The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1877-09-13
THE CITY OF ANTWERP,

The great city of Belgium has had a
stirring and eventful history, and has
much to interest and beguile traveller
Those fond of art cannot but feel some
inspiration in a city where such masters
fourished as Rubens, Vandyk, Teniers,
Quentin Matsys, and, in our time, the
Baron de Legs.
The historian and the soldier will re-
call the sieges of the city and the citadels,
held by Marnix de Graldegonde, by Alva,
the French in 1914, by the Dutch Gen
eral Chase in 1882. The merchant Will
look with respect on city which once
could boast $500 vessels lying at once
in the river, and the 5000 merchants
who met daily in her exchange.
The wars Of religion, the Dutch con-
troll of the Scheldt, the final closing of
the river by the treaty of Westphalia, cut
Antwerp off from the great mercantile
and her deserted docks and storehouses
remained melancholy witnesses of depart
ed prosperity.
Though no longer what she was, Ant
werp is even now city of 125, 600 inhabi-
tants, and no city in Belgium has grand
er streets and squares, or finer build
ings. From the grand Cathedral, in the
center, to the magnificent line of quays
on the Scheldt, the city is dotted witt
fine structures, although many of her old
time streets, inhabited by the poorer
classes, are wretched lanes, involved and
intricate, which produce far from pleas
urable impressions on the visitor who
strays into ther mazes.
The famous Cathedral of Antwerp, a
capacious structure, is one of the most
beautiful specimens of Gothic architect
ure in the Netherlands, and stands
bravely the assaults of time, for it was
erected before the year l, 400. It is $50
feet long and $50 wide, with three great
naves. Its rich ornaments. affairs and
sculptures suffered terribly in brutal
onslaught upon them by mob in 1866,
so that we cannot look upon the choir as
it was in the days of Philip IL, when
that grim monarch held chapter here
of the Knights of the Golden Fleece, and
could count around him, as members of
that royal order, no less than nine Kings
and sovereign Princes. But Antwerp
Cathedral has still the great master
pieces of Rubens, 'sThe Descent from
the Cross" so well known by engravings
and casts. There are two lateral
pieces, or foldingdoors, which, when
open, represent the ''Annunciation' and
the presentation in the Temple" When
these are closed over the main picture,
you behold the great ST. Christopher,
bearing the infant Savior on his shoul-
ders, while hermit precedes with his
lantern, like a sacristan preceding a
priest with the blessed sacrament
There are also an "Elev alton of the
Cross, an Z" Assumption, +" and "Res-
direction" by Rubens, exquisitely-
carved stalls, pulpit and confessionals,
by Verbruggen.
There is chime in the tower of forty
five bells. the largest of which requires
sixteen men to ring it, boasting no less
godfather than the Emperor Charles
V. Near the foot is a well, the elegant
iron canopy surmounting it being the
work of Quentin Matsys, who left the
forge and became painter, in order to
win the hand of an artists daughter.
The city contains some fine statues OF
King Leopold, a Belga chief, Carnot,
etc. The Hotel de Vile is a fine build
ing in the Italian style, and the Vielles
Boucheries was once the Hall of the In
QUESTION.
The Counci1-room of the Brewers
Company is perhaps the most old time
interior in Antwerp. 1t retains its
original fireplace and furniture, and is
still hung with stamped and gilt leather,
and lighted by chandeliers of two cent
uries ago.