The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1876-07-19
OUR EUROPEAN LETTER.
Notes OF Travel In BeIginm, ~
REV, ID. w. Fisher, OF "hee"
ing. ''-

pEInTUM COMPARED WITH Hoh'"N
BRUSSELS, BELGIUM, june 1876
Belgium and Holland are in many
ways Closely associated, Ihey afS an co 9to
tiono1s in territory and together I'LL tne
''sn ,sb;cb M tho northern coast sepa-
s saio. "E Frsnee and Germany. They have
L Lae' united al certain periods under one
n I've In modern times, until
f1SS6 tIley were under the same
,Iomipion. The revolution Of that
period secured the separation Of
belgium from Holland, and the INDIE
Dendence Of the former Of these two coun-
iries. Accurately speaking, they together
Constituted the Low Countries-the
Netherlands-les Pays bas. In war, us Tor
instance in the old Spanish times, they
have stood side by side. In point Of ex-
tent Of territory and number OF people,
they are also about equal.
But while 80 closely identified, they are
distinct peoples. Holland has her Capital
at the Hague. The Capital OF Belgium
ia al Brussels. Each nation has its own
sovereign, and are now as distinct in
Themselves as to government as are
Great Britain and France. They speak
adifIerent language. The tongue OF Hol-
land Ia the DGtch mot Germany. That
OF Belgium is French; or, where the prim-
tive habits are retained, it is Flemish.
Even in Brussels there are many who un-
derstand nothing beside Flemish. The
one country is Protestant, and the other
is Roman Catholic. In Belgium there are,
all told, only q few thousand Protestants.
The Spanish succeeded here in extin.
gushing the Reformation in fire and
blood, The seed OF the martyrs still lies
in this soil, waiting for those influences
which will yet make it the seed OF better
things. The Hollanders cultivate tho
pursuits OF peace, the ,Belgians the art
Of war. The Hollanders are n people
within Themselves, but sympathize, per-
haps, most with Germany, Great Brit
ain and the United States. The Belgians
lean strongly toward France. Indeed,
Brussels is a little Paris in It's style and
tastes, and Belgium might be united with
France and outside OF the country itself
the change would scarcely be noticed. The
very currency is French.
BEAUTY OF BELGIUM. VII
This is a more beautiful country than
Holland, except on the coast. The land:
scape is rolling, the canals disappear, and
only here and there a windmill is seen.
Toward the east the hills rise into low
mountains, and once more the outlook
reminds us Of home far across the seas.
Antwerp has some Of the quaintness Of
Rotterdam and Amsterdam, but still falls
far behind them in oddity.
ANTWERP.
There are many places in Belgium
which will we'll repay visit by one who
has plenty oftime and money at his com.
mand. But there are two which draw
pilgrims from all over the civilized
world, and by motives OF the most widely
opposite character. Ono is Antwerp. Its
attractions are those Of art. It's churches
are famous for their magnificence espec.
tally in marble work and in wood carving
Verbuggen's pulpit in the Cathedral is a
marvel OF handiwork in wood, ~ is much
else OF the carving. And here are the
great master pieces Of Rubens. He never
painted anything finer than the Descent
from the Gross" and the elevation Of
the Cross" which .adorn this old sanct-
nary. In the Church OF St. Jacques his
body sleeps, and over 1t hangs another Of
his famous paintings "the Holy Family"
into which he has introduced portraits
Of himselfa and OF various members OF his
family. However, confess that ! was
more impressed with another picture
which saw in the Cathedral than with
any Of Rubcns works. 1t is head OF
Christ by Levuardo Di Vinci. Perhaps
any preference for il Is to be attributed to
nv lack Of art culture. But | imagine
that it is rather because the whole force
Of the picture can be taken in at once,
while in the Rubens paintings each Is a
group which needs 10 be studied in de-
tail. l. -,...- d
BRUSSELS. ......
The other OF the two places which are
sure to attract any one who passes near
Belgium is Brussels. l have already re-
ierred 10 il as "a little Paris"-a name IL
which Il delights. II Is beautiful for sit
uation. 1t stands on the side OF a hill
and the prospect from various points
embraces as fair a landscape as the eye
could we'll wish 10 behold. In the build
inCs also, and the streets which often be-
come wide and pleasant boulevards, and
in its parks it is attractive beyond any
other city which we have yet seen on the
Continent. Fashion and pleasure here
have long had one Of their iavorite re-
sorts. II was in the old Hotel de Vile
town hall), II is said, that the famous
ball was given on the night before Water
loo, and concerning which Byron wrote
"Thcre was sound Of reVelry by night"
Just at the time when we were in Brus
sells the great Exposition was opened. Ii
is sort Of European affair, which in
small way rivals that at Philadelphia.
visited it, more to see the royal and othel
dignitaries than to behold its variou
works of skill. II has in 1t many thing
which are Of interest. As compared will
the annual Exposition at Cincinnati, i
lacks beauty OF management. This Is al
artistic country, but no artist has con
tFolIed here. And by the side Of the ex
hibition at Philadelphia il is not y de
serving Of mention. Still II Is worth
visit. But these are not the things which
make Brussels place OF pilgrimage
About twelve or fifteen miles away is thu
scene Of one Of the few decisive battle
in human history. Waterloo ehanget
the map Of Europe aud the destiny MOI
merely Of Napoleon but Of whole ma
tons. That soul would DO dead indeed
which would not be moved at sight o.
the place where that great conflict &C
cured. | will attempt no description
The history OF the battle Is too vel
known to need It. The field itself IL
covered with wheat and grass, from The
midst Of which we gathered peoples and
iorget.mc.nots. The monuments and
the guide (who when 4 boy carried pro
visions to the wounded on the battle
field, and who now cultiyates tn. earth
alone reminded us that here Napoleon
uttered the famous words, "1otit ed perda,
'durt qui ptut," (All Is lost; save whoever
Can), and Wellington and the allies tFi'
umphed. 7'
AGRICULTURE
Belgium is largely an agricultural
land. The soil Is we'll cultivated. The
predominant crops seem to be wheat
Ia-N a