The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1871-03-25
The City OF Antwerp.

shoothest OF railways through very flat
district, skirted with regular rows of trees,
and as regular rows of bitches or little
canals, brought us to Antwerp, the COM
mercial capital of Belgium. 1t was pleas
ant to meet here Colonel Weaver and his
wife, the daughter of Bishop Simpson,
The Colonel is United States Consul at this
city. Nothing could exceed his kind atten-
ton. 1t was saints day, and a general
holiday; this put the Colonel at leisure,
and by bringing in the people from the
country round about, impaired to the city
festive and gay appearance. The great
thing to be seen at Antwerp is Rubens'
pictures in the Cathedral. About the
Cathedral itself there is no striking feature
except its tower, which is regarded by
many as the handsomest in Europe. But
those pictures, Christ's Ascent and Christ's
Descent from the Cross, companion pieces,
hanging on opposite sides of the choir, and
facing the great nave, are truly wonderful.
Their fame has justly filled the civilized
world. For graphic power, it is doubtful
if they are exceled. By shutting away
all outside objects and fastening your gaze
upon "The Descent" you feel yourself
transformed and riveted to the spot where
the crucifxion occurred. Of course, the
city is full of Rubens and Van Dyke
Statues commemorate of them are in the
public places. London has enshrined her
warriors and Antwerp her painters The
museum contains some of the best speci-
mems of these great masters. But the two
pictures in that gallery which remain most
vivid are, "The Death of Rubens,' by M.
J. Van Bree, and The Spanish Fury" by
F. De Braekeleer. If the blood ever cur
died, grew alternately hot and cold at the
reading of Motley's account of the Spanish
furies in the streets Of Antwerp, it could
not certainly mitigate ones rage and hor-
Tor to look upon this realistic presentation
Of the fervid page. Amid the glare of
torches and gunpowder. the combatants, in
their hand-to- hand death-grapple, look
more as one might conceive of a terrible
struggle between angels and demons over
the very jaws of hell. The Exposition for
all the living artists of Belgium and Hol-
land was being held, and contained some
admirable specimens of painting and sculp-
ture. The church of St. PauIs is really
the greatest curiosity for modern eyes in
Antwerp. In an outside yard are a verita-
bic calvary, holy sepulchre, and purga-
tory. AS the little children say, these are
rightly ones and no sell. They are meant,
or aoere meant-for, thank God, they were
for past age-to correctly represent these
three places. Beneath is Christ's body in
the tomb; above-a rugged, difficult steep
is calvary; around are poor doomed souls
(statues) struggling amid the flames of pur-
gatory; while off at one side, poor Peter
weeps as the faithful cock reminds him of
his sad apostasy. A number of the Flem-
ish peasantry in their odd costumes ling
cred about it in admiring wonder. The
lower classes of Belgium are intense
Roman Catholics Methodist.
How BISMARCK LooKs.-Murat Halstead
editor of the Cincinnati Commercial, says,
again, I will answer as to the man the
question that every one now asks about 4
celebrity:-'D Does he look like his photo
graphs " In this case decidedly no. You
look at the photographs of Bismarck that
are to be seen, and all the engravings and
prints, and then you would not know him
in the street. The French caricatures
absurdly exaggerate his ears and other
features, and do not approach likeness of
him, and the photographs have only been
partial success with one feature, and that
is the nose. Perhaps they have also hint
of the moustache, but the expression is
utterly wanting. Bismarck's face is more
expansive now than when any photographs
or other pretended likenesses that / have
seen were taken. The eye tells of the
man. 1t is very large, and do not know
that better word could be picked to
describe it-violent. 1t is can eye like
Mars, to threaten or command, too busy
to be long fixed upon one object, greedy,
alert, piercing-with a mocking devil in its
humor that gives to smile that is grim
but kindly, touch of fine scorn. l saw
the great Chancellor half dozen times,
but never without his big white cap, and l
could not judge, therefore, whether the
photographers had caught the shape of
his head, and suppose they might do that,
or make an examination that would settle
the question as to his reported loss Of one
or more of the celebrated four hairs that
once were the peculiarly recognized orna-
ments of the dome over his brains.''