The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1865-01-18
THE NEEETENG.
A TRUE STORY.

During the winter of 1889 I became
tired Of the smoky atmosphere of London,
aud, indeed, of everything bearing the
odor of Her Gracions Majesty" | Ionged
to breathe, as an Englshmau might say,
the air of that frivolous French capital
known upon maps and hand. books of
travel as Paris.
My partial desire became fact, thro'
the instrumentality of my friend George
Lester, who came into my sanctum one
morning, exclaiming:
Henry, if you do not take compassion
upon me and entice me from tins place. |
shall become an inmate of one Of those
public institutions, known as lunatic
asylums."
My dear fellow, what Is the matter p
Do not ask NE at present; only pIove
your friendship by packing your port
manteau and leaving London this very
night"
We'll, Mercury, whittier are you 60.
ing tc carry me2 Before l commence
packing, | should like some information
upon the subject for might prepare for
the balmy brcezes of Italy, and suddenly
fnd | was journeYing to New Zealand. "
Come, Henry, like good fellow, be
my ccmrade in this trip, as you have been
in many others, am bound for Paris, but
shall stop en- route at Brussels"
"Brayo p l cried, "but why this
haste7'
He waived his hand and said "C0me,
no excuses, Henry, for, If l breathe this
air another twenty four Lours, | shall
stide"
saw that he was suffering from some
intense emotion; therefore, | said moth
ing more, but began preparations for our
intended departure. A few hours after
Lester had entered my chambers, we were
travelling with speed towards Dover
About midnight we discerned the
white cliffs Of the above mentioned town,
and few minutes sufficed to convey both
baggage and travellers to one of those
uncomfortable steamers that cross the
channel.
The next morning we arrived at Ostend
where we obtained breakfast, and im-
proved our outward appearance by fresh
toilet A few hours later found US locked
in first class carriage on our way to
Brussels.
Our journey between Ostend and
Brussels had some picturesque scenes to
recommend it to the eye Of the stranger.
The trees were cut into every imaginable
shape
Occasionally we would whistle past
windmill in the distance, and peasants
hut near, where parties of both sexes
were tilling the soil together. Agricul-
ture is pursued to a great extent in Bel
GUM. There are colleges where the arts
Of farming are taught, and prizes awarded
to those who raise the finest productions
Late in the afternoon we arrived at
Brussels, and drove to the Hotel de Ruse
having time to dress for dinner, we con-
cluded to dine at the table dh0te. Obey.
ing the summons of the gong, George
Lester and myself found ourselves ia
large dining room. We were seated at
the board, but, alas for our ravenous ap-
petites, we could not eat the food placed
before Us, for it was cooked according to
the fashion Of the country, which is to
mixture German aud French dishes, that
are not palatable to English stomachs.-
If even we felt inclined to have partaken
Of the same, the obsequious walters in
attendance would not have allowed US
that privilege; for if you paused an in-
slant in the modus operandi of eating,
your plate was instantly exchanged for
another, until it appeared to me | had
twenty clean plates, aud nothing to eat.
Icstar was amnsel al my vain effurls