The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1884-07-31
IN FOREIGN LANDS.
Correspondence of the Lntelligencer.

COrTcSp0ndc'lce OF inc iWctttyeitCei'
The passage across the channel from
England to the continent has always beer
regarded with horror by travellers and it
reputation for producing misery is doubt
less fairly earned. 1t has the advantage
however, of being short trip, the voyage
from Dover to Calais being made in les
than two hours, and from Dover to Ostene
in about four hours. The discomforts O
the journey are largely increased by TIT
fact that the steamers are small ane
incon Yenient and as rule passenger
and pigs, poultry and provisions arr
atowed away indiscriminately. Ou
voyage to Ostend was comparatively
smooth one and we at once took the trair
for Bruges, where,
"In the market place of Bruges
Stands the belfry, old and brown.
Thrice consumed and thrice rebuilded,
Still it watches o'er.the town.
The famous chimes of which LongfelloW
wrote, consist of 4S bells and are regarded
as among the best in Europe. The triE
up the tower, 1920 feet to the top,) is 6
very satisfactory one, not only on account
of the extensive view obtained, but also
on account of the careful explanation
given by the custodian of the working o.
the ringing machinery and clock. Bruges
was at one time an important commercial
centre; but nothing except relics Of its
ancient splendor now remain.
The road from Bruges to Brussels les
miles, is through fat and uninterestine
county, but the soil is evidently good
and under high state of cultivation
the growing crops, which consist largely
of barley, wheat, potatoes, etc., looking
fine. Although the capital of Belgium
-Brussels-is to all appearance a French
city and in fact is frequently spoken oi
as a miniature Paris, its public buildings
are rich and tasty, its business blocks and
private residences elegant and substantial
and the pure air and general neatness
of the surroundings form very agreeable
change to one who has just escaped from
the fog and smoke OF London. The
Hotel de Vile, near the centre of the
city, is regarded as architecturally one OF
the finest structures in Europe. Its tower
rises to height of $40 feet and its grace:
full pinnacles and the general design OF
the building are very pleasing.
Twelve miles South of Brussels is the
field of Waterloo; where, sixty.nin
years ago, one of the few decisive battles
in the worlds history was fought. The
"Lion Mound" which marks the location
of the English centre, is about mile
distant from the railway station of Braine
lAllend and from its summit an excellent
view of the scene of the battle is obtained.
Standing there and looking out over those
fertile farms with their growing crops and
green fields, it is difficult to realize the
scenes of carnage of which this was once
the arena. Far away to the South the
French army was marshalled; along this
ridge the English received those desperate
charges which would have overwhelmed
less determined troops. By that pass
from the East came Blucher with his
Prussians, just in time to save the day.
But the history of the battle is too we'll
known to need repetition here. Grouchy
failed to appear and Napoleon died a
prisoner at St. Helena. In spite, how
ever, of Waterloo and St. Helena, in spite
Of the "Holy (?) Alliance" and the
"Divine Right of Kings" France to-day
enjoys that for which Napoleon fought
the right of the people to choose their
own rulers. Who will say that the world
does not mover
Antwerp is only twenty.seGen miles
from Brussels, and yet both are thriving
cities. 1t is as thoroughly Dutch as
Brussels is French and the contrast be.
tween the two cities is very great. In
the 10th century Antwerp was the lead
ing commercial city of Europe; but in
The wars with Spain it was crushed and
has never gained its former supremacy.
Its quaint, antiquainted houses and its
narrow, crooked streets, with the many
other peculiarities of this old Flemish
city make it place of more than ordinary
interest to the tourist. Antwerp was the
home of Van Dyck and the center Of the
Flemish School of art. In the cathedral,
massive structure which dates back to
the 18th century, is Rubens' far famed
masterpiece, "The Descent from the
Cross" as we'll as several other works of
less note by the same artist. The museum,
the largest art collection in Belgium,
contains about 600 pictures, including
Rubens' "Crucifxion" and large mum.
Der by Rubens, Van Dyck, Matsys and
others. a chime of 80 bells in the tower
furnishes at times the most delightful
melody and at others gives forth the
most doleful and solemn sounds. The
Scheldt, which flows past the city, is q
sluggish stream, but furnishes excellent
facilities for commerce, and during the
palmy days Of Antwerp often hoated
over 1000 ships tone time. At present
this port is visited by about 5000 vessels
annually.
Aix-la. .Chapelle, or "Aachen," as it is
called by the Germans, is city of about
$4,000 population and is noted for it's
associations with the Emperor Charlie.
magne, it being the place of his birth,
coronation, favorite residence and burial.
For seven centuries after Charlemagne
the German Emperors were crowned here.
The Cathedral was founded in 796, by
the great Emperor and was consecrated
by Pope Leo III, assisted by 365 bishops.
Among the attractions of the place for
the faithful, are the relics, which are
preserved with great care in the treasury.
They consist of the swadliug clothes, q
scarf worn by Christ at the crucifxion, a
robe worn by the Virgin at the nativity,
leathern girdle of Christ's, girdle OF
the Virgin, piece of the true cross and
many fragments Of the bones of various
saints. Directly beneath the centre oi
the dome is the tomb of the mighty
Charlemagne. 1t is covered with mas
sive slab, bearing the inscription "Carolo
Magno." About mile from the city is
Frankenburg, favorite hunting seat oi
Charlemague and with a tower of his
time still standing. 1t was here his queen
Fastrada died; but "Tbc lakes that
water that delicious land" have been
partially filled up and only trace of its