MEN I HAVE PAINTED
Hals, at Haarlem. In these portraits Hals shows himself to be the master painter. Every excelling quality, even that of rich and superb colour, rivalling, if not surpassing, the Venetians, can be found in this dozen or more canvases.
The journey from Amsterdam to Berlin was monotonous and fatiguing. The fields were well cultivated, but there were no farm-houses, as in Holland; the dwellings seemed to be clustered in small, scattered villages.
The account of my journey is more clearly set forth in the following letters, chiefly to my wife, than any narrative from recollection of events that happened so long ago could possibly describe:—
Saturday Evening, July 17, 1892.
My dear Clara,
I have just had a note from Prince Bismarck's secretary inviting me, on the part of the Prince, to be his guest at breakfast to-morrow. I could not go to bed without writing you the good news. Even should I get no sittings, or fail with the portrait, the honour of having breakfast with the Prince will well repay me for my journey. *****
I have breakfasted with the Prince and Princess Bismarck. We were seven: a Count and his Countess, a doctor from Heidelberg, the Prince's secretary Dr. Chrysander, and myself. A select company, renowned, but not fashionable. We ate scrambled eggs, omelettes, chicken, and brown and white bread; drank Bavarian beer, red wine, and rye whisky.
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