The Red Cloud chief., 1901-04-26
ATHENS OFTHENORTH
OLD DOUAi OF FRANCE Is A
QUAINT TOWN.
Is the Midst OF . Great Mining District
THIS Little City Has Tbrived for
Nearly . Thousand Years-Inhsbitapts
Are Oid-Fashioued.

lltSs i6hOItug III II
France, says the International Maga-
zine. one Of the quaintest little towns
in Europe-Douai. otherwise known
as the Athens OF the North. In the
midst of great mining district this
| little city, one OF the oldest places in
France, has thrived for nearly a thou
sand years. Some historians have
claimed for II Trojan origin; others
are Of the opinion that 1t was founded
| by the Cimbres; while still others
and these are probably right-believe
that 1t was built by Julius Caesar.
| Douai being simply the old Duacum
Of which the conqueror speaks In his
Commentaries.
A few years ago the demolition OF
| the ramparts was begun, to the great
| sorrow OF all Douaisiens. who loved
their old walls, with the shady hooks.
the great old oak trees and the beau
tiful little brooklets running in and
out and through the Notifications. The
expansion OF the city. however, re-
quired the change, and only one or
two OLD gates have been left standing.
the most remarkable OF which is the
Porte de- Valenciennes. Other struc-
lures OF historical interest are strewn
all over the city. For instance, the
storehouse of the artillery stationed
there was formerly a celebrated con-
vent Of the Chartreux, and before that
had been the home OF the Templars.
This building Is seven centuries cid.
The entire surrounding country Is be-
decked with old chateaux, that Of Lal-
laing being 700 years old, while that OF
Wagonville. which is more beautiful,
dates back to the twelfth century. The
nave OF the Church Of Notre Dame,
a masterpiece Of pure Gothic architec-
ture, was built in the eleventh century,
and the choir was erected 300 years
later. The larger Church Of st. Peter.
although OF a more recent construction.
is far more beautiful and really de-
serves the name OF cathedral. The bel
fry, known all over France for its
beauty. was begun in the fifteenth CEN
tury. Its weathercock rises 175 feet
above the street. One Of the first can
non foundries in Europe was estab-
lished in Douai and the navy yard In
Washington. ID. c., possesses two
bronze cannon that were cast in this
little French town. The inhabitants
have remained old fashioned and con-
servative: old customs seem to have
grooyed themselves into their lives
and today, as before the great revolu-
ton, a certain mass on Sunday and
then promenade up and down the main
street. stopping here and there to chat
! with friends and discuss the happen
ings of the week The society OF the
. place is ultra exclusive and is divided
. distinctly into three classes-the ole
aristocratic families, the well-to-dc
merchants, and the workmen. Once
: year, however, all classes and grades
) miogle in a great public fete given II
! honor OF Gayant, n hero more or less
imaginary who according to legend
led the resistance against Louis XII II
1879. Whether this hero ever really ex
, listed or whether Gayant is merely
corruption OF the Spanish word gayar
, (meaning giant, really matters littl'
to the Douaisiens. For over four hun
dred years they have celebrated thi
fete and 1t has, so to speak. become
I, necessity of life for them. Once O
n twice. for religious or other reasons
= these festivities were forbidden, bu
4 the measures prohibiting them proves
n so unpopular that they soon had to, b
v repealed.
e Gayant as We see him today is a 81
n gantic willow dummy twenty-five fee
d high. and tradition has 1t that the mas
e representing his face was modelled b.
n Rubens. The fete. which begins on tn
). first Sunday after July Z. lasts for
S week and every day Gayant, his wife
= children and grandchild-aii OF then
willow dummies-are paraded throug
the streets to the great delight Of tn
masses. As a matter Of course all wor
@ is suspended during this time and thou
a sands OF people come into Douai 70
ha