The Washington herald., 1912-08-25
American Boys in Europe
Tell of Their Experiences
Bicycles Figure in Amusing and Semi
Tragic Situations

4 iured parts. We have. in consequences.
seen a good deal Of the town. Unlike
most Belgian cities Brussels possesses
no distinct Individuality, but combines
the gayety Of Ostend. the quaintness of
Bruges, and the historical interest Of
Client. with all the hustle Of a thriving
capital city.
Women stand ON Platforms.
As our hotel was some distance from
the center OF the city, We usually made
the trip to and from on the street cars
and noticed with surprise that while the
men generally prefer to go inside. the
women have a decided preference for
the platform. whence they stare and
pass remarks in approved masculine
fashion. Even more shocking to Ameri-
can ideas is the behavior of the con-
ductor. When he takes your fare he
bows gracefully and murmurs 'Merci
beaucoup." Then he tears of a receipt.
punches couple of holes in II. and Of.
fers II to you with another bow and an
equally gracious "S'il vous plait.'' Jack
was SO tickled when he witnessed this
performance that he insisted on paying
, his fare twice over. to the utter be-
wilderment Of the courteous conductor.
Doc also payed his fare twice, but in
his case II was quite involuntary. 1t
was his habit to tear UP his receipt as
soon as 1t was handed to him, and moth
ing came of 1t until one day an inspector
| climbed on the car and started through
to collect them. When he reached Doc
the latter pointed to some scattered
wisps OF paper scattered on the floor.
The inspector raised his eyebrows. and
they had 4 spirited argument In their
respective before Doc bowed to authority
and paid UP.
accompanied George 20 the repair shop.
where he found his bike ali ready for
another smash-up. While ! was waiting
outside for him a stranger strolled up
and inquired in very tolerable English
IIf were not an American. You've
guessed it." I told him. Then 1 sell
you a watch easy" he exclaimed. with a
smile of the most naive delight, and.
pulling three or four watches from his
pocket, he proceeded to explain their
merits to a pair OF very deaf ears. The
poor chap was quite dumfounded when
he saw that his efforts were useless. and
walked on muttering audibly: Hes no
American; he's no American"
Circumstances delayed our departure
from Brussels till late afternoon, when
we rode Ieisurely to Waterloo, through
the beautiful forest OF Soignes. We had
barely entered the village. however,
no time in locating an inn. The con-
slant stream of open-handed tourists had
the usual effect on the innkeeper. who
charged US two francs for q very mis-
cradle meal. Dinner over, the rain
promptly let up. and We decided to ride
on to the battlefield. where we might
find a more reasonable place to spend
the night
Lamps Go Out.
Before we had ridden a hundred yards
Macs lamp went quietly to sleep, and
Jacks and mine quickly followed suit.
A hasty examination showed US that the
trouble was a simple lack of nourish-
ment. but we had neither time nor pres
ent inclination to institute search for
oil so we got along as best We could.
George. whose lamp was still working.
rode in front shouting and singing in a
drunken fashion and zigzagging from one
side OF the road to the other. Most of
the passing pedestrians were thus driven
staring TO the sidewalks. and paid small
attention to the rest OF US, who rode
silently behind, wrapped in darkness and
the fear OF momentary arrest We had
almost reached the outskirts of the town
when a shout from behind and a glimpse
OF brass buttons coming rapidly in our
direction caused us to put on speed and
resort to open flight. The gendarme held
his own for a distance of fifteen or
twenty yards. Then a loud shout sound
ed in front. and a figure on the side
walk rushed into nearby house.
Goodnight exclaimed Mac; they've
te!ephoned ahead" and the next moment
a burly figure was upon US
Good evening. gentlemen" offered the
apparition politely. You have four
friends is it not? And you will stay
the night in my so interesting hotel
where the grand Hugo has wrote Of the
battle. is 1t not?'' We were all laughing
by this time. so he Just took 1t for grant |
ed that We would.
Battlefield Is Interestfns.
When he had us safely inside, our
host explained at great length that the |
-FOUR Firginians had stopped there the |
preceding night and told him that We |
would probably be along the next day |
He had thereupon sent his son outside |
to watch for US. and had almost aban-
doned hope when the shout which had |
so disconnected us filled his innkeeper's |
soul with delight. We inquired curiously
Hugo and were told that he |
had stayed at the inn for several weeks
while writing his great description of |
the battle. He asked IL one of us could
sleep in the room which Victor had oc-
cupied, and on receiving an affirmative
reply proceeded to match francs for II.
George won and retired Immediately, fol-
lowed shortly by the rest of us.
The next morning the battlefield held
us fascinated for hours, but we finally
broke away, and after riding all morning
over miserable country roads and
through some very pretty little towns
came out at last on the high road from
Brussels TO Namur. We reached the
latter city in the twilight, and after
dinner rode along the Neuse until we
found a likely place to spread our blan-