The Princeton union., 1880-02-11
WATERLOO.
Recent Visit to the Famous Rattle Ground.
Correspondence San Francisco Chronicle, |

Correspondence San Francisco Chronicle.
BRUSSELS, Sept. 15.-The battle-ground
OF Waterloo lies almost on the direct
route from London to Cologne. 1t is
situated few miles from Brussels, and
can be reached either by stage-coach or
rail. If the former method OF travelling
be adopted, the traveller will start from
the Hotel de SAKE between 8 and 10
o'clock In the morning, and after may,
nlicent drive through the forest Of
oolgnes and country teeming with his
torlcal associations, will arrive at the end
OF his journey by noon; but if the travel
or go by rail, in scarcely more than an
hour s\tlme he will find himself at the
station, alta considerable distance from
Mount St. Jean, or the centre of the field.
In either case the village of Waterloo
must be passed through, and here a
French guide Tor the excursion NAV be
found. Being alone on NY trip, nv trav-
cling friends having hurried on to the
Rhine, and finding my stock of college
French but little better than no French
at all, was accompanied by all indivi-
dual whom I had met On the way, and
who had assured me at the start that he
knew English ''like book But be-
fore proceeding far I ascertained that
his knowledge of the language was con-
fined to the pronunciation of a score or
more words, and of the meaning Of these
his ideas were very indlstinct. A Wa
terloo guide, of which he was very fair
type, is remarkable character at best.
lie buzzes around the tourist like fly
on hot day, and, treat him as you will.
he cannot be shaken off. II he be smlt.
ten on one cheek, he will turn the other
also; IT he be treated with contempt. the
tourist IS laughed at for his pains. He
Is lmportunate, but good natured ignor-
ant but conceited; scarcely civilized, but
boasting of high descent He has a
set speech for every monument and place
Of interest on the field, and when YOU ar
rive, tired and dusty, at the spot, he be-
gins and is done before you have fairly
begun to listen. His controlling idea
being to gain every loose franc the tour
lst may possess, his contrivances towards
that end are as ingenious as they are
spurious and absurd. Whether it be d
photograph, primer-like description of
the battle, a map, cane cut from the
surrounding wood, or stray bullet said
to have been picked up on the spot where
some great warrior fell, the price is
in general from three to four times
as great as that demanded for the
same article in Brussels, and
THE LOWER PRICE
being offered, it is in every case, with
out much delay, accepted. And this
thlevlng practice is not confined to guides
alone; hotel keepers, tobacconists, farm
ers, peasants and others, with whom the
tourists may have occasion to trade, re-
gard the stranger as their legitimate prey
and extortionate prices for their wares
and services are everywhere demanded.
l purchased book for one franc for
which four had been the price first asked
and drank cup of coffee in w,etch-
ed little cafe for which paid eight times
the sum for which it could be purchased
in any respectable German town. The
best view of the famous battle ground is
obtained from the mound upon the top
Of which the Belgian lion is placed, and
TO this spot Immediately repaired. The
mound marks the spot where the prince
,of Orange fell, and a million barrow loads
Iof earth were used to pile it up to its gi-
gantic height. 1t Is pyramidal in shape
it has base with a circumference of half
mile or more, but there is scarcely
space for more than the pedestal for the
statue at the top. The lion itself is said
to weigh twenty-eight tons, and the ma
terial for its construction was the metal
of cannon captured from the French.
Once on the way to Antwerp, the French
soldiers, indignant at the thought of the
Belgians claiming the glory OF the great
contest, savagely hacked of part of the
metal tail, but further injury was pre-
vented BY the interference of the com
manders. It was on the base of this gi-
gantic emblem, at a height of two hun
dred feet above the surrounding field.
that we chose our seat to study the bat
tie in detail, and to view the mighty pan
Drama of nature and art around. 1t was
about noon of clear September day,
and as the sun shone brightly on the
scene the surrounding landscape was one
of undisturbed peace and repose. Save
an idler lounging here and there on the