Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-11-23
ON FOOT IN EUROPE.
Lillian Spencer Describes Her Jour-
ney Through Belgium.
WORKERS IN THE BRICK KILNs.
Locked Up in Sky Parlor and Robbed by
Lawless Waiter.
ADVICE FOB OTHER PEDESTRIANS

ADVICE FOB OTHER PEDESTRIANS
rcoRREsPoNDENcE OF THE DIsPArcH.1
MECaLIN, BELGIUM, November IL
Fifteen miles is long walk for a well
woman. For an invalid it is-well try 1t
and see.
If you have ever been picked up and
dropped from the roof of house to the side
walk, or tumbled under the wheels of
carriage, or been thrown from the back
of frolicksome horse, then you may have
some faint conception of the battered up
feelings of your anatomy on the morning
following your tramp. Otherwise you can
not possibly conceive how stiff and sore and
played out you are.
know 1 was.
In my disguise of an invalid may say it
was the biggest dose of allopathic medicine
I ever took.
To those who follow my example and un-
dertake walking tour on their own ac-
count I have this to say: Take 1t homeo-
pathicallyl Start out with miles, continue
for a week, then begin and add from 1 to 2
miles day. and by the end of month 10
miles stretch will have become a pleasant
stroll. In walking do not lagl Hold the
body erect, throw up the head, straighten
the shoulders and let the arms hang freely
by the side. Start out with long swinging
step, and when faIigued break into brisk,
lively gait. Never sit down longer than
five minutes at time. A half hours rest
precludes the possibility of going on com.
tortably again. 1t stiffens the joints and
creates a languor delicious in the extreme,
but difficult, and in some cases impossible
to shake off Five minutes answers the
purpose perfectly we'll.
FAvoRs LIGHT BREAKFASTS.
The best plan of regulating the day is to
rise at and take light breakfast of cafe
au-lait and rolls. You will more than likely
do this under any circumstances, since it is
about all that can be had at that hour. And
good custom, too. 1 blame half my i'll
health to the heavy American breakfast.
Meat, potatoes, hot breads, cakes and coffee
are all very we'll at noon, but nature never
intended that they should be eaten imme-
diately upon rising.
After partaking of tie cafe-au-lait, which
will be served free of charge in the room,
consume half hour or so with the papers,
and then start out. Walk in the shade OF
the tall, green trees, which, like an army of
stalwart giants, stan1 side by side, lining
the beautiful white roads as far as the eye
cans.see.
At noon stop for an hour, and then par
take of the euner-a-la-fourchette," after
which 1 recommend at least two hours re-
pose. Resume the walk, say at 2:30 or 3,
and continue until 6. Retire at 10. A
sponge bath morning and evening is a great
tonic, and is Indispensable. By following
the above plan, from 15 to 20 miles can be
healthfully accomplished in one day. The
change in ones general condition becomes
apparent after the first week. The warm
sun, pitying the pale face, no doubt, stains
it with delicate coloring of brown, which
lends ruddy glow to the hitherto emaciated
countenance; brilliancy to the dull eyes,
and rich glow to the pallid lips. The con-
slant exercise of the muscles OF the body.
together with the inhalation of the pure,
fresh air, sends the sluggish old blood
coursing through the veins and stirs the
sluggish liver to unwonted activity.
MAKES A PERSON NEW.
Farewell to wakeful nights now! Good-by
to insomnia and neart burn, and dyspepsia
and lack of appetite. The only thought is
to get enough to eat out of the francs al
Iotted by the economical friend for each
DAYS living expenses. The pampered pal
ate which heretofore craved the daintiest
tid-bits in the way OF pastry and food, now
relishes the coarse loaf of the peasant and
takes the bitter Belgium beer with an avid
ity of thirst One rarely fares badly in a
astronomical sense in Belgium. The most
unpretentious country inn will serve a good
stable d. hote" for the modest sum OF 80
cents But one must know the price before
hand. And he must have no sensitiveness
about haggling. Not to be able to haggle is
not to be able to live in Belgium. am
inclined to think a foreigner is judged by
his ability in this respect and treated ac-
cordingly. At Boren, for instance, asked
the price of bed and dinner.
"Three francs for the bed, for the dinner,
80 centimes for candle and 80 for service"
was the reply.
"I cannot pay any such amount" said,
firmly.
will you pay 2 for the bed and 3 for the
dinner?"
Decidedly not"
Zone franc and 50 centimes for the bed,
then, and for the dinner?"
"No; too much by far
"What will you pay?"
'We will pay franc apiece for rooms,
for dinner and 80 centimes for cate-au-lait
in the morning."
"Bienl bienp' was the response, land
shall be happy to bring the bcafe to the
apartment.
This is a sample of the conversation which
passes between my landlady and at every
stopping place. In point of fact, am be-
coming professional haggler. I don't like
the business, 1 admit, but these good folk
seem to expect it, and I notice that when
ever make tradesman or innkeeper come
down halfin his price, he treats me with
more respect. No doubt the discovery that
am not a fool gratifies him.
THE PEOPLE OF BELGIUM.
On the whole, the Belgians are an admir-
able people, though. I like them. They
are more polite than the French, and more
honest than Italians. And then they are so
fat and rosy, and hearty and jolly good
natured, it is pleasure to be near them.
They are excellent good to look at, too.
And some Of the girls are very handsome, in
robust fashion.
We left Boren and continued our walk
to Mechlin, distance of two miles. The
first quarter lay through the brick kilns of
Belgium. 1t was for the most part bad
walking, but one cannot regret the opSpor-
tunity thus afforded of seeing into real home
life Of the peasant. Mile after mile stretched
the sheds OF kilns. Low, sharp peaked
structures, with red painted roofs, piled
high with unbaked bricks, hundreds upon
hundreds of men, women aud children, each
busily employed in some one or other of the
processes of manufacture, women with their
babies tied in wheelbarrows in lieu of
cradles, bearing loads OF clay on their
sturdy shoulders to the man who fashioned