Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-03-17

Tourney and Brussels are known all over
the world. Belgium is rich in mines OF
coal, iron and zinc it produces fax, to-
bacco, sugar and agricultural products OF
all kinds in abundance. The climate is
mild and healthy, extreme heat or cold
being seldom met with. The religion of
the country is Roman Catholic. There are
five bishops, one archbishop, and a large
number OF converts and priests to supply
the spiritual wants of the people. It
might seem that such powerful means of
the clergy would be likely to produce big.
otry ana religious intolerance, which it
does, to some extent, in the rural districts.
But their influence is counterbalancsd by
the liberal party, represented by the en-
hghtened and
PROGRESSIVE PORTION OF THE COUNTRY,
Which has its stronghold in the cities and
populous centers. Thus these parties
the liberal or progressive, and the clerical
or conservRtive-are continually at war
and striving for political supremacy. Bel.
GUM has four universities Liege, Lou
vain. Brussels and Client . Royal Acad-
envy of Arts at Antwerp; School of
Drawing at Malines; Art Academies at
Brussels and Liege Royal Conservatives
OF Music at BRUSSELS, Client and Liege.
I Tais makes tolerable good showing for a
country not half as large as California, the
reader will readily admit. But let us re-
turn to our journey. After leaving Bruges
we proceeded to Client, city of 10000
/ inhabitants. This is the birthplace of
Charles V. Its extension in superfcies is
| such that that monarch used TO say that be
could put Paris in his "GaDd," glove
French for Ghent) This city lies or the
continents OF the rivers Lys and Scheld,
and is the starting point of vari.
ous canals by which twenty-six
Islands are formed. Therefore
we meet numerous bridges and quays,
presenting to the eye variety of views,
reminding one of Amsterdam, Holland.
Taking a stroll about town, we notice the
contrast of antique architecture with mod
ern times. While we meet some fine mod
ern residences, and even palaces, the
greater part of the city retains the aspect OF
tho middle ages. Most houses have been
| built several centuries ago. Entering a
public house or inn, we see motley crowd
of guests imbibing their tin-mugs of beer,
smoking long earthen pipes and occupied
in various games. Before we have time to
ask for anything we are waited upon by a
BAR MAID BRINGING A MoEKEL OF BEER
That is, high pewter vessel, holding about
two quarts, and soon after she offers US a
long, straight esrthsn pipe and tobacco,
with the invitation to inseribe our name on
the stem for future use. These pipes are
carefully preserved and occupy promi-
nent place in a glass case on the wall.
Each regular customer has his pipe in the
establishment. At about 5 o'clock In
the morning terrible clatter awakens
US, and, looking out of the window, we
see mass of people hurrying
through the streets, but in an orderly
and quiet manner. We are greatly puzzled
to fad out whence this noise proceeds, when
we are told that these people are employed
in factories and are going to their work,
and the wearing of heavy wooden shoes
produces this Internal noise on the pave.
nent. Soon the streets are alive with
country people bringing to market their
produce, some IN wagons, others IN carts,
wheelbsrrows, dog-carts, and women with
wide baskets on their heads. A curious
sight was offered to us in the shape of low,
| small carts laden with milk cans, and
dragged by dogs without apparently any
| driver or person to look after them. They
would pass through the crowd, lodging
wagons and turning street corners, and
then suddenly stop before some particular
dwelling. The dogs were evidently wait
ing for orders. After a while woman,
whom we had not noticed before, would
step from the sidewalk, take a milk .can
out OF the cart and carry it into the house.
In few minutes she would return with
the empty can, place it in the cart, and
away 90 the dogs to the house of the next
| customer. 1t is an establishment to the
! spectator TO see how these animals can be
trained We had occasion TO witness
regular Flemish
KERMEss," OR FAIR IN THE EVENING.
These fairs ere generally held on the larg-
est plaza in the town, and last couple of
weeks. In the afternoon the crowd makes
its appearance and winds it's way through
the passages left between hundreds Of
booths and tents of all sorts The general
appearance of these Kermesses does not
materially differ from the fairs In other
countries, except that they bear the stamp
of real Flemish life and customs. Besides
a large number of booths filled with differ
emit kinds of merchandise, we see motley
assembly of canvas buildings, holding in
their mystericuI recesses all that the world
l ever 6dH VI CuilUSlLlSS3 SdLtub, hEJ Guu
beauty-as the large lettered and fantastic.
ally painted signs show-open their cur.
tanned entrance to the admiring gaze of the
visitors. Ga the platform in front appear
besides the musical forces, consisting of
big and small drums, cimbals, fife and
brass instrumental artists and per-
formers of the company, and give the
spectators foretaste Of what awaits them
spaiIa Int kIi.,lx Of hnrEraIa 3
shows, standing side by side, with their
terrible, deafening noise, each trying to
drown the others cries, and you can form
faint idea of the pleasures offered your
auditory nerves. The performance gen.
orally lasts about ten minutes, and then
Ladies and gentleman, please walk in.
You are just in time; the performance is
going to commence" etc. Next TO the
famous theater of monkeys and trained
dogs stands the
GREAT MENAGERIE AND WORLDS CIRCUS
Then comes the tent of the original Bosco
or prestidigitator, Signor Spsrperosco, fol.
lowed by the great somnambuIist and for.
tune teller, Madam de Humbugi next
appear the three Herculeses, OF whom one
fires off a LOCO pound cannon from his
shoulder, another plays with 100 pound
balls in the air and breaks iron bars with
bis hands, while the third lifts up horse
and wagon farther on you can enter the
grand Theatre des Marionettes, or puppets,
where all kinds of plays are given-drama,
comedy or farce-at your pleasure, ladies
and gentlemen. Besides the shows, there
are any number of eating and drinking
booths, among which the wafer, ginger.
bread and fried potato stands are the
most prominent, they being the favorite
tit-bits of the people. The most pleasant
sights, however, are the happy faces Of
the visitors. Young and old seem TO en-.
Joy these occasions greatly. Young peo.
pie engage in dancing, willis the old folk,
look on or divert themselves otherwise.
Pleasure can be bought cheap here; %
cents will entitle you to dozen shows,
! AL aIa;t;o-.I ..,.a...- e ...,tc NJ