The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1899-01-14

WRITTEN FOR THE CECIL WING.
For three hours we have been sailing up
the Schelde past heavy tublike schooners
built with no regard for appearance yet
not without certain rude grace, smart,
square rugged English merchantmen, puff
ing tugs and ocean cramps and liners
flying the flags of many nations. On either
side stretch the long green dikes, with here
and there the red roofs Of Holland peeping
above them and the occasional quaint
Gothic spire of some village church or a
windmill slowly tanning itself to sleep.
The turf is green rs emerald. Long rows
OF swayiug poplars that thread the country
in every direction mark TIL site OF sup
Elementary dikes and relieve the monotony
of SO level landscape. There are no
fences hut in their stead hedges and
ditches for wood and stone are expensive
here. most picturesque district; it is no
wonder that Holland is the Mecca of artists.
During the summer we find their umbrellas
ami eascls dotted all over the country.
Antwerp, the most important commercial
centre Of Belgium, is situated at the head
OF navigation on the Schelde. 1t dates
back TO psychological times. There is a
legend oommemoiated by fine monument
in the market place that there once lived
here giant, Antigonous, who cut of the
right hand of every shipmaster who re-
fused to pay the heavy harbor dues which
he exacted. He was slain by Salonis
Brabo, mythical hero, who cut off the
tyrant's hand in turn, and threw it into
the river.
Because OF it's advantageous situation
Antwerp has for thousand years been
valuable mart for both foreign and
domestic trade. Under the Emperor
Charles V, it was the most prosperous and
wealthy city on the continent, surprising
even Venice, then at the height of its
power. At that period vessels from all
parts of the world lay in the Schelde, and
the great fairs here were of international
Importance. Its decline began with the
Spanish regime when the terrors Of the In
QUESTION banished thousands Of industrious
citil MS ami caused the death of many
more. From 1876 when the Spanish SOL
diery piIaged the city and slew 1000 of
its Inhabitants, its prestige gradually
waned until, when Napoleon constructed
its new quays and opened its harbor, its
population had dwindled to 10000 souls.
Daring tine past century it has suffered
several proIracted sieges, but Of late years
its growth has been progressive, and now
its cuumeIce and consequent wealth are
well established. Taking a lesson from Che
quite recent past the Belgian government
has surrounded it with such massive forti
fications that it is next to Gibraltar the
strongest fortress in Europe. 1t is here
thar the Belgian army will rendezvous if
compelled to retreat before a strange foe.
We walked from the massive quay to
che hotel through narrow, crooked streets
that bsspeak antiquity, over sidewalks
often less than two feet wide, carriage way
and foot.way alike paved with cubical
Belgian blocks. The stores we passed were
decorated with signs in half a dozen
languages, for Antwerp is again cosmo
poitan city, and merchants flock here from
all nations in Europe. Today is the Sab
bath and business is at its best, for this is
IL holiday even more than day of worship
in Belgium. In the older quarters of the
town, lying near the river, most of the
buildings are small, rarely more than two
stories high, rooted with brick and tiles,