Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1908-08-05
Flanders of Tapestry Fame
By E. NJ Rogers

rights of nations, to rot far away from
their homes, remembered only by mark
ers. monuments and centotaphs, on the
fields where they fell, in church yards,
cathedrals and abbeys.
While in New Orleans few winters
past, it was my pleasure to ride to the
tielc of CarOndelette. With uncovered
head | stood before the monument that
marks the place of the last engage
ment of the war of lSl2-l4. That bat
tie would not have been fought, only to
hold the stragetic place that controls
the Mississippi valley, and before the
peace convention should adjourn, that
England could obtain more favorable
treaty rights in the ma igation and
trade in the valley of the Mississippi;
and now it has been my privilege to
visit the building where better, a
holier nature has staid the hand of war
between the two countries of so many
ties. hoped, and so expressed my
self, that there may be no more wars
between England and the United States,
and | felt when at The Hague, where
Carnegie. an adopted American citizen,
is constructing million and a half dol
lar temple of peace, may not this Dutch
city, SO sublime in the past in defense
of liberty, religious and political rights,
be the place where nations will send
ambassadors and wars end; when the
implements of battle will be made into
pruning hooks and plow shares.
To see more of Flanders when ruled
by counts, when her ships were numer-
Gus on the high seas, her commerce
large and the center of tapestry, car
pet and lace weaving, we left car at
Brughes, an old city once the art CEN
ter. Brughes sent her ships .and cru
saders to Ceasarea to help restore the
Holy City, while thousands of the peo-
pie, enthused by Peter the Hermit,
went overland and never returned.
Famine. pestience and fevers claimed
them as victims. or fell in battle against
the Saracines. The banner of the cross
borne by Flemish crusaders waved over
the holy sepulchre for century, then
went down when the banners of Islam
were unfurled to proclaim Mahomet is
the true prophet.
We go to the Notre Dame to see the
tomb of Charles the Bold and Mary of
Burgundy. Like other cities of the
low country, Brughes was stormed by
Alva and suffered great injury and loss
of life in defense Of religious liberty.
Another short run and we arrive at
| Ostend, where a channel boat was
awaiting to transfer the passengers
over to Dover. The usual rough chan
mel was in good sea, and after four
hour run England is sighted and we go
ashore at Dover. This is an old Roman
site; here Caesar landed his legions and
commenced the Romanzing of the
Druids, while not far along the coast
William the Conqueror landed, fought
| the battle of Hastings, and commenced
/ his Doomsday book An old mediaevaI
castle stands on high hill overlooking
the barber, at one time garrisoned with
armoured soldiers, when enighthooc
was in flower A few guns are mount
ed pointing toward Calais, a warning K
/ invaders 20 keep away from the chalk
bluffs on the English shores.
We were conducted TO the King
Head Inn, an old time tavern, were
kindly cared for and were made wei
come in Kent English. Running
through Kent, where sheep are vel
1 pastured, hops clinging TO poles, anC
barley growing in well cultivated
ground. We rm into the old Roman
town Canterbury and visit the cathed-
raj, time of the morning service. This
monster old pile of stones has survived
many centuries. 1t is the memorial
place for English soldiers and sailors
who lost their lives in foreign lands
! We are conducted to the place where
the great theologian, Thomas a Beckett
was murdered; where his bones rested
till Henry VIII caused them TO bt
taken from the tomb, reduced to ashes
and scattered TO the wind.
Nearby is St Martins church, tht
oldest in England with some traces ot
Roman and much of the Norman. The
The church was used as an oratory by
Queen Bertha, wife of Ethelbert, king
of Kent BY the door as we enter il
an old font used when Ethelbert wal
baptized Canterbury was the frs
town built by the Romans, and pro
tected with strong wall and tower
Much of the old wall, built with rounC
flint stones and well cemented, still
stands. We walked many yards on tht
wall, ascended the tower, from which
is a fine view Of Canterbury, cathedral
churches, colleges, bishops houses anC
business places. A pleasant rid'
through good agricultural district ant
We pull into London, over he Thames
into Charring Cross station, and fin'
good accommodations at the Universit,
hotel.