The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1879-08-21
Scenes in Antwerp.

The narrow streets of the older part
of town, with their quaint gable-ends
and their odd streets shrines at every
corner, are delightfully."- picturesque.
The Hotel de Vile, an ancient, scmber,
massive building, with the dingy old
Guild Houses surrounding the Grand
Place are in this portion of the city.
Near by is tie large old fish market
where there is a lively scene each morn
ing during the auction of fish, and in
the neighborhood are many buildings
historically interesting as well as pic
turesque. Among the many character
istic street sights are the small milk or
bread carts drawn by dogs, attended by
women in stiff white caps. Both here
and in Holland the milk is carried about
in immense round brass cans that gilt
ter like great suns. Every morning the
market-women congregate in certain
squares and streets, and, seated among
their tall baskets of garden truck, form
primitive market, to which the neat
maid servants flock, carrying tin or
brass buckets in place of baskets The
sand man goes his round each morning,
and the clean but fishy- smelling sand
is scattered over the tiled floors of kitch-
en-, entry, dining-room and shop. The
people are Flemish in appearance, and
Flemish is the language generally spok-
en-, though all persons, except those of
the poorest class, have knowledge of
French; the law requiring that child
shall be taught in Flemish during the
first three years at school, and in French
the following three.
In the bright summer mornings the
broad Mas is brilliant with the many
canal boats starting out on their various
ways. Some, with sails set, are gliding
easily down with the tide toward the sea
others are laboiiously tacking up the
river. Now comes a noisy little tug,
drawing after it whole feet, with here
a creamy white sail cleaning in the
morning sunlight, there dark, velvety
red one; here tawny yellow, there q
dingy gray; to this one the graceful
curved gaff hangs loosely and the sail is
pulled up fantastically; that is a hay
barge, hidden beneath its golden load
One by one they swing round into the
Nord," and disappear among the
trees, on their way to Rotterdam. Here
is vessel coming in; a woman, leaning
against the long tiller, pushes it this
way or that, guiding her clumsy craft
along the busy highway; the men run
hither and thither; he sails, with rus
tie and rattle. fall in dark heaps on the
deck the bridge is raised, and they pull
themselves into the haven with their
long boat hooks, not forgetting to drop
a few cents into the little wooden sabot,
which the brid dge-keeper lowers as they
pass These canal boats are very
picturesque in form, rigging, and rich
ness of color. Their long, straight
hulls with square puffy bows,
the great rudder and sturdy
mast, are stained with coating of tar,
making the wood rich dark tone,
while allowing the grain to show. The
long, gracefully curved tiller, the top
of the rudder, and the boards are often
painted some bright, pure color, while
touches of the same bright hue occur
here and there over the boat. From the
mast head flaps streamer, held stihy
out by a rod for q foot or more, thus
forming vane. The sails are of ali
those shades of gray and brown and
dingy red over which painters
rave Some of these boats have
no house on deck; others only galley
while others carry as neat and cozy 6
floating cottage as one could wish te
spend the summer in.
doubt if the oft-quoted Dutch clean.
liness is ever thoroughly appreciated
until it is seen. The scrubbipg anG
securing are incessant and universal
no one neglects it, and nothing escape;
it. Every glistening window-pane, ev
cry snowy floor, every bit of the shining
, brass and copper SO plentifully usec
bear witness to it. The people them
selves, even among the poorest class
are unusually neat and clean.
, Sunday is day of rest in Holland
! The stores are all closed but little worh
! and that of the most necessary kind, il
, done. The boats lie at rest in the havens
! and the people very generally attenc
some place of worship in the morning
, and spend the afternoon in visiting, OF
, walking, or remaining quietly at home
Then it was we often caught glimpse.
] through the open window of nea
| parlor, where all the family gathered tt
, enjoy their afternoon tea or coffee
Over a spirit lamp with brass cover th'
, gay little brass tes-kettle sings merrily
] and near by is the tray,with its daint,
/ load of tea-things and plate of ittl'
cakes. Sometimes tin or brass buck
ct, made for the purpose, containing
' an earthen bowl filed with burning
r peat keeps the tea-kettle boiling. Th'
ladies are always busy with thei
/ knitting; not only the dignified olt
grandmother, but the busy mother find
time for many stitches; the young lady
: too, does not disdain to handle tn
{ needles; and even the chubby little do
: whose hands seem scarcely larg
I enough to hold them will laugh an
E chatter and play, with only quick lool
now and then at her fast-fying fingers
, august Scribner.
JUST think of the polar bear. II
: roams around all day seeking the sunni
side of an iceberg and at night rests hi
! weary head on pillow of frozen snow
He needs no fan by day or mosquit
!, | -. ~, ,,:,.b@ No;%hor A<ao h< 4 on