DE VOLKSVRIEND
"THE PEOPLE'S FRIEND"

______

    Among the immigrants who arrived here from Holland the summer of 1881 was the writer of this piece and his family.

    Since Mr. Hospers had his hands too full with bank matters and sundry other affairs to direct regularly and with propriety DE VOLKSVRIEND, he wished to dispose of the magazine. That is the reason why a newly arrived novice (who in many ways was still unfamiliar with America's peculiarities, habits and customs) seated himself behind the desk in the "editor's sanctum."

     Mr. Hospers promised to advise the new editor in the first time, to point out important matters which should be discussed, and to specify pieces which were good to translate, and he was true to his promise.

     But although the new editor understood a word or two of English, the first proof (the translation and reporting of the rebellion of Sitting Bull) was not an easy job. Sometimes the translation was halting, and

Although the Dutch was faultless

Yet it seemed to him, who read the English,

That sometimes, in those stories

A translation mistake had crept in.

    He still remembers having translated the sentence "Gov. Gear says, Iowa is in good gear" into "Gov. Gear zee, Iowa is in good gewaad." Those who are aware of the good political machinery in Gov. Gear's days, will understand, that although the Dutch sentence was faultless, it still did not convey the original English meaning.

    As editor, the writer of this piece did as much as he could to follow in the footsteps of his predecessors by having the interests of the settlement at heart. DE VOLKSVRIEND remained true to her original intention: to be a friend to the people. The new editor had many friends in the Old Fatherland, and he sent this magazine to many to acquaint them with the good land here, and to tell even those without property of the opportunities here. Besides, several of his articles, dealing with the colony as well as with American church and political matters, were published by Dutch magazines (e.g., De Standaard, Bet Oosten, etc.).

    In imitation of Mr. Hospers, the new editor tried to make a Christian newspaper of the paper so that our settlers (except for the political and social news) would be informed of church matters, in the Netherlands as well as in America. DE VOLKSVRIEND has held steadfast to this goal up to the present time.