Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1880-09-10
A Noted CITY,

Brussels is well provided with street
cars, but owing to the peculiar topogra-
ply of the city they cannot directly con-
meet the business portion of the town,
from the Bourse and Hotel de Vile,
with the residences in the Quarters Leo
pold and Louise. There are omnibuses,
too, and people seem to be used to walk
ing up streets at all angle of forty-five
degrees. The cars are run on a red tape
basis. On entering you receive coupon,
with instructions not to lose it. About
one time out of ten mysterious, ununi-
formed official, who has casually boarded
the car much as a stray pirate might do,
askes to see your coupon, examines it
critically and tears off corner. You
retain the remainder-why or wherefor,
it is impossible to discover. The fares
are graduated by the distance the pas
senger rides, and range from two to ten
cents.
Very charming are most of the parks
of Brussels. The park par excellence is
a well wooded plot of land with foun-
tains and statues, the Royal palace at one
end and the Palais de la Nation or Par
lament house at the other. 1t is, how
ever rather dusty and uninviting place,
notwithstanding its generous shade. 1t
is the Champs Elysees of Brussels and
theaters and cafes lurk under its spread
ing trees. Botanical gardens are open
freely to the public like the other parks,
and offer very pleasant retreat. AL
the plants and flowers are marked in 9
peculiar way, for besides the Latin DO.
tanical titles, the popular names in
English, French and WALTON Cor Flem
ish), an outline map of the continent tt
which the tree belongs is aft led thereto
and the district to which it is indigenous
is coloredred. Thus, at a glance, tn,
name of the specimen and its nativ,
home can be learned at a glance. A sim
liar method is in use in the Museum O
natural history. The Geological gar
dens, which as such have been aban
doned, have been turned into a pleasure
ground, and at one point command
pretty panoramic view of the city.
Anspach is a great name in Brussels
The distinguished man who bore it Gre
Gently deceased was burgomaster O
Brussels, and to his energy in cuttin
streets through the crowded parts of tn
city, and in opening new boulevards, tn
Belgian is indebted for some of its mos
attractive features. One of these boule
wards bears his name. His picture is eS
hibited in the shop windows, and it
purposed to tear down the ugly oil
church now used as a post-office, an
standing at the head of the Anspac
boulevard, and place in its stead a lit
park with statue of the great burgC
master.
The new church of Laeken, in whic
Leopold | is buried, is alarge and statel
edifice of yellow stone, upon which til
elements are already beginning to tie
r unfavorably. The spire and the exteric
decorations are unfinished, and til
clumsy blocks out of which the foliate
capitals are to be cut in some unknow
future, give look of awkward heavine,
to the building. A few steps further O
; is the old church of Laeken, curior
! edifice now falling into decay 1t nevt
had any pretensions to architectur;
beauty, but it is quaint and odd.
King Leopold II is a man of rattle
striking appearance. He has a Ion!
,, oval face, prominent features, and veal
: a long beard. His wife would be Gale
'. "genteel," but is hardly distingue. Fl
brother, the Count of Flanders, and h
= wife, the countess, are the only otht
= members of the family who are at a
prominent. The daughter of the king
a pleasant-looking girl, quite plain in al
pearance, and is about to marry one
the homeliest young men in Europe, IL
prince imperial (Rudolph) of Austri
Poor Carlotta," the widow of Max
:. milan of Mexico, and sister of IL
queen, remains hopelessly insane at Il
Chateau of Laeken. Her portraits in IL
shop windows of Brussels are labelt
5 Empress of Mexico" and give no int
Z nation of the fearful tragedy which IL
$ to the dethronement of her reason Go
N. Y Mail.