Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1844-07-05

W NlllNu udNC anu IL IiUW OilD
remains for me to state my own connection
with it, which was as follows:
In the year 1929 ! was on my way to
England, after an absence of some years on
the continent, and arrived at Bruges fatlgued
with long journey, prosecuted with scarce
ly an interval of rest from the time OF my
leaving Belgrade. was not sorry TO find
that, if should be obliged to halt, could
calculate on the comforts of a Flemish inn,
and enjoy, besides the opportunity of seeing
the many curious and interesting objects the
ancient city possesses. Added to this, that
during my late rambes in the East of Eu-
rope, | had few occasions to hear any news
of England, or know what course events
might have taken in our political world. AT
Brugcs was certain 10 find newspapers, and
perhaps countrymen also so that, upon ev-
cry score, | was well satisfied with my rest
| ing place.
For the first few DAYS ! was content to
ramble unguided the old city, where every
step reveals some trait of its former gran
deur, when its streets were crowded with the
rich merchants of Lombardy and Venice,
and when the dark featured Turk came to
trade with the baughty burghers, whose
pledged word was bond in every state of
Europe. The Spanish features of the place
still remain; and the habitudes of the South
are preserved by their descendants, who still
observe the siesta ) and in the graceful
mantiIla, worn partly across the face, you
may trace the coquetrv of Andalusia.
Toward the close of my week, visited
! tho ii n pitp1 IF 81 Vnhn md Ioyot,I H.,
to the pictures by Neutrality-suspicious. wonder
ful performances, where expression alone
carries the beholder away, and leaves him
insensibc TO all defects of grouping and ef-
feet. Never had artist such power in the
portraiture of feature. The faces are never
forgotten; the eyes rivct their looks on you
the lips seem to mutter the dreadful story of
their sorrows; the tremuouS cheek, the liv-
id jaw, the sunken orbit, haunt YOU WHEREBY
err you go, and the memory Of them dies not
away.
That strange Golfer, called the Chase de
st. Ursula, is of all his works the most fin
ls!ed and the most costly. The different
surfaces of this singular relic are ornament
ed by painting, representing scenes from the
legend Of st. Ursula and the eleven thou
sand virgins of Cologne. This is indeed the
triumph of the artists genius, and is unsur-
passed for the peculiar beauty of its colorng
and finish.
To en- oy to the utmost the contemplation
of this charming production, drew chair
from one of the window recesses in front of
it, and sat down alone and IN silence to feast
my cysight and my fancy.-Thc venerable
monk who acted as my guide withdrew, and
left me to myself and and my musings.
The stiffness, unbroken by sound, and
the tempered light streaming through the
narrow, barred, deep windows, wrapped me
in revery so profound, that never noticed
the entrance of a stranger who had come in,
and taken place in front of the atar-piece,
and sat with casped hands IN mute admira-
ton before it. A low cough he gave first
directed my attention toward him, and now
perceived that he was an old, apparently a |
very old man, whose white hair was neatly
gathered into queue behind. His forehead |
was high and narrow, the temples strongly
lndented by Time, but still showing the pill
Jared formation so indicative of strength and
decision of character. The features all bore
traces of his having once been handsome
but the look Of birth and blood was even
more markedly their Characteristic. Not
even time and the worlds changes had era
sed the stamp of nobility upon his brow, and
the deep wrinkles of age only tempered the !
look of pride his features wore. His dress
was plain blue frock, buttoncd in military
fashion, and bearing on the breast the mark |
where star had once been worn; a faint
strip OF crimson in a button-hole showed |
that he still carried the decoration of the le-
glon. Trousers and shoes, and silk stock
ings, scrupulously neat and well cared for
completed costume which, though simple
as possible, yet preserved throughout the
AR o! one accustomed to regard dress as an
essential ofhis position. The most remark
aole, indeed the only remarkable thing he
wore' was chdpeau shaped in the ancient
modr' and Topped up with broad tr, color
ca rlDbon--a strange emblem, as it seemed
TO me, Of one whose look and bearing had sol
little in accordance with the practices and
The doctrines of which it was the banner.
This lay on the floor by his side, as well as
cane with massive and richly-chased
head of gold.
1t was but moment before remarked
him, that | was wondering within myself
what had become of that great STAMP of
manhood, that race Of handsome LOOKING.
but stern fellows, one sees on the canvass off
Vandyk and Velasquez. where noble birth
seems lndclibly written on every lineament
and proud thoughts and great aspirations
seem throned upon their lofty brows. And
now, as if to answer the rising doubt, there
he sat, the very type Of that race | was re-
GREETING. SO thoroughly was he absorbed
IN ms own reflections, that had ample OPP
portunlly to regard him unobserved and
with the waywardness of a Temperament
that rarely needed as much temptation to in
vent story, | was imagining what the ca
reer of such man might have been, when
| felt a hand gently laid upon my shoulders.
looked up, and saw the Colonel dc Bour-
queny, Commandanl of Brugcs, to whom
had broug letter of Introduction from an
old brother officer, and with whom | was
that same day to dine zen tete tete.'