The National tribune., 1898-12-01

But we had an easy time, although our
French failed US. Our tongues had been too
long exercised in Teutonic gutturals and
syllabes, and refused the slips and slides of
the French, so we bowed and smiled and
shook our heads when they asked US ques-
tions, and got in and ont of the Custom
House and in the right train again without
particular incident.
On the train, however, we noticed a COM
plete change in the bearing of the conductor
Our German "Schafiners :" had been oblig-
ing to us in kind fatherly sort of way,
but this French guard took a vivid interest
In % Les etrangers" and was continually
bobbing in, and with soft eyes and voice. as
surfing us that we need not change cars. or
that this was not our station-indeed devoted
continual attention to our comfort In Eng
land we found that the guard so severely
minds his own business that il was very
difficult operation 10 make him mind ours to
the extent of telling us whether or no we
were i'll the right carriage.
Arrived in Antwerp. we found a queer and
ugly little Town whose inhabitants spoke
neither English nor German. The signs in
so we essayed French. Either they or we
spoke very poor French, for we could not
understand nor make ourselves understood
to any OF the wayfarers Of whom We asked
our way. OF course, we were lost-we make
il point to get lost the first thing when we
get into a new town. One feels so self
reliant after being lost and then finding ones
way again in spite OF uncivilized streets,
strange tongues and unfamiliar aspects gen.
orally. Another reason for our difficulties
presented itself to us; probably our French
was absolutely Partisan, but we happened
always TO strike the Dutch-speaking in
babitants instead of the French This ex-
PLANTATION. so much more satisfying TO our
vanity, was the one we decided on.
The streets Of Antwerp are highly unreason-
able, going straight for a quarter of mile or
30, then dartiDg off at sharp angle perhaps
careering around few churches, and finally
disappearing IN park and a fountain before
we had found the address for which we were
searching. The address was of bank, and it
was important for US TO find it. We finally
found the number but it was evidently a
private house, having no business nor any
signs, and the heavy double doors being
tightly closed. So we asked at a jewelers.
near by where this bank was. They pointed
TO this residence and told us to knock. So
we lifted the great knocker and let it fall, and
asked OF the maid servant who appeared. for
the bank. 1t Is not open yet, she said.
This was 2 o'clock, and we were shut out
again 10 wait until 3. At 3 O'Clock we re-
turned, knocked, were admitted, walked UP
stairs, and waited some more. There were a
few men about, but they paid no attention to
Us. We hated to shrek in French. To talk
il Is bad enough, but the mistakes in pro-
nunciation and grammar seem 50 much more
evident when one shrieks But it had to be
done. Eventually we got our money, and an
hour or two more was spent in trying to get
acquainted with the portraits of Louis Napo-
leon and the gesticuiating lions OF the small
moneys, and 10 accustom ourselves TO think
In francs.
1t did not take us long to discover that
Anyers's chocolate shop could serve us up
quite the finest cups of that beverage that we
had ever enjoyed, with also the most pleasing
little cakes TO nibbe at, and we rested and
slipped in such shop, and forgot our troubles
" hen we came forth the stores demanded
our attention, for it was too early to 20
back to the hotel and too late TO do any
sightseeing. We remembered that besides
Rubens, this country is famous for IFS laces,
and in the windows we saw the most ex-
quIsite stufis ever made from thread. They
were like clouds caught in a howery pattern,
Or ones breath on a cold morning fashioned