The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1879-09-30
FOREIGN LETTER.
Another Interesting Letter from Mrs.
Mead.


aud the German Ocean like a sea of
glass; so the voyage was as pleasant as
We could possibly desire. AT ten
O'Clock in the morning We entered tho
Sheldt, arriving at Antwerp at three D.
m. The banks Of this river are low
aud mono,onous, aud not interesting TO
look at only in connection with the
stirring scenes Of history enacted on
them and this river Motley, IN his
dutch Republic" having made both
immortal, | drove directly from the
steamer 10 the station; the most Of the
streets through which passed looking
old. dirty, aud decidedly uninterest-
iug. The train for Brussels was near
ly ready, so IN few minutes | found
myself en- route. The country was
looking its best, as the crops were IN
good condition, and the wheat nearly
or quite ready for the harvest. They
have a peculiar way Of sowing grain all
through this country, viz: in strips Of
a few wards in width, first wheat, then
oats, then next, perhaps, potatoes, and
then comes wheat again, and SO on
through the entire field. Everywhere
saw women at work in the fields-and
many more women than men. This
tact, IN connection with the absence of
all fences and wooden buildings, are
the most striking features in the cOun-
try here, as compared with our own.
At Bru sells | remained only al
hour. so saw little of the town. From
that point my route lay via Namus,
Luxembourg, Metz, Strassburg and
Basic, reaching the latter place at ten
IN the morning, after an all nights
ride; but nevertheless "A very cOmforta-
bic one.
At Basic / remained one day, and
found the long lost summer there, IL
earnest too. la fact, IL seemed very
much like stepping out Of December
into August. ! spent "A part OF the
day in resting, the remainder in parks
and public gardens aud the old cathed-
raj and its wonderful cioisters. This
church was built in l0ll, and is the
most ancient IN its appearance that !
hpye seen. Can give your readers lao
idea of 1t, as to be appreciated 1t must
bee seen. The cloisters are very haud.
some, enclosing n small garden. These
are open az all hours Of the day 20 the
public, and are a delightful resting
place and promenade. The church II
built on high bluff overlooking the
Rhine, the small space between IL and
the river being beautifully shaded by
immense trees, furnished with seats,
aud enclosed by stone wall sufficient
ly high TO prevent all accidents. The
river here Is the form Of horseshoe.
It is spanned by several fine bridges,
one Of them very old. This town has
university founded in 1897, which
has rendered grand services 10 the
cause Of tile Reformation. The town
has the reputation, too, Of being very
rich and very benevolent.
Saturday morning | left b. by an
early traio. arriving here at noon. The
scenery tho most Of tho way Is grand
beyond description, consisting Of higL
mountains, deep valleys, wild gorges
deep streams aud foaming cascades
and an occasional village and farm.
Wherever II Is possible to cultivate th,
ground IL Is made the most OF that i
possible, for there Is no waste laud II
this country. everything being utilized
70 the utmost. This town Is on the
lake Of the same u@me. and is a very
desirable place in all respects. II
dates back 10 SSS. as history SAYS tha'
from that time till 1892 the Kings o.
Burgundy had their homes here; and q
part o! the old chateau IN which thel
hycd is still standing and ia good pre-
,rrvatiOn. This is built on high hil
between the lake and a deep ravinc
being a huLdred or more feet above
water. Two immense towers that wcr,
40 two corners Of the walls, the wall,
on three SIDES a the grounds, ia,
clOisters, the church aud one very larg,
building surrounding a court are still
standing, the large building being use,
Tor the different officers Of this canton
Here, too, is the hall where the "Coun
eli q Fiat holds its sessions. Th,
grounds arc reached by three flights %
stone stairs. Ia the center stands th,
church, the cloistcrs 10 the left OF Il
the state building behind It, Th,
grounds are iu terraces, enclosed Will
twO wallis, the outside being the high
est and battlgmentcd; then % add stil
more % the beauty and interest il j
draped with vines, mostly ivy. Thes
grounds are beautifully kept aud shad
rd with trees. one II these being scvei
or eight feet in diameter, others fcu
aud five. Seats are placed under TIA
trees and any one has liberty to us
ihem at all times. II j. supposed tha
this church was built in the fourtccnt
~ fifteenth century. aud IL now use
| by the Prcsbyterians, and | have IN
| pleasure OF attending here every Sal
bath morning. All Presbyterian M
tional churches are free in Switzerland
I and the men SIT on one side, the We
men on the other. There is very littl
lettering here on Sabbath mornings;
/ is very rare that one comes ia afte
/ service commences, as all are usuall
there before. A. the people ent,
their seats they remain standing whil
Tor a moment they engage in sileI
prayer. the meu covering their face
with their hats There a. fine organ
but the singing ia entirely congreg,
tional, the organ leading. Thong
this building is 50 beautiful both on
side and in, yet the seats are plain au
not an inch Of carpeting ia the bud,
ing. Near the hoed II the nave is tl
tomb of the old counts Of Newchate
there heing twelve life-size hgures
and around IL, the men In arms, tl
womou ia loose flowing robes Of whit,
Opposite the church door Is "A very fir
monument 20 Guillame Flarel. reform
or, who was pastor here from 1880
1855. A street has been cut throup
the chateau grounds close by the ca
wall, thus leaving the large towers on
side. One is row n part of the prisor
the other forms q part Of n block
buildings. There are many towers
different sizes aud architecture abOl
the church and state binding, hi
these two were part Il the outsif
wall aud are square and strong. mat
for defense. The old part Of the eli
Is built on steep hillsides aud most
the streets are perfect wonder, an
the more I see. the more the woud
grows. as the streets are cut out II u
side Of the hills, aud while the hous
arc on a level with the street on OF
side. those on tie other are from 3,
90 fifty feet above. The pension
which 1 am boarding IL GA a level wi
The street; thc houses opposite a
nearly on level Eilh our third stor
There H. one street between us and d
lake, aud it is hundred feet below "a
A part Of this hillside is a pnblic ga
den. with zigzsg walks leading to tl
foot ~ the hfU IL L. ,.rnaf,...,f 4.