Catoctin clarion., 1900-09-20


contains perhaps. the best specimens of Ru.
bens in existence. The Plantin museum is
interesting from its connection with the in
PRODUCTION Of printing into the Netherlands
1t was in this building that Christopher Plan.
tin set up the first printing works in the
Netherlands in 1855. 1t contains fine col
lection ofs:copper plates, drawings, &c. The
Friday market is held in front of,his building
and it was our good fortune to see this odd
and characteristic scene. The open square
in front of tue building was filled with an
eager, excited crowd who seemed anxious for
an opportunity to bid on some very ancient
looking articles of household and kitchen
furniture. We did not stay long enough to
hear the bidding. There are some very inter-
esting old churches In Antwerp. One, St.
Jacques, was be- un in 149l, the year before
the discovery of America The Steen, or
museum Of antiquities was formerly the seat
of the Spanish Inquisitlon, and its dungeons
and instruments of torture bear somber wit
ness to its former history. On Friday even.
ing we took possession of our quarters on
the s. 8. Southwark for our ten days trip
across the Atlantic.
A brief account of our homeward voyage
may prove an interesting conclusion to the
series of letters. We left Antwerp Saturday
morning at Z a m. on the Red Star liner
Southwark On board were 200 cabin and
800 stcerage passengers. The latter formed
quite an item in our list Of entertainments.
We felt very sorry for them as they left their
native shores, perhaps forever,a and bade adeu
to their weeping friends on shore. The nov
city of the voyage &c, however soon con-
soled them and they seemed quite happy
next lay; the children playing and rolling
around with the usual abandon of fchildhood,
| 1t is sixty miles from Antwerp to the mouth
of the Schelde river and the banks are quite
interesting, at Flushing we catch a glimpse
of Holland with its Characteristic fiat shores
and windmils. All of Saturday and part of
| Sunday we are in the North sea and about
4 p. m on the latter day steam out of the
channel, past Landsend and Wolf Light into
the bosom of the broad Atlantic. The voy-
age was uneventful one. as we encountered
no very rough weather. though we had sev :
eral days of fog. The fog horn with its
hoarse, strdent, note of warning. narrowed
up our souls during that length Of time.
The cabin passengers were quite as co-mo-
poli,an as the steerage. Germans, Belgians,
Polish Jews, French and Americans being
some of the nationalities represented, We
hal the usual number Of entertainments
while on board, q progressive cuChre party,
a concert and dance being among thc mum.
Der. Monday night about 10 O'Clock we cast
anchor off Landy Hook and on Tuesday
morning steamed up New York bay to our
anchorage. The usual formaltics at the Gus.
tom house awaited us and IN striking con-
trast to the casual examination Of our bag
gage in European countries, Uncle Sans
Inspection was very rigid. Poor old man
He has to have all the shekeis he can gather
in from returning travellers. Personally,
however can enter no complaint as the
few souvenirs brought escaped duty. lIav.
ing day to spare spent it seeing some.
thing Of our metropolis. The first place
visited was Grants tomb, ani rs I entered
the severely plain white marble building n
vision of the Invaldcs, with its gorgeous
array of color rose before my eyes and con,
cluded it was possible to push republican
simplicity to extreme limits ltsccmcd very
good to be home once more however, and to
hear familiar language spoken, While we
lack many things that make Europe interest.
ing az a place to visit, America after all is
the country in which to live. The greatest
good to the greatest number is undoubtedly
to be had here at less cost and in greater pro.
fusion than elsewhere, at least as far as the
physical man is concerned. Reaching home
Wednesday morning our long journey of over
10000 miles by land and water was completed
That it was accomplished without sickness,
accident or serious detention speaks volumes
ofthe ability of our good guide, DR.. Bowman,
and is Il source of gratitude to the ovcriu.ng
Providence which brought us so sa fely on
our way.
F. A MATUJAs