Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1904-09-07

by some the most beautiful building
in the world. But it is not as pretty
as the Congressional Library Build.
ing at Washington. 1t is larger, but
] have seen nothing that equals the
Library Building in Washington in
beauty. This building in Brussels is
said TO have cost over ten million
dollars. 1t certainly reflects credit
on the little country of Belgium,
which is not one-third the size of
South Carolina. 1t has, though, four
times as many people as South Caro-
lima, and is, believe, the most thickly
populated country in Europe.
While in Brussels, some of us
visited Waterloo, which is about ten
miles away. This is the place where
Wellington defeated Napoleon who
is considered by many the greatest
military genius the world has ever
produced. There is an imposing
monument in the midst of the
battlefield, consisting of a great
mound of earth thrown up into the
skies, like one of the pyramids. On
the apex of this mound the monu-
ment proper rests-a massive square
of granite with colossal lion stand
ing on top looking in the direction
of France. Two hundred and
twenty-five granite steps take
you to the top of this pyramid, from
which one gets magnificent view
of the whole country around and can
see how the contending armies met
each other in this epoch making bat
tie. 1t is not surprising that Eng
land appreciates Wellington 80
highly. In travelling through Eng
land monuments and memorials of
other kinds to this man are to be
seen nearly everywhere. The Eng
lish are certainly fond of rubbing
Waterloo into the French. Yelling
ton and Nelson are two of England's
greatest heroes, the former on the
land and the latter on the sea.
When we got thoroughly into
Belgium, we realized as never before
that we were away from home, in a
strange land. Here the people talk
foreign languages, i. e., foreign to US.
They speak here the French and
Flc ish languages. Occasionally
one sa person who can talk a
little oroken English. In England
and Scotland we did not feel like we
were very far from home; but when
we reached the continent we felt
like we were in new world. But
under the direction of our conductor,
we get along all right. Then we have
such pleasant and congenial company
along with us that we don't get
lonely. | certainly would not like
to take this trip by myself.
At l.3O p. M, July 16, we leave
Brussels for Cologne, distance of
1873 miles. In making this journey,
of course we cross over into Ger
many. When we reach Varsteher,
the first station in Germany, all of
our baggage is taken from the cars
and examined hv the government
officials. 1t was al amusing sight to
witness this performance. We have
a very long train and apparently
about 1000 passengers on it. Every
time we pass from one government
to another our baggage is examined.
AS we travelled on through Germany
we could see better lands and more
prosperous country than in Belgium.
The people in both countries were
harvesting their grain, which seems
to be very heavy crop. The people
over here know how to take care of
their land and they use it all for
some purpose, either to bring forth
something to feed man on or to
ornament the country. The country
everywhere is beautiful. If our
people in America, especially in the
South, could come over here no
doubt they would have an oppor-
tunity to learn some very important