New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1843-11-10

tv foreign ambassadors met in it. and natives of
the most distant countries brought to 1t their rch
merchandise. Now its streets are almost de-
serted, and their solitude doubles the effect OF the
decayed magnifcence of its buildings. Vast
mansions and ruined palaces covered with quaint
carvings are every where found, and show Us
what the city has been. southey says well
=. They season of her speudor has gone by,
TIE, every where ITS monuments remain;
Temples which their stately heads on high;
Canals that intersect the fertile plain:
Wide and squares, with many court and hall
Spacious ard undefac-d, but ancient all"
In all these fine old Belgium cities, the former
power and wealth of the Democracy is shown by
the splendor of their Topn Halls Hotels de Tile)
Their citizens were princes and they built pala-
ces for their corporations Their chief magistrate
resided there, and there too were the halls of
their guilds, or associations of merchants and
tradesmen, and sometimes their courts of justice.
The architecture Of these magnificent structures
is Gothic, and the profusion with which every pos
sible ornament is lavished upon them proves the
wealth and pride of their builders. No civic edi
fees in Europe can approach IN grandeur and
elegance those Of Belgium.
The Torn Hall at Bruges is small, but highly
decorated, and is interesting relic OF the four
teenth century. The inches in front formerly
contained curious statues of the Counts OF Flan-
ders, but these were destroyed by the French
Revolutionary Army in 1892. All over Belgium
traces of similar Vandalism on the part OF the
French are found, and are related by the lnhabi-
tants with most expressive shrugs. The root OF
the interior chief room is Of finely carved ana
gilded wood, giving great richness OF effect aho
the portraits by vandyke, which surround IT. are
rather superior to those in the " Governors room
of our own City Hall
The Cathedrals are among the most interest
ing objects in all Catholic countries and remarka-
bly, so in Belgium. In Bruges, the Cathedral OF
St. Sauveur has little external beauty, though
highly ornamented within. We entered during
the celebration Of high mass, as the notes of the
organ were echoing through "the longdrawn
aisles,'' and the incense was making the air
heavy with perfume. An old woman brought us
chairs from huge pile of them in one corner
the pavements of these churches being undetaced
by pews or benches) and we seated ourselves TIL
the conclusion of the services. How bare ana
naked seem our churches, in comparison with
these All around hang old paintings of scrptu-
raj and legendary events, oftentimes, master
pieces of art. The painted windows give the IN
terror a dim religious Light" and repeat their
rich coored figures upon the tesseated pave
ment. Porphyry, agate, and other precious ma
terials adorn the walls and the columns and pllas-
tiers are of variously colored marbles smaller
chapels, occupy recesses, branching OFT from the
main building, and each has glltterlng shrine,
dedicated to different saint. The votarles OF
each lavish decorations upon their favorte and
lamp burns before it, night and day, and al
ways some one is kneeling there IN absorbed de-
votion. Statutes, busts, and efiges surmount
the tombs of the great men who are there buried,
and on the very slab over which you walk is often
seen a famous historical name, " familiar as
household words" The pomp of the ritual with
its accessories of music and incense, and the
kneeing multitude cannot fail to impress even
the most rigid Protestant, and he will be forced
to admit that we may have gone rather too far IN
Oh. sweeping ecclesiastical reforms.
A soldier, with broad sash inscribed "Kerk
Police,'' walks about during service to preserve
ORDER and to enforce the rule hung up on the
pillars, and announcing that {" 1t is not allowed
to walk about the church during the mass" This
notice is printed in three languages, English,
French and Flemish, and the English is placed
frst-a broad hint that those speaking that
language are the most irreverent, and the most
in need Of this admonition. Indeed I have often
seen n party Of English, with glasses stuck in
eye, lounge up Cathedral, when all the congre-
CATION were humby Frustrated, and criticise in
audible tones every thing around. How long
would they permit Catholic to 50 conduct him.
self in their churches
Among the MINOR peculiarities of these churches
are the great number Of little wax models of arms,
legs, hearts, &c, hung up by the people at the
shrines of the saints TO whom they think they
are indebted for the cure of those parts of the
body Sometimes these votive offerings are of
silver or of gold, and are illuminated by candles
of size and gu ity proportioned to the wealth Of
the devoier, fr little taow dips TO huge wax
candles.
One of the Lions Of Bruges is the To,cer of
its cloth-halI, ascended by 400 steps, and con-
tanning the finest chimes in Europe. They con-
tain ory;eight bells and are played every fifteen
minutes by cylinder eight feet in diameter,
moved by a weight of four thousand pounds.
Their music is almost incessant and is very de-
Eghtfu, ringing out the finest airs of Mozart, or
Beethoven at all hours and In the sweetest tones,
and making a pleasant episode in the pauses Of