Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-10-16
OSTEND.
THE vIcIssITUDEs AND REvERsEs OF
AN ANCIENT CITY.
Magnificent Bathing place-rhe Grand
eur Of the ursaal-Fishing on
the Estacades-Etc.
osrEND, September 20, 1850.

the Estacades-Etc.
OsTEND, September 20, 1850.
Ostend has been so often besieged,
burned and bombarded that owing to its
vicissitudes and reverses it possesses no
riches of many years to exhibit, and in
spite of its old age, has every appearance
of a modern city. Its name signifies
oriental extremity, and it was in the ninth
century nothing more than little village
inhabited by fishermen. Its harbor was
frequented from the ninth century, and the
SIN IL borough was raised to the dignity of
city in 1867 by the Countess Margueret
of Constantinople, Countess OF Flanders.
In l445 Philip Of Bourgogne, Count of
Flanders, called the Good, caused walls to
be built around it, and permitted the in
habitants to dig a new harbor and a new
basin, so as to be able to make use of the
opening which the sea had affected on the
shore on the east side. It was only in
1888 that Prince William of Orange caused
the city to be really fortified. The Hol-
landers
SUSTAINED A MEMORABLE SIEGE
Against the Spaniards which lasted from
1901 to 1904, and ended in the capitalization
of the city, which surrendered to the
Spanish General AMBROSE Spinola. Louis
XIV. besieged Ostend in l745, and almost
entirely destroyed the city. In l74S this
city was restored to Austria. After nav
ing again belonged to France from 1894,
during the Consulate and Empire it re-
turned to Holland, owing to the events of
1914, and at last fell to Belgium. Since
1880 Ostend, owing to. the separation Of
Belgium from Holland, has become, after
Antwerp, the most important seaport of
Belgium, and is now probably the finest
sea bathing place in the world. Certainly
nothing has yet been created to equal the
grandeur and magniticence of It's dixie, its
kursaal and private residences these last
belong to the rich bankers of Germany and
Belgium. You arrive at the depot situated
at the end of the principal street, which
appears like any other street of large
European city, with shop windows filled
with objects of luxury and beauty you
continue along the street without realizing
that the sea is near, as no view OF 1t can
be had from the railroad, in fact the dunes
along the entire coast serve as "a sort OF
casket to hide this bright jewel. After
some distance up Rue de Chapelle or
Kaapel STRAIT, you begin to climb a rather
steep ascent which finishes only at the
dixie. When once you reach the top Of
this street you perceive
SIGHT TRULY MAGNIFICENT
And imposing. for. the sea extends in one
wide expanse to the sky beyond; you
there stand upon dixie apparently COM
posed of slate, and whose polished sur
face reflects the objects above; an iron
railing extends around its border, sloping
in high wall down to the sand, which at
high tide is washed by the waves. This
dixie is exceedingly wide, sufficiently
so for hundreds OF promenaders to pass
and repass each other without the slightest
inconvenience it continues for long dis
lance with slight curve, then gracefully
turns in a half circle around the kursaal,
after which it advances straight on to the
royal residence. Not only is the dixie
wonderful and imposing in its extent, but
that which adds to it's grandeur is the
Kursaal, magnificent circular construc-
ton principally of glass, with it's broad
steps, galleries and all the interior attrac-
tions OF a first class casino. 1t was built
by the city of Ostend, which derives large
profits from it ; it was inaugurated in 1878
by King Leopold H., and is certainly the
grandest and most sumptuous editice which
exists throughout the world. Extending
along the dixie on either side of the Kur-
saal are numerous stately hotels with their
varied architecture and gimpses of rich
furniture through the open bay windows.
But that which ID even more attractive is
the vast number of private dwellings ex-
tending the whole length OF the dixie, each
rivaling the other in grace and beauty !;
they were
DESIGNED BY THE FIRST ARCHITECTS
OF Belgium, and completed by her first
sculptors, as the magnificent carving and
stone statues attest However varied their
architecture, the first floor is invariably
composed of dining-hall, leading into an
open conservatory on the street. During
pleasant weather the meals are taken in
the conservatory, In the midst of flowers
and plants, when the magnificent prone
made and vast ocean delight the eye; and
it is also pleasing sight to the prone
naders, this family reunion, seated before
wonderful shrimps and Holsters, and where
servants in livery silently move around the
chairs. Nothing in fact, can suggest
greater amount of combined wealth and
luxury than these private dwellings pre-
sent. The city has rapidly grown IN this
fashionable quarter since the Franco Prus-
sian war, for Germans, who have no sea
port of their own, hesitate at present
to flock to the coast of France,
and therefore resort to the sea-
bathing cities OF Belgium and Hol-
land. In fact German is the language
most generally heard, unless down in the
heart OF the city. After German comes
English, for Dover sits across the channel
and smiles at 0stend in most friendly
manner. Two packet boats leave each of
these cities daily, and are constantly
crowded with travellers; true, travellers
from Germany and the north of Switzer-
land find direct road to England by the.
way of Ostend, and the train which
brings them to Ostend advances to the
very side of the boat. Ostend is
THE COUNTRY SEAT OF THE ROYAL FAMILY.
The palace they inhabit is almost at the
end of the drive, and stands against the
dunes at one extremity, as a barrier to
farther extension in that direction. 1t
seems myriad of stories and balconies,
and appears in the distance like veritable
chalet, only that chalets are cheerful and
attractive, whereas this palace is gloomy
without being imposing. Owing to the Elk.
position which Is now being held at Brus-
sells, the royal family have already
left Ostend, but the King comes and
goes at close intervals, however, with SO
little ceremony that it is by accident one
,,orcni,-ns Lin, In "a, oman carriacre acconn-