Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-07-19
THR OUCH BELGIUM
Glimpse of the Busiest People
in Europe.
NOTHING IS WASTED THERE
All Work but the Sheep and the
Pigs.
INVESTMENTS OF KING LEOPOLD
Partner in Almost Everything That is
Making Money-Close Friend
of Thomas r. Walsh.
NOTHING IS WASTED THERE
OF KING LEOPOLD
BY WILLIAM Z. CURTIS.

or The star and the Chicago
Record Herald.
ON NORD EXPRESS. June "a. 1906.
l started yesterday to tell you about my
trip TO Petersburg. but I didn't get any
farther than Dover. and will have to be-
gin again. The guard. or conductor of
our train coming down from London in
formed me with good deal of enthusiasm
that the company now running genu-
Inc American cars between London and
Hastings. and he thought might be
gratified to know that they were very
much liked by everybody. 1t was polite
and thoughtful for him to give me this in
formation because he knew that was an
American. and he assumed that I was pa
triotic They can spot an American every
time. A Yankee can fit himself out In
London clothes, but he cannot conceal his
national characteristics. At the same
time other races have their own indivfd-
uaIity equally apparent and a person who
has travelled much In foreign countries
can usually tell where his fellow passengers
com from by the cut OF their jios.' as
I he sailors say: just as you can distinguish
a man from Iowa or Vermont from Texan
or an Alabama planter. On these trans
continental trains you see all kinds of peo-
pie. and among the passengers that went
aboard she little side-wheeled steamer Leo
pold II. which to carry US to Ostend.
SLAMS BeIgians Germans, Scandinavians
and several of our fellow countrymen.
The train runs down upon broad pier
of solid masonry, where steamers lay wait
ing on either side-on the left for Ostend
Brussels. Berlin and Petersburg. and on
the right for Paris, Marseilles and Rome
The Dreaded Channel Passage.
Everybody breads 10 cross the British
channel. II Is the worst place for sea-
sickness in all the world-even worse than
rounding Point Judith on the coast of
Rhode Island-because two tides meet in
narrow passage, one from the North sea
and the other from the Atlantic. and when
they come together each claims the right
of way. They make a great cOmmotfon
and cause the water to act in an eccentric
manner. There is a peculiar twist about
the motion of the steamer which is not felt
elsewhere. and II will fetch the most hard
ened sailor to his knees. rather throw
him his back in misery. l suppose
more people have been wretched more
agony has been suffered. and more groans
have been uttered crossing the English
channel than In any other place this side
of purgatory. 1t Is only twenty-five miles
across from France to England. and when
the steamer is about half way a man at
the topmast or any person with a glass
can easily perceive both coasts in clear
weather. Scientists will tell you that at
sea or a prairie where the land is a
dead level the human vision extends only
thirteen miles. That Is due to the curva-
turc of the earth. but in crossing the chan
mel the bluffs on either side and the eieva-
ton OF the deck extends that range a lit
tie farther
The voyage from Dover to Ostend is
something over sixty miles, and the little
side-wkeeled steamers, which are built for
heavy seas and great speed make it in
three hours from dock to dock. Sometimes
those three hours seem as long a cen
fury: at other times they are very short,
oG haG h0a witty tAIn fnr No
weather Is absolutely perfect: neither too
warm nor too cold, There is not the slight
est wind. not even enough breeze to ripple
the surface Of the water and the tides
seem to have taken day off The boat
was perfectly steady; no one was Ill; al
most everybody went below into the cabin
TO eat luncheon. and a committee of In
vestgation could not have discovered a
single cause of complaint or criticism. 1t
isn't often so.
The boats are side wheelers and belong
20 the Belgian government. being connected
with the state railway system and under
turbine engines and two propellers which
crosses in two hours and a half by this
route, and another runs over to Calais In
an hour. The great advantage of the tur-
bine over the ordinary engine Is said to
be the absence Of vibration and the ad-
dltional speed.
King Leopold's Investments
Ostend puts up brave front to the water
and the beach is encircled by long row Of
large hotels built OF brick In a compact
mass like the houses and office buildings In
great city. instead of being detached and
surrounded by gardens and groves, as at
seashore resorts in the United States At
the farther end OF the row the largest OF
all the hotels stands alone. and beyond it Is
a villa which King Leopold occupies during
his frequent visits TO this, one OF the most
popular and profitable summer resorts in
Europe. He is said 60 own the big hotel
ana To receive q large income from It II
1t Is safe to believe popular gossip he is
partner in almost everything that is max
ing money in Belgium. He Is interested In
factories. mills, mines and mercantile es-
adjustments He is one OF the heaviest
stockholders IN the International Sleeping
Car Company of Europe. ana has large in
vestments in the United States In silver
mines, hrewertes and other enterprises. He
owns the Congo Company and is a large
holder OF the shares in the Suez Canal: he
has an interest in hotel at Constantinople
and last. but not least, he Is a silent part
ner IN the firm which has a monopoly OF
the gambling privileges at Osteud.
Mr.. Thomas F. Walsh OF Colorado and
Washington Is particular friend of King
Leopold. They became acquainted at the
Paris exposition several years ago. where
Mr.. Walsh was a commissioner from the
United States, and the king was anxious to
obtain his Judgment on q silver mining
proposition. Mr.. Walsh undertook TO look
after, Lecpold's mining investments in
America. and gave him some practical ad-
vice which turned out to be so valuable
that the king has been grateful ever since
and always entertains Walsh in regal style
when he comes TO Europe. mutual friend
In London told me the other day that the
king had done we'll by Mr.. Walsh and had
reciprocated by letting him into some profit
able enterprises this side OF the water
and by securing him big block of stock
In the International Sleeping Car Company
Every American received by King Leopold
IS always asked IL he Is acquainted with
Mr.. Walsh. and II he happens to have that
honor, he is treated with distinction.
A King With Faults.
Leopold II was not built for saint; he
has his faults. like the rest OF US: his en-
Engagements with beautiful but imprudent
ladies. including several Americans. have
caused him considerable trouble with his
family. and It is certain that no gentleman
OF the present age has ever paid so much