Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1876-11-18

NOTES ~ TME WAY.
Correspondent Of Washington Standard
| COLOGNE, Prussia.
i The time consumed in the transit
from Antwerp to Brussels is something
over an hour. Passing Though
i MALINEs OR MECHLN,
an ancient place of considerable i'm
portance, and yet more noted TO,
what it has been than for what it il
now. 1t was formerly celebrated TO,
its extensive manufacture of lace.
This is the Capitol of Belgium and
is beautifully situated on rising
ground, on the banks of the river
Senne. Population 175,00O. It il
often called The miniature Paris, -
and certainly it is a very beautiful
city. It is divided into Upper and
Lower town, the former occupied by
the aristocracy and the latter by the
common people. The more modern
portion is we'll laid out, with wide
and spacious streets, we'll shaded,
and some very handsome residences.
The history of Brussels dates back to
the 7th century, and like many of the
neighboring towns it has witnessed
many changes but is now a very pros
porous city. Brussels is especially
noted for its manufactures of lace,
which are very numerous.
Every town where lace is manu-
featured has its own point or excels
in some particular description of
lace. The word point simply signi-
fies stitch, but it sometimes refers to
the pattern, or the ground of the
lace itself. 1t is said that many lace
workers live and die in the same
houses in which they were born, and
that there are many old thread-mak-
ers who have passed the best part
of their lives spinning in damp I'M
derground cellars, an occupation 80
injurious to the health of the indivi-
dual, of course, requires high salaries.
There are many objects Of interests
in and about the city which I find it
impossible to visit in the few hours ct
my disposal. will simply refer to
TIE HOTEL DE VILE.
This is magnificent structure and
said to be one of the finest specimens
of gothic architecture in Europe.
The historical bell, on the night be-
fore the battle of Waterloo, is asso-
ciated by many with this building
and doubt not every school boy Of
the Olympia Union Academy, on dec
lamation days, has experienced a
deeper feeling of patriotism after the
repetition of Byron's version of the
story:
There was sound Of revelry by night
And Belgiun's Capitol had gathered there,
Her beauty and her chiyaly, and bright
The lamps shone DER fair won n ana brave men,"
The visit to the battlefield of Wa
terloo is always made from here, oc-
cupying an entire day for the sxcur-
sion.
The distance from Brussels to
Cologne is about $50 miles. Again
on the cars, the first place of interest
reached is
It is celebrated especially for its
University, which has been the alma
mater of many learned men, both
theologians and secular scholars.
This neighborhood is of historic in
terest, on account of its being the To-
cality from whence the weavers of
Flanders were driven by persecution
in the 14th century and compelled to
find a home in England. We soon
pass through.
chiefly of importance on account of
its extensive manufactures of fire.
arms.
Our journey SO far has been through
a charming country, with many
pleasant surprises of villages and
castles, and so continues until we xr-
rive il: the neighborhood of Verviers.
Here the country becomes very broken
and mountainous, and the most pic
turesque scenery in Belgium abounds.
Crossing the borders of Belgium, we
are now in German territory and at
AXLE cHApELLE.
This was Roman station and the
birth place and favorite residence of
Charlemagne, who made it the CAPT.
toll of his northern dominions. Here
Charlemagne died A. D. 814, and for
more than seven centuries thereafter,
the German Emperors were crowned
here. The imperial insignia were re-
moved to Vienna in the 18th century.
The medicinal virtues of its hot
mineral springs have rendered it o
place Of considerable resort by inva-
lids from q very early period in its
history. Very little remains of it's an
cient magni6cence. The Cathedral
is the only building of special inter-
est and is one of the oldest in Ger
many. It was founded by Charlie
magne, A. D. 1876, and consecrated
by Pope Leo the Third, eight years
thereafter. The chapel contains the
tomb of Charlemagne. After the
lapse of near three centuries when
extensive improvements were being
made to the Church, the tomb was
opened by Ohio the Third, and the
dad Emperor was discovered seated
on q marble throne with all the insig-
MIA Of sovereignty about him aud q
copy of the gospels on his lap. The
throne is said to have been after
wards used as coronation chair, and
is still preserved in the Cathedral.