tho possession of a very curious privilege which has been theira tor nearly years during one week at they gather every after noon by hundreds hun dreda and even thousands in the dam the great square in the center of the city each boy with a drum bluda over bis shoulder so as the business of the day Is over in the baure beure or stock exchange which faces the square as many of the boys OB can croad into the building are allowed to go upon the floor of the exchange where for an hour or two they about singing and beating upon their druma the din ie appalling but the good citizens of amsterdam endure the rack et with characteristic placidity As for the origin of this singular custom it Is eald to date from the dincov cry and discomfiture of a spanish plot against the city in the year 1022 at that time after halt a century of war fare the dutch republic had forced spain to concede its independence and amsterdam had become the chief corn mercial city of the world but the spaniards were very bitter over the loss of their rich provinces in the eth elands and in hostilities between the two countries again broke out one afternoon party 0 boye play ing in the dam lost their ball in the canal n in those days skirted one side of the square and ran directly un der the hours one of the boys clam bared in among the allee on which the building stood and found instead of bis ball a boat moored in a dark cor nor and loaded to the gunwale with bozee and barrels filled with guntow der it was evidently the purpose of the spanish conspirators to blow up the baurs beurs while it was crowded as it was eatery day with the leading citizens of amsterdam the frightened boy at once hurried to the burgesses of the town with his story the boatload of explosives was quietly eunk in the canal and the dan ger was oscr vi hen the young hero of the occasion was asked what reward he would have for the service he had rendered the city he begged that so long as there was a baurs beurs in amsterdam the boys might be allowed to make its floor their playground during part of the year in memory of the day when at their games they were the means of saving the building from destruction the request was granted and the cus torn has been carefully observed to this day they are just finishing a fine new baurs beurs in amsterdam and acme of the members of the exchange have ad that the boys and their drums be kept out of it altogether but the mere suggestion has stirred ap such a commotion among the worthy burghers of the city that there appears to be no danger of the repeal of the privilege it Is fortunate that this Is so for there would be many besides the boys 0 amsterdam to lament the disappear ance of quaint and interesting a BUT thai of the past louchs companion |
