Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1870-08-20
Letter from Rev. Mr.. McGiffert.
n UMBER FOUR.


Dear 7elegraph,-My last letter was dated
from the Thames. Since that time have seen
and heald so much that it would weary your
patience utterly, were to force it on your
columns. A brief sketch will occupy all the
spare room-unless l follow the course of
many newspaper correspondents and allow
the record to fall so far behind, that must for
months after returning home, date letters from
Europe. AS l never considered writing for
newspaper my vocation, shall not attempt
such an infliCtion on yonr readers Our first
continental stopping place was Ostende, Bel
ginm, town possessing little interest, except
such as q rush of impertinent porters at mid
night, and not very atfable custom house Off
GERS impart to it.
We shook the dust from our feet and pro-
cceded to Antwerp. This is a quaint old town,
about as homely In appearance as you can
well imagine. 1t is visited mainly for the sake
of the grand old paintings-perhaps the finest
in Europe-that are found in its churches
The masterpieces of Rueens and Van Dyke
are here; among others, Rubens' descent
from the Cross" celebrated throughout the
especially OF the Savior and one of the Ma
ry's, is intensely interesting. Hours could be
spent without wearincss before this picture
Our next stopping place was Brussels-a
city as unlike Antwerp as possible 1t is call
ed "Paris in miniature" and if Paris is more
beautiful, it must be charming indeed. In our
trip since, we have seen no city at all ap-
| Oh; ;rrr II II, 10 H.
ed by magnificent boulvards $50 feet wide
with six rows of large trees, and in one case
with ten rows. The Park in the center of the
city is large and beautiful. 1t is lighted every
evening for concerts, promenading, beer drink
ing, &c. There is no one object in Brussels at
| tracing strangers by its wide renown, the in
terest is in the general magnficence of the
city.
From Brussels our course was to Cologne
across fiat country for most of the distance
About Verviest, where we cross the Prussial
line, il is hilly, and the road passes through
remarkable succession of tunnels. The ap
pearance of the country is interesting from
the fact that there are no fences, not evel
hedges cnly one wide field, broken into littl
patches of fax, potatoes and gram. The farm
are distinguished by stones or posts at til
corners. There are no farm-houses The In
habitants reside in villages, and go out to thei
farms for their days work. At Verviest W
again met the Custom House Officer w
found this official exceedingly polite; we open
ed our satchels and he Immediately bowet
and said, "All right, thank you"
But at Verviest we met with news whicl
for the moment, astounded US and all our fe
low passengers. An extra issue of some news
4 paper was hurried from hand to hand, wit
the startling announcement that France ha
declared war with Prussia. This was not
: our programme; and as we had just cntere
one of the warning countries, the question WI
I at once discussed, "What shall we dOW I'll
0 decision was speedily made to go forwal
with our tour, and trust in Providence. An
much % we regret this causeless, sinful wa
if was to come, we are thankful that OF
! trip to Europe has csincided with it, The e.
r citement attendant ON it has added much
e the interest of our journey, and has given
}, an opportunity to learn the character of Il
:, inhabitants as we would not in time of peaC
n The excitement has, naturally, been intenf
rs and while the people, without exception, see
ID to regret the war which France has forced
. them, they enter on it with earnestness. Wit
n in two days the streets and roads were full
" soldiers hurying to the conflict; the militia
e. system of Prussia being well nigh perfe
~ - The trains filed inside and out with soldIe
re the crowds in the streets. the hand-shak
as and sobs, as parents and wives bade farew
4, to sons and husbands, recalled vividly
of scenes of our own late war; and we bless
at God that our nation is now peace. VIII
ne will these crimes of rulers come to an eI
III and the fearful sacrifice of human life cease
10 be the price of petty ambition and wound
be pride. ANY news that might attempt
es send you Of the progress Of the strife wol
OF have lost Its interest before it reached you,
ia the Atlantic Cable will keep you inform
Ie- daily. Let me only add my impressions fl
la personal observation in the Southern Germ
~ M States, as it is contrary to much have seen
yo the newspapers. These States are represent
as entering into the conflict with relpctan