The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1870-11-26
The French Refugees in FLANDERS
Frightened PariSianssin Belgium. Is


The majority of the prosperous classes
in Northern France, writes from Roubaix
correspondent OF the Pail Mall Gazette,
are prepared for the worst. All sorts of
negotiable property have been sent over
to London and Brussels, and houses have
been already secured on Belgian territory
for occupation at a few hours notice. To
say nothing of those who have actually
left France, and who belong chiefly
to the central provinces, Belgium must
be prepared to receive st least
another fifty thousand Frenchmen. as
aoon as the news spread last night at Ollie
about the Grand Duke of Mecklenburg
marching on Roubaix becomes more con-
sistent with reality. In all the frontier
towns and villages house are let or are
plaearded as to be let. The nearer the
place is to the frontier, the more it is
crowded with French families. Menin,
Hersaaux, and Espierres seem to be the
chief refugees of the lower lniddle-class;
while Client, Journal and Courtrai are
crowded with wel'-to-do people both of
Imperialist and Royahst persuasion. The
emigrants chiefly consist, Of course, OF
women and children, with the addition Of
few old men; but occasionally one meets
| those stout, healthy, middle-aged men
Wall FCiy sOuHS WlfOS, WIZ PIolcSo iGna,
under the present dreadful circumstances,
they consider it their most sacred duty to
put their ladies beyond danger, and to re-
main by their sides TO protect them from
the risk they might incur in a foreign
country from their youth and inexperience.
1t IS strange that there is no particular de-
nomination for these gentlemen, for they
are TO be found everywhere
The immigrants have rendered life in
Flanders little more lively than usual.
/ Pretty faces and charming dresses are of
ten soon IL tho streets of those exceedingly
clean but exceedingly clumsy towns. Ia
many house is music to be heard; end
the melodies of Ambrose Thomas and
Gounod, as we'll as those Of Chopin and
Herr, are becoming quite familiar here.
The young ladies having much time to
spare, devote it chiefly to their toilet, but
still do not allow themselves to wear any
thing but black. little ribbon of some
bright color in the hair is all that shows
that they are not in mourning. On Fri
days the dinner table at the more respect
able hotels is divided into two parties the
fasting and the non-fasting; almost all the
French mothers occupy with their daugh-
ters fasting places. The dinner is not
much worse, still these French ladies
! think it their duty TO exchange several
; courses Of meat for as many courses of fish.
And if You compliment them on this effort
OF virtue, you hear that since the daugh-
, tiers of France are powerless to help their
country, the least they can do is to pro.
pltiate Heaven by fasting and devotion.
! Sometimes you may trace amid these
l anti Republican, religious and distin.
gulshed emigrees, the presence, or at least
) the passage, of persons more disturbing
5 In the travellers book, at several frontier
towns 1 saw the names of several vel
! known Republicans. who were on THEN
: way into France, | found, also, in one O.
} the hotels, big "Carte speciale du thea
| tire de la gurre, Indignant les places forti
ices, which map was embellished viii
: the hkenesses of all the European aover
, elgns; and, Judging by what has happened
, TO the ikenesses of Napoleon and Kins
l William, | take it that some highly refrac
) tory politicians have lately visited this gen
? orally imperturbable part of Europe. TIL
| face and head of Napoleon was covered
with red cap, and string was draws
: around his neck; as to King William, hi
: face was skilfully transformed with o fev
strokes of the p neil into a deaths head
f 10 which the Inscription of LIE Roi de Il
Mort was appended.