The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1884-07-19
In Foreign Lands.
From our own Correspondent.

VIE BADEN, Germany. July 8, 1884.
Tho passage ocross the channel from
England to the continent, has always been
regarded with horror by travellers and itS
reputation for producing misery is doubtless
fairly earned. 1t has the advantage, how
ever, OF being a short trip, the voyage from
Dover to Calais being made in less than
two hours, aud from Dover to ostend in
bout four hours. The discomforis Of the
journey are largely increased by the fact
that the steamers are small and inconveni-
ent and as a rule passengers and pigs. Pnul
try and provisions are slowed away indls.
crimirately. Our voyage to Ostend was a
comparatively smooth one and we at once
took the train for Bruges, where,
ain the market place of Bruges
Stands the beliry, old and brown.
Thrice consumed and thrice rehu ilded,
Sull it watches DER the town."
Tho famous chimes Of which Longfellow
wrote, consist %, 4s bells and are regarded
as among the best in Europe. The trip mp
the tower, 1920 feet to the tnp,l is very
satisfactory one, not only on account of the
extensive view obtained, but also on nc
count of the careful explanation given by
the custodian of the Working Of the ringing
machinery and clock. Druges was at one
time an important commercial centre; but
nothing except relics ol its ancient splendor
now remain.
The road from Bruges to Brussels (65
mles) is through q Hat and uninteresting
country, but the soil is evidently good and
under a high state Of cultivation; the
growing crops which consist largely of tar
ley. wheat, potatoes, ETC., looking fine
Although the capital Of Belgium - Brussels
is to all appearances French city and in
fact it is frequently spoken Of as minia
ture Paris, its public buildings are rich aud
tasty, its business blocks and private resi-
dpnces elegant and substantial aud the
pure air and general neatness Of the sur
roundings form very agreeable change t.
- - s---' s"~"i'N'' r-"nl the fog and
smoke of London. The Hutel lie Vile
near the center of the city. is regarded as
architecturalY one of the finest structureI
in Europe. Its tower rises to a hight o
$40 feet and its graceful pinnacles snd the
general design of the building are very
pleasing.
Twelve miles south of Brussels is the
field Of Waterloo; where, sixty-nlne year.
ago, one o the few decisive battles in tn,
worlds history was fought. The "Lior
Mound" which marks the location of The
English centre, is about mile dista mt from
the railway station of Braine l. Attend snd
from its summit an excellent view of the
scene of the battle is obtained. Standing
there and looking out oyer those iertil,
farms with their growing crops and greer
fields, 1t is di fficul. to realize the scenes o
carnage OF which this was once the arena
Far away To the south the French army
was marshalled; along this ridge the Eng
lish received those desperate charges whici
would have overwhelmed less determ ineC
troops. BY that pags from the east cam,
|
save the day. But the history of the battl,
is TO well known To need repetition here
Grouchy Jailed to appear and Napoleon
died "A prisoner at ST. Helena. In spite
however. of WaterIp and St. Helena, il
spite of the Holy (2) Alliance" and tn,
divine Right Of Kings" Franco to.da,
enjoys that for which Napnieon fought e
the right Of the people to chose their owl
rulers. Who will cay that the world doe
not moye7
Antwerp is only twenty seyen mile
from Brussels, an yet both thrlying cities
IL is as thoroughly Dutch as Brussels i
French ,and the contrast between the iwo /
very great. In the 10th century ANTWERP
was the leading commercial city of Europe
but in the wars with Spain it wns crushe,
and has never rrganed its former suprem
ary. Its quaint, Sntiquated houscs ant
other pecuIiaritrs of this old Flemish cit,
make il place Of more than ordinary H.
terest tn the tourist Antwerp was In
home OF Van Dyck and the crnter of tn
Flemish Schnol oi Art In the cathedral,
massive structure which dates back to Il.
] l4th century, is Rubsus' Tar tanned master
piece, The Descent from the Cross" n
well as several other works ui less note b
the same artist. The museum, the large,
art collection In Belgium, contains abou
go pictures, including Rubeus' "CrucihS
ion" aud large number by Rlhens. VA
Dyck, Matsys and Others. A chime OF S
bells in the tower furnishes at times III
Q most delightful meludy and at others give
0 forth the most dnlrful and solemn sound,
= The Scheldt, which flows past the city, is
sluggish stream, but furnishes exceller
facilities for commerce, and during lh
Palmy days Of Antwerp often q la,ed oye
1000 ships at one time. At present thi
port is visited by about 5000 vessels al
!. as-lly.
AK la Chapelle, or "Aachsn," rs it
, called by the Germans, is a city Of abou
75,GO0 population and is noted for its ai
sncianons with the Emperor Charlemagn,
it being the place Of his birth, coronatinr
favorte residence aud burial. For seye
centuries after Charlemagne the Germa
emperors were crowned here. The Csths
DIAL was founded in 7g6. by the great en-
peror and was eonsecrateJ by Pope L.o III
. assisted by 365 bishops. Among be AttraC
tlOSs Of the Plass fF the faithful, sTs .b