The Holland Society of New York - Yearbook (New York, NY)

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l l l l 5 Q -I .rr E '1 QL J' , 1 3 Q! if ,i tl ,I .H 'i ill ffl F4 2 its is Os ' GQ n I ' if - p f a x THE DUTCI-IMAN. BY EDWARD I. WHEELER. His prow was pointed toward the Southern stars g He ploughed a furrow half-way round the world. The winds of many zones tugged at his spars And beat his deck before his sails were furled. On, on, and on-three thousand leagues of sea, Untried, unknown, he traversed to be free. Stolid and stern, unsightly and uncouth, No scented darling he forcourtly game g But in that slow speech there was steadfast truth, And dauntless courage in that stubborn frame. , . On Afric's farthest cape he made his home, And thanked the good God he could cease to roam. The Kings played chess, as Kings are wont to play, Each move an end to some fair land's repose. , On Afric's fields, three thousand leagues away, O.ne tyrant's flag came down, another rose. ' The Dutchman saw with gratitude profound. V He hailed a savior- a worse tyrant found. Vain his long search o'er many sounding seas. Still on the heights doth Freedom love to dwell, To shake her tresses in the mountain breeze, And hear the tales the upland forests tell. Far to the North, where snowy summits rise, The Boer, outmastered, turned his longing eyes. 88 '

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37 began- his business career in a wholesale dry-goods house at No. I4 Wall Street. ln 18 5 3 he became Connected with the house of Smith 8: Stratton, and remained with the Hrm through its different changes of names to Edward Smith 85 Co. When it was incorporated, he became its vice-president. Mr. Elmendorf was at one time a member of the 13th Regiment, holding a lieutenant's commission. In 1855 he married in New York Frances Catherine fRichardsj Lathrop, niece and adopted daughter of Dwight Lathrop, of Savannah, Ga. ' Three chil- dren were born to them--Dwight Lathrop, the traveller and lecturer, Grace, wife of Dr. Carr, and john Barker, all of whom are living in this city. Mrs. Elmendorf died several years ago. lVlr. Elmendorf was a strong Republican, and a few years ago was chairman of the Republican committee of the district in which he lived. l-le never held public office. He became a member of the Holland Society March 29, 1888, was a member of the Sons of the Revolution, and a trus- tee of the Fourth Avenue Presbyterian Church. 'M A 4. , .Pa Q f 5 '- 1-efxl.'ai3?a?n1. ' WK' fl- 155 ' 6? s 'fgfmi e f S 'Q ' Rm S A! 'if-

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. 39 Before him lay long miles of arid plain 3 Around him valleys full of plenty smiled. He yoked his oxen to the lumbering wain, The jambok spoke in menace shrill and wild. Each mighty beast, submissive, bent his neck, And the Boer started on his long, long trek, Came days of aching toil. Night after night He faced Death, eye to eye, and stared him down. With naked fist he met the lion in iightf And sent him scurrying to his jungles brown. The savage blacks who came to spoil and slay Reeled back before the laager's stern array. Oh, Freedom, dear, if ever man there was, In all the ages, earned thy favoring smile, This patient man has earned it. In his cause Pleads all the world to-day. Yea, even that Isle That hisses hate of him, thrills, too, with strong Deep notes of protest against England's wrong. . 7 Gold! Gold ! Gold ! Gold ! The cry filled all the air, And wrought like magic on the hearts of men. The restless souls in every land who dare Shake dice with Fate, felt the blood leap again. 1 They came in squads - in troops -in rushing stream, Their motto ever this : Follow the gleam I But most were men of that proud race who hold The Triple Isle as trident of the sea. What ! was this Boer to rule a realm of gold? His slow hand time the march of Destiny? So came the clash, and on Majuba Hill I That slow hand proved its swift, unerring skill. The old Colossus spanned the Rhodian Bay 5 A continent, the new one would bestride, From Cape to Cairo drive his iron way, And a new empire for his Queen provide. ' An earthquake laid the old Colossus low, The new one laughs amid the earthquake's throe. The lust for gold and lust for empire found That the bold Dutchman dared their way to block.