Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-07-12
THE PAST AGES REVIVED
The Living Picture Of Old Antwerp Seen at
the Fair
A Reproduction Of Street Scenes, Gus.
toll in the 10th Century.

Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.
ANTWERP. Belgium. September S. 1894.
By Ol.: Antwerp is meant not the older
portions of this interesting city, but an
integral part of the International exposition
known by that name. No feature Of the
worlds fair, the Belgians are pleased
TO term their exposition, is SO popular as
Old Antwerp. Every one of the nineteen
congresses which SO far have met here
this summer spent an evening within its
walls. The King Of the Belgians finds IL
secord only to the Congo village; the King
Of Roumania was the guest Of its governor.
and the lord mayor Of London viewed with
interest some of its quaint ceremonies.
In 1892 the Belgian Academy Of Archae-
ology celebrated in Antwerp its fiftleth an
niversary, and, as usual, procession play
ed important part. However, on this
occasion the procession was not OF the
ordinary Grassland variety. With the as
sistance of numerous societies which pre-
serve many of the old customs and c-re-
monies a representation was given Of the
triumphal ei.try into Antwerp in lJ6l of
the successful competitors in the Flemish
poetic and oratorical contest OF that year.
One OF the spectators on that occasion.
Mr.. Jean AdriacnSen, conceived the idea
of repeating this procession during the
time OF the exposition. The idea was re-
ceived with favor, and developed into a
gigantic plan, including not only process
sions, but Journeys, festivals, theatricals
and various ceremonies. and in order to
have the proper setting il was decided to
reproduce within the grounds a part OF
Ola Antwerp.
The question Of what period to reproduce
was an important one. whether to take the
one in which the city possessed the greatest
which offered the greatest number of bril-
liant fetes and ceremonies. Inasmuch as
the city was to be rather the background,
the latter hcrn of the dilemma was chosen
and bit of Antwerp of the sixteenth CEN
fury was reproduced. Al this time the
Flemish countries were the richest in
Europe, they mad been under various for
egn rulers, had learned the customs of the
most refined and had become fond of the
pomp and display of the older courts.
When Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy
and husband of the Queen Of spain. died.
ms son Charles, afterward Emperor Charles
V, became heir to the Flemish domains
During his minority the government was in
the hands of Marguerite of Austria. She
made her ceremonial entry into Antwerp
J une q, 1917. In September of the follow
Ing year Emperor Macmillan, accompanied
10y Charles. paid the city a visit The
prince, after attaining his majority, was re-
ceivei IN great pomp on February L.. 1916
After becoiling Emperor of Germany he
was crowned September %, 1870 in Ant
werp. Philip III was received with royal
ceremonies II i5t9. During the latter half
of TINS century the government changed
hands with great rapidity, caused by the
revolt OF TIE Netherlands against Spain In
1oiS tie Archduke Matthias of Austria made
ms entry; IN the same year he was sue
ceedet 10y William of Orange The DuLa
d Aiencon was inaugurated in 1850 and tho
next Change brought Archduke Ernes, TO
the thrcne in 1894. After his Death Isabelle
I'M aiDert We're received with unusual
naSniiccnce in 1892.
Old buildings Reproduced.
Each new sovereign sought to gain favor
With his subjects by return of fetes. tour
neys and professions Thus fl was tho, ,h.
sixteenth century, with its multitude ~
ceremonies, was chosen. Nor was thar
any loss along the archaeoloyic side 4,
that time Antwerp possessed a number of
me houses artistic gates, curious si.ns
and Interesting industries.
me exposition authorities through tho
ihstrumentality of special conn7iss,a,,
i've caused TO be erected within the
grounds seventy buildings of the six,o..s
century. They follow the exac, iin .i ~
three CT the streets of that period bn, ~
ing typical buildings, they are necessa r,I,. -,
,n ,ne'r correct relative positions. No AT
tempt mas been made at bizarre efracts ~
the case OF the more important huildi,gs 81
rgSroo9ctiens have been intrusted 10 III
a6,est historians and archaeologists. WIG
aiiSe W Via Antwerp is across On
ul Siiase over the moat and through a
reLIoouction OF the kipdorp gate.
Nhen the Duke dAlencon was nroc,o,,,,,
sovereign CT the Netherlands he al ono
iooncu upon Antwerp with coyetous evas
anu very soon sought TO take IL by force 90
arms His point Of attack was tho I<inso,,,
gate. which was so We'll fortified that he NO,
ohiE ialied 20 effect an entry, but met win
cohpiete deieat. In order to perpetuate the
memory Of this glorious victory a caIahr,,aS
arch'tect was employed TO remodel th. ola
gate and transform il into a triumphal arch
ne gate nrelf. in spite of MANY petf,Ions
LOT lts preservation. was demolishad mani.
years ago. but its model standing ar Tho
,hrcshoid OF the domain dedicated 10 "a rost
century, within precincts set apart for Tho
eioriilcatlon OF the arts Of the present.
inhabitants of new Antwerp the debt tba,,
owe TO the sturdy defenders of Ola Amt
wcrp. '
Men-at-arms, in the costume of fha six
teSnth century and armed with the mixes OF
mat date. stand az the gate TO see that
eacn visitor gives the countersign This
shiDho!eth Is small piece of paper, which
words, the price OF admission Once within
the walls one feels as though q backward
step OF four centuries had been taken Sur
founded by people dressed in the garb of
ages past pursuing the ayocations of that
period, engaged in the traffic of that day
ana participating in its ceremonies and fes-
tivities the impression is inaescribable.
view, and the thought never comes that fl
is merely spectacle-a performance on a
large scale.
rumSer of important bull lings received
especial attention, every possible care being
given TO reproduce the decoration and en-