New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-07-30
QUAINT SCENES IN BRUGES.
from ne PaH Val Gazcits.


The charm OF Bruges lies rather IN It's gen.
eral effect upon the eye tnan In the number of ts
treasures though these are by no means wanting 10 its
tout ensemble very perfect type OF an epoch whose
memories worth preserving, than IN Its individual tr
umphs OF medieval architecture though OF these again
there enough ON crossing tue broad canal that
girdes the city and that laps ir now grassy aud Hover
ing ampar you still enter IL beneath one OF the
massive gateways that seem to SPEAK more wildly than
anything OF the stormy days OF old The rusted hooks
the pOrtcus hung stu suck 10 the Scared aud
weather beaten walls that echo back few sounds now
but the caster OF the peasants sabO or the numbering
OF his Wheeled wagon on the swhg'Dildge beneath
Within the shelter Of the arch where 1eroo
ana sturdy rolled back again and again The cnv
airy OF Europe the priest created bcggar ats noddng
on the sidewalk though In his very dreams his head and
limbs mechanically move to tue familiar gestures OF his
trade Within the ranparts you can scarcely go wrong
ortuous streets of Gothic houses, bright aud CHEEKY
WITH all their weight OF years. their varied colornR
tic haunt bring you face 10 face with massive churches
whose sombro and undecorated eIteriors contrast
strangely with the vivid coiorlng within Stil canals
sleep beneath rows OF lime trees ana gray bridges
roll with feeble current beneath old brick walls where
the Ivy twines round grated wnlows ana the battered
Images OF saints Here the eve wanders over OF
red-tiled roofs ana manyanged ch'nneys 10 where,
above the rustlng grccuerY OF appe-Orchards aud
popars gray roof OF some convent meets the sky
line There. down long alleys. where the l.cemakers
are sitting the each IN 'front.' OF her cottage door,
with busy fingers rafting the "boobins ana tongue
still buster with the harsh accents OF her race.
OF the city will later LAND In Its Lending
feature the great market square There is little differ
equally bright, and equally picturesque To the rSht
nobility Of a size in keeping with the departed
commercial apendOr OF the city than with the habits OF
the majority " their modern occupants Over almost
every door, whether humble or patrcan the nagpoies
stand out above the that the many gala DAYS
which Bruges observes transform " into hut ering
blaze Of the Brabant coor Though the of commcrce
has left these streets there Ia lack OF sound Every
vehicle that rattles over the rough cobbestones like
thunderstorm, and passes away only 10 give place 10
the echoing beat OF the sabot the pavement, while
the music bells from belfry, church and convent
10 float increasingly upon the air.
The great square should be market days, when
for 10 the retail trade OF Bruges
"camps out for the day. ana ses bootaces and cotton
handkerchiefs petucoats aud oilipops the
from the country round. Nothing perhaps-not even
the silence OF decay itsen-coud form striking con-
trast 10 the opulent aud splendid days OF old
the preparation which Is made aud the mpos-
ing array Of canvas that weekly stretched for the pur
pose OF such petty barter Here again tho traveller at
least has TO complain, for the effect Il emf
nently picturesque While II H. saw nothing olse-if
time forbade him glance attic churches, the Cathedral,
the Hotel lie Vile, the chapes the hospital the pictures
and all the sightA which Bruges could show him-he
would stood here right in front OF him. spnng
into sky, dwarfnR into insigniesnce the
gabled roofs beueah IT, seealng TO leave at is
pinnaoes OF stately buildings whose size alone,
taken by themselves, would render them imposing the
famous belfry, gray with the weight o! Ave centuries,
lifting crowned head heaven ward and from Its iron
throat fin ging with the feeting hours It's gay oarons
to the winds procaims with sow ana solemn voice
4 he a time.