The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1844-11-08

SCRAPS FROM ABROAD.


The white cliffs Of Dover are fading from the
view; even the gigantic balilsnsnu and frowniug
bulwarks of the Castle itself are becoming indistnct
in the dim and hszy distance. Thus pass the glories
and pleasures Of earth; float along the ebbos,
tireless stream of Time, the objects have loved
and priced are left at melancholy distance behind
the shores srewn with crushed hopes and blight
cd promises well long cherished joys on, still
on, is course, the bsrque of life finds no stop
ing place. until il reaches the end OF the voyage =
Happy will il be for if all the shoals and breakers
in safety.
We we're fortunate enough to reach Ostend at a
favorable time In the tide or we might have been
compelled to have remained outside the hsrbor
for several hours. The seems To have taken a
dislike TO the town. and is gradually leaving It high
and dry. Ii is very difficult matter, particularly
for sailing vessels, to enter this tarbor when the wind
happens to be blowing of shore.
There is nothing very remarkable in the appear
ance Of the town, il we except the Notifications
they are of great strength; the town is surrounded
by broad bitches and apparently impregnable ram
parts The Spaniards besieged the place for three
years and half, Q604,) and at last succeeded in
taking it, after having lost $4,000 men the loss of
the beseged $4,000; the town was heap OF
ruins, nearly every house having been destroyed by
the cannon of Spnola. The King of Belgium has
chateau here, and spends portion Of his time
10 it during the summer season. 1t is a place of
considerable resort during the summer as iavore
watering place.
uov IA ante fr,o Oh
sion through the town. There is beautiful walk
on the Diqe, sea wall, erected for defence, but
now used as public promenade. II commands
very extensive and rather interesting prospect
Here also first struck my view Of the peculi-
arities of the French and German society. In front
Of the PariHian des Bains, overlooking the sea and
adjacent country were some hundreds of welldress-
ed people of both sexes, sitting at small tables
| were smoking, others drinking beer or wine the
ladies either knitting or sewing, without hardly an
exception have remarked this popularity every
where-it seems an objectionable offence for lady
to be idle in any part Of Germany Belgium
wish American lilies who toll not neither dc
they spn," could take lesson from this most com
mendable example. 1t mark of gentility in thi.
section of the continent to do nothing and to be good
for nothing.
The traveller will remember Ostend for two things
the badness Of the water and the extortion of inn
keepers and commissOners-at least shall not soon
forget either.
The canal which connects Oslend with Bruges is a
broad and beautiful sheet Of water; the barges, Of
course, are neglected since the completion of the
Great Belgian Railway. AT the first station is q
vast desert of cabbage gardens, reaching almost far
as the eye can Nothing like sauo kyaut to some
palates.
The beautiful town of Bruges has fallen into state
of melancholy decay. Once rich and powerful, the
centre of the commerce of the world nearly one
half of its present population paupers No more
richly laden argoses from Venice, Constantinople
&c, &c, are now seen unloading in her barbor her
warehouses no longer groan beneath the ponderous
piles of merchandise collected from all nations an
air of desolation broods over her decsyed buildings
and neglected streets.
The churches in all these town. are interesting in
high degree both for their antiquity and the various
relics and paintings they contain; this is especially
uue vr onent, Mslines, Liege, sc. The church OF
S. Baron, at Ghent was founded A. ID. ga; rebuff,
|
seventy years ago. Here may be seen the names and
banners Of the celebrated Knights Of the Golden
fleece; also, several masters statues. There are
twcnty-four chapes in the side ssles containing pic
lures, sculpture, &c. Of great excellence The walls
Of the church lined with black marble the balus
trades are Of white marble, and the gates Of tho
chapels lare OF brass. In the church of ST. Michael
are many objects Of great interest The traveller
cannot but be pleased with Ghent il he is fond Of
quiet and CLEANLINESS. | remained here over night,
and was given to understand for the first time, what
had TO expect by way Of luxury in a German
bed although the beds at the Hotel de Ia Poae were
infinitely superior to those have been accustomed 10
since, they were nevertheless a great curiosity A
German bed only intended for one person-they
seem 10 imagine that every body are bachelors like
myself You will just fancy a wooden box, open a,
the top aud one side hardly wide enough for small
person to lie down in, much less to move in, and
rarely long enough for person five feet high 10
stretch himself at full length. The pillows extend
quite halfway down; one Of them is usually made
10 "slsn,ndicuarr shape, so that you assume hall
sitting posture, instead Of lying down Curtains. or
any appearance Of bedstead, you never see For
a covering, you have a feather bed light, downy,
puffy affair, which is all you hove-oo sheets or
blankets, except one to lie upon the least motion
you make kicks the kiyer off, In winter. YOU
awake beuumbed with cold in summer, If it keeps
on, you suHocsted. =.
n. b. German beds a nuisance Of the first wa.
ter.
SE EerCuES EpnM AMMAN