New-York tribune., 1890-08-09
BELGIUM'S SIX1IETH BIRTHDAY.
POPULAR REJOICING AT BRUSSELS IN HoNo1
OF THE ANNIVERSARY OF HER

INDEPENDENCE
FROM An OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRrBuSh1
Brussels July 2l.-The people here have been IN
continuous state OF carnival and patriotic rejoicing
since sunday, throughout Belgium, and especially IN
this good city OF Brnsscls II is the celebration "f
the sixtieth anniversary Of the Independence OF Eel
GUM, and OF the twcntyffth of the accession 10 the
throne Of the actual rcigning family,
Motley the great American historian, who was at
The same time the Tacus and the TitIs Livius OF the
Lower Countries in his famous book The Rise
Of the Dutch Republic, would have been delighted.
could he have the living reproduction OF tho
historical scenes he described so graphically. on
sunday, the festivities opened with an exhibition and
race Of pigeons, quite National pastimc in country
where coombophy is held f. such honor. No fewer than
$3.50 pigeons took part in the cOncOlrs, the results
Of which Will be published later. The Commercial
Council, naugurated in the square of lie Petis
Sablon the statues OF William the silent, Marnix dc
gondc, and Of eight other great patriots OF
the sixteenth century; that the square, already
adorned with the statues Of Egmont and Horn, Is one
OF the most remarkable in the world.
The crowning success Of the day and Of the whole
celebration the historical cortege which repre-
Sented all the principal and perSonages of the
times OF the of Independence. The whole ar
rangement perfect reproduction OF the costumes.
uslgcs and Inhabitants OF those medieval times ono
the Duke Of Alva, Margaret OF Parma. the two
brothers MaIniX, Counts Egmont and llOrn, William the
silent and hundreds Of other personages, passing
before ones eyes, horseback walking, and
resembling exactly the glorious they represented
The suclN tramps, thD Netherlands patriots
dcrlsively called the proud >panaroS of Avi.
walked behind the cart bearing the symbOIcdl soup
bowl and the mendlcants bag, singing: by Bread
by salt, by bag. the gueuX shall lot change.
associations. formed part Of thc procession, which was
terminated by splendid and very accurate repre-
satOn OF the entrance INTO the city Ol William the
silent. An mi Osng lgiOus ceremony ceeJrateds
attended W all the Diplomatic Corps and by all tho
highest oDcals OF the state, with tc member, VI the
Legislature and large concOurse Of citizens. The
Tc Deum OF Peter BenoIt chani I'd by 80
ChorsterS. in 4 most impressive manner.
lhc handing 10 the hing Of the congratulatory
addresses Of the Chambers and the Court OF Appeal
took place in the Place dcS ialas, where stands had
been erected for the of the Royal family. tho
court diglrcs and for the members of the Diplomatic
Corps, of the Legislature, II the Courts of Justice etc.
King Leopold responded In a speech Tiled with nobls
and patriotic expressions, IN which he did not forget
mention the course lac had adopted with respect the
Congo Free state which lie mas practically made
over TO Belgium. The royal speech was appauded
nearly az every sentence
the following day, grand reception was given
The great hall OF tlc club prOfllSey decorated
with iags, which did not. however. conceal the many
paintings by the celebrated masters If the Belgian
school King Leopold accompanied by rhe Queen,
by the Count and Countess of Flanders. By irince
baldwin and the young Princess Henrietta, and tho
court denl,arcS. They retired az midnight. The
next day they were received in state at the City
Hail. where the King answered by an eloquent dis
course the words of welcome pronounced by NJ Bulls,
the BurgOmastcr Of Brussels. The jubilee fetes ara
az end; but their memory viii be remembered
by the great people of little Belgium.