Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1893-12-09
SATURDAY SALAD.
FROM FOREIGN LANDS.

FROM FOREIGN LANDS.
To the Editor of the New Mexican:
Wiesbaden, Germany, Nov. 23.-On our
way from Santa Fe to Antwerp, we arrived
at Flushing about midnight and lay in
the harbor until morning awaiting high
tide, when we steamed majestlcally up the
river Sheldt. 1t did indeed seem majestic
to see this great ocean steamer (the
Friesland of the Red Star line) passing
through the very heart of the country up
such a comparatively narrow stream.
The day was fine and we enjoyed the
scenery, which was remarkable for the
great extent of roofs visible, in proper
ton to the lower parts of the houses. l
soon remembered why this was. Nearly
the entire coast of Belgium and Holland
is below the sea level and is protected by
great "dykes,' which look like low, fiat,
continues hill, beautifully overgrown with
grass, beyond and above which we could
only see the roofs of the houses. l dare
say there is no danger of the water break
ing through, but could not help think
ing of the retreating French army once
destroyed thereabouts, by breaking the
dykes and letting the water in upon them.
Dumas gives a very fine description OF 1t
in one of his novels.
Long before we reached Antwerp we
could see the graceful and beautiful
spires of her cathedral. As we came to
the city l noticed that the entire river
front was one continuous iron dock, un-
;Go o,,,&hiprr r Ind Tho
custom house examination was mere
formality, but standing in the wet Il
forgot to say that as we arrived at Ant
werp it began to rainy waiting for the
trunks was an unpleasant reality, and as
luck would have it one of mine was the
very last 10 come ashore.
In a general hearsay sor. of way
have always known that Dutch and Bel
gian were not German, but supposed
they were so nearly related that person
speaking German could understand either
and be understood. Then imagine my
surprise to find I could understand
neither, nor they me, except I used
French, which has become almost the ma
tional language of Belgium.
Leaving the docks we drove at once tc
the railway station and took the first
train for Ai1-la-Chapelle, distance Of
about fifty miles. Four weeks later
again visited Antwerp, en- route to Lon
don, and paid visit to the cathedral.
It happened to be the week of the year
ly cleaning, and all paintings and works
of art were covered, so saw only the bare
interior, with it's fine stained glass win
dows and the the exterior which is granC
and graceful.
Everywhere in northern Europe one il
struck with the general appearance o.
cleanliness and thrift. If there are
paupers they are kept from the streets
beggar is almost an unknown thing
which is a great contrast to my ex
perience in Spain.
The shop windows are very attractive
and many things seemed very cheap
notably kid-gloves, handmade lace and
linen. Precious stones of all kinds also
seemed very cheap compared with prices
in the United States. I have a curiosity
to know whether the prosperous condi.
ton of the people and cheap prices is the
result of high protective tariff or free
trade.
In looking at some souvenir spoons
Il must plead guilty to making colec-
tion) noticed that hands, one or two, cut
off at the wrist, and in the act of being
thrown from castle, are used on the
city's coat of arms and various seals.
asked what it meant and was told that in
early times prisoners hands were cut off
and thrown in the water, from which the
town got the name of Hand-werfen,
Throwing of hands) which has become
Antwerpen.
OF course took spoon with hand on
the handle. As had but few hours on