Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-03-17
LIFE IN BELGIUM.
SCENES oP IsFEREsr TO THE AMERICAN
TRAVELLER.
GUNNER Resort and surf Bathing at o.
tend-Ths Industries. Hammers and
Customs Of the 3elgians-Itc.


those realms Is always of greatest interest,
while to those who have not been beyond
the seas faithful description Of the scenes
there to be met with, and the peculiar
manners and customs OF the people, be-
comes matter of attractive and valuable
information. Among the countries upon
tie Continent which is ever Of fresh inter.
est and continued study to the American
visitor, aud where the writer enjoyed res.
idence many years, is that Of Belgium,
about which also much has been written,
but mostly by briefly remaining or merely
"fying tourists, whose aim Is rather to
satisfy their vanity in being thought wise
through travels, OF to please IN a sensa-
tional way their friends, rather than to
benefit them by recital OF real and thought
full facts. There is sufficient of interest
that may be said OF the cities, manners and
customs of this people without resorting TO
the imagination or wandering into tire
come fields of detail, az the observing traV.
eler well knows. Crossing the channel
from Dover, England,
WE REACH oSTEND AND ARE IN BELGIUM.
The aspect of the country, the appear
ance of dress, manners aad customs of the
people, Offer to the traveller coming from
England a contrast as striking, although
entirely different, as in the neighboring
country of France. Ostend is a fortified
town of about %, 600 inhabitants, and lies
Immediately on the sea-shore. Its position
is so low that, were it not for sn artif cial
sea.wall OF levee, the town would be swept
away by the stormy waves. 1t is one Of
the most fashionable bathing resorts on the
continent. During summer it ia the rem
devious of great portion of the aristoc-
racy Of Europe. Princes and Kings areoften
seen passing through its queer streets or
plunging with the rest OF morEals into the
refreshing waters of the surf. The same
AS most places of that kind, it has in
Vulnerable hotels and as lively and gay
as it is during summer, It is deserted and
quiet in winter. Ga an elevated terrace
near the beach are erected magnificent
buildings, resembling summer palaces like
thoseof Spaor Baden, with their conservato.
ry, readlng-rooms, ballroom, concert hall,
restaurants and cafes. Ga the beach
large number OF movable little bath houses,
about ) by 10 feet, having tbs form and
aspect of Lighthouses, neatly painted and
nicely fitted up, are resting on high and
broad wheels ready to carry you
the into surf. You get one into
of them, horse is hitched TO it, and you
are brought into the breakers. At fall sea-
son 400 or 500 of them may be seen close
together in tine water AMI as the excite.
mant and pleasure of the bathers lead
them often away to some distance from
their respective lighthouses,
AMUSING AND LUXURIOUS SCENES
Take place, should the bather forget the
number OF his or her bath. house, In such
a case people viii get into critical diem
ma, wander about bewildered, and after
getting into the wrong place once or twice,
soaring to death q timld water nymph, or
raising the ire Of some old bachelor, will
fad themselves entirely helpless for, as
their garments have been left In their
bath.house, the only alternative for them
is to wait till all the bathers have returned
20 the shore, OF else face the gaze of the
multitude OF promenaders on the upper ter
race, and return to the hotel in their
bathing suits. In 1856 had the oppor-
tunity of seeing among the bathers the
then Prince of Prussia, now Emperor
William of Germany, and am sure many of
the gay bathers did not know him or pay
any attention to his individuality. Some
years later my attention was directed to
tall young man with large red whiskers,
whom they called "Le Prince de Prusse,"
and was told that this young man was
- souvenir left to handsome widow
proprietress of one of the principal hotels
by his Majesty in former years. Leaving
Ostend, we reach the ancient city Of
Bruges, in West Flanders, which has a
population of about $4,000 inhabitants.
This is queer city, with its gothic archi-
lecture, antique cathedrallard exchange (the
oldest in Europe) 1t is interesting to no.
tice the singularity of dress and manners
beautiful in Belgium. They have very reg
complexion, and slender and graceful
stature. Flemish is the only tongue
spoken, and the answer to your inquiries,
if you do not understand the language, will
invariably be "Wad belift ue, myn
heer ?" What is it you say, sir p
AS we enter the heart of the country, and
as intimate life in Belgium is very little
known abroad and still less in America, it
may not be amiss, before proceeding on our
journey, to give very brief outline of
the conditions of the country, its position,
resources, etc.
BRIEF OUTLINE OF THE KINGDOM,
Belgium is little kingdom hemmed
In between France on the south, Hol-
land on the north, Germany on the
east and the North Sea on the west.
Il is a constitutional monarchy, possessing
more freedom than any country in Europe,
except England and Switzerland. Its
population is about 000, 900 inhabitants.
1t is composed of two entirely distinct
races, having no affinity whatever, neither
in language nor in manners and customs
the Jennings and the Wallons. Both
races are, numerically, about equal, and
divide the country into two halves. The
Flemings are sturdy, physically strong.
built race. having the characteristics OF
their Saxon forefathers, with the phieg.
matte disposition and slowness of action OF
their neighbors. the Dutch. The Wallons,
on the contrary, are light and small, and
have all the impulsiveness, quickness of
manners and understanding of their neigh
bors, the French. They use patois,
or idiom, which differs very little
from that spoken in the north.
ern province Of France. The language
taught in their schools, and used exclu-
sively by the better class, is French. and
they pride themselves in some districts Of
speaking better French than in many
provinces of France. The Flemish Ian.
cusge. although little known abroad, is of
verv old origin. Its literature is in many
respects superior to the Dutch. 1t is re.
narkable to see these two races, SO dissimi.
lar in language. habits and thoughts, and
so naturally antagonistic in their aspira-
tions, harmonic in everything that con-
Germs the welfare of their country. b
they ever so divided otherwise,
THE LOVE OF THEIR COUNTRY
Makes them perfect unit. Perhape the
wise constitution which King leopold l.
gave them is the cause of this union and
patriotism. ssL'union fat la force ia the
device of the Belgian coat of arms. (In
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