The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1883-08-05
Quaint Scenes In BRUCE.

The charm Of Bruges lies rather in its
general effect upon the eye than In tho
number OF its art treasures, though the,e
are by no means wanting in its tout on
semble as very perfect type OF an epoch
whose memories are worth presery ny, than
In us individual triumphs OF mediayal
architecture, though OF these again there
are enough, On crossing the broad canal
that glrdles the city aud that lsps its now
grassy and Towering tampAres, You still
enter 1t beneath one Of the many massive
gateWays that seems TO speak more yiyidjy
than anything OF the stormy DAYS OF ND.
The rusted hooks where the portonllis
hupg stlll stick IN the Scared and
weather beaten walls that echo
back few sounds now but the CHATTER of the
peasants sabot or the numbering ofhis
three'wheeled wagon on the swing.hridre
beneath. Within the shelter Of the arch
where fierce and sturdy race rolled bAok
again and again the chivalry OF Europe. the
prlest-created beRgar sits modelling on the
sidewalk, though in his very dreams his
head and limbs mechanically move 10 the
familiar gestures OF his trade, Within the
rampArts you can scarcely 40 wrong. Tor.
tuous streets OF Gothic houses; bright and
CHEEKY with all their weight of years, their
varied coloring broken here and there by
the gray walls OF some monasuo haunt
bring you face to lace with massive
churches, whose sombre aud moderated
eKterier contrast strangely with
the vivid coloring within. Still canals sleen
beneath rows of lime trees and gray BRIDGES
or roll with feeble current beneath tho Old
brick walls, where the ivy twines round
grated windows and the battered images OF
saints. Here the eye wanders over A sea of
red-tiled roofs and many.angled chimn,ys
To where, above the fustling greenery of
apple-orohards and pOplars, the gray roof
OF some convent meets the skyline There.
down long alleys, where the lace makers
are sitting in the sun, each in front OF her
cottage door with busy fingers rafting the
'boboins," and tongue still buster with the
harsh accents OF her race, Any of the main
arteries leading from the different gates of
the city will sooner or later land you in its
Leading feature, the great market square
There is little difference between
these. They are all equally pleasing
equally bright, and equally pIctur.
esque. To the right and left, alternating
with shops and estaminets, chapels and
converts, stand the solid mansions Of the
provincial nobility, OF size more in keep-
ing with the departed commercial splendor
OF the city than with the habits of the ma
jority OF their modern occupants. Over
almost every door, whether humble or
patrician, the ilag-poles stand out above the
street that on the many gala days which
Bruges observes transform il into n tlutter-
ing blaze OF the BrabAnt colors Though
the din Of commerce has LEFT these streets
there is no lack OF sound. Every vehicle
that rattles over the rough cobble-stones Is
IKE thunderstorm, and passes away only
to give place TO the echOing beat of the
sabot on the pavement, while the music OF
bells from belfry, church and convent
seems to iloat increasingly upon the air.
The great square should be- seen on
market days, when for no very great reason
the retail trade OF Brugos "cnmps out" for
the day, and sells bOot-lAcss and cotton
handkerchiefs, pettioOats and lollipops 10
the rustiCs from the country round, Moth
ing perhaps-n0t even the silence OF the de-
cay itseli-could form 30 striking a contrast
TO the opulent and splendid DAYS Of old.
than the elaborate preparation which is
made, and the Imposing array OF canvass
that is weekly stretched for the purpose OF
such petty barter. Here again the traveller
Al least has no cause 10 complain. Tor the
effect is emiuently picturesque. While n
he saS nothing else-ift tins favored him
glance at the churches, The cathedral. the
Hotel de Nille tho chapols, the hospital.
the pictures aud all the sights which Bruges
could show him-he would, ns he stood
here, see right in front him, sprnginc far
into the sky, drawing into pir-
nihcanco the sea OF qabled
roofs beneath II, seeming to
leave al It's very feet the pinnacles oil
stately buildings whose size alone. taken
by themselves, would render them impos.
ing, the famous beliry gray with the
welght OF i've centuries, hlIing its crowned
head heayenward, and from lis iron throat
illnglng with the fleeing hours It's gay car.
rlllons 10 the winds ere IL procAlms with
slow and solemn voice the fight of time -
Pail Mall Gazette,