but, doubtless, have said enough to show you something of its wealth of
appointments and costly treasures. One cannot help thinking what a sum
all this has cost, and what it must take to keep up so many places; but
the Royal Family of the Netherlands have well-lined coffers, as it is
not only their own country that owns their supremacy, but they have also
many dependencies in the Indies, bringing in enormous revenues.

[Illustration: "T'HUIS IN'T BOSCH," NEAR DEN HAAG.
_From a Photo. by Gunn & Stuart, Richmond._]

I have mentioned three Palaces; I know of five; but will close with just
a few words respecting a fourth, and a view of the same, which is
charmingly pretty. This Palace is called "T'Huis in't Bosch," and is
just a nice carriage drive from the town of Den Haag. It stands right in
the midst of a beautiful park, with herds of deer and hundreds of
gay-plumaged birds--a park that far and away surpasses even our vaunted
Richmond Park--magnificent timber, dense undergrowth, wild flowers in
profusion, and now and again winding lakes and streams, crossed by
rustic bridges, and such views over hill and dale as would delight
either an artist or an admirer of Nature. The above view of the house
will give a good idea of its outside appearance. I have no time for
interiors, or should be tempted to prolong this indefinitely. We have
had a peep at the Palaces of Holland, and many of us will know more of
the country and its reigning family for the visit.

Holland, with its youthful Queen, has a future we cannot wot of, but we
all hope it is a prosperous and bright one, and we all agree in thanking
Her Majesty the Queen-Regent for the opportunity of gaining this
information, and wish for her daughter all the happiness and wisdom that
she--the Royal mother--could desire for her.

* * * * *

[_The Illustrated Interviews will be continued as usual next month_.]

* * * * *

_Zig-Zags at the Zoo._

XIX. ZIG-ZAG BATRACHIAN.

[Illustration]

The frog and the toad suffer, in this world of injustice, from a
deprival of the respect and esteem that is certainly their due. In the
case of the frog this may be due largely to the animal's headlong and
harlequin-like character, but the toad is a steady personage, whose
solemnity of deportment, not to speak of his stoutness, entitles him to
high consideration in a world where grave dulness and personal
circumfere