davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1914-11-01

factured, which ages ago ceased to be
made.
However. some of the finest of the old
arras are still preserved, especially in
England. Many ancient specimens. are
treasured in the kensinSton Museum,
London, ard in the stately homes and
royal palaces Of England and France
splendid old tapestries which were
made in Arras still may be seen dec
Grating the walls.
France. Burgundy and Germany have
many times fought over Arras. which
has been captured and recaptured for
fore Columbus discovered America, the
peace OF Arras marked an epocn in
French history, for the French frontier
was determined at the expense Of the
feudal state Of Burgundy. But Arras
did not become finally a part of France
until a couple of centuries later.
Maximilian Robespferre and his
younger brother Joseph were both born
in Arras, and that Joseph Lebon, who
was originally cure and an honored
son of the church, who afterward or
sanized the terror in Arras and
made his name eXecrated for his inhu-
man cruelties. was also a native of the
town.
\ correspondent of the Daily Chron-
icle in Paris states that the Germans
have again bombarded Arras, and the
quaint old city, with its unique streets
lined with rare old mansions, has been
practically destroyed. 1t is said that
its famous old helfry, 24O feet high, ris-
ing gracefully above the town hall and
surmounted by a huge crown, has been
wrecked by shell. The Hotel de
Vile, over which it towers. is one Of
the finest in France, having Gothic
facade which rises upon seven arches
Of different sizes.
The Petite place and the Grande place
were both curious relics of the old
Spanish domination. but reports state
that their queer gahles and old arcades
resting on curiously shaped sandstone
columns have been demolished. The
hospital buildings also are said to have
been repeatedly struck. wounded in
mates, doctors and nurses having been
killed
A sad but true story is told of a
young English girl. Miss Winnie Bell.
who had attained much honor for the
great bravery and daring she had ex-
hibited while attending the wounded on
the battlefield An account relates that
recently the Red Cross nurse was
struck by shell and horribly mutt
lated. dying on the litter as she was
being taken from the battlefield to the
hospital of LIE Mans. The gentle vic
tim of the horrors of war was buried
Evening star., 1914-11-01
0 THE FARFLQN BATTLE LINE i'm BELGIUM AND FRANCE

who learned il from the Saracens.
There being but few factories in Tour
mai. the people work at crude looms
in their own homes.
The terrible results of the war
throughout Belgium and the irrepara-
BILE injury wrought in France Is each
day becoming more thoroughly real
ized. Latest reports state that the
splendid old cathedral at Rheims has
been terribly mutilated, rs well as ca
thedrals at other places. The appre-
hension of the world has beep aroused
particularly since Ii has been learned
that st. Cervais. the wonderful Ole
baSilica at Scissors. has been added to
Liege. Louvain. Rheims and the lone
list of world-renowned antiquities
ruthleSSly destroyed by the Germans
The SoisSons Cathedral possessed :,11
honorable age. having been built as
early as the twelfth century. Its priu-
cipal facade was in the mixed Roman
esque and Gothic style. graced by
fine rose window over the principal
portal While ST. Gervais did not rank
with the splendid cathedrals at Amicn*
and Rheims. so far as regarded the eN-
terror, its interior was said to he one
OF the very finest in France. II WAS
noted for the effective proportions of
its nave and for the simplicity aud
purity of its cxquisitely carved capi-
tails. as well for its splendid
amples of antique stained glass. which
. were considered among the finest ~
Europe The sacred edifice possess
also some rare old tapestries and
masterpiece by Rubens, all of which. it
is feared. have been completely de
stroyed by the continued bombardment
of the city.
The lovely old ruined Abbey St Jean
des Nignes. whose beautiful thirteenth
century facade, fianked by two fine
towers, alone survived the bomba rd
ment of the Germans during the
Franco-German war, has been COM
pletely dem olished. il is learned.
Nerdun is doomed, the latest press
reports state. and st. Mihiel. which lies
on the right bank of the Meuse, is the
scene of fierce fighting. 1t is on the
site of the ancient Abbey of ST. Mihiei
In the church of the same name there
is fine statue of the Madonna by Lig-
lier Richter. The artists home is one
of the sights of the city. for the great
sculptor embellished the ceilings of his
old home with some of his finest work.
The Church of st. Mhiel also is rich in
stained glass windows and its beauti-
full choir stalls are famous.
Although these priceless relics of an
tiGuity have remained inviolate to de-
light the world, even through all the
vicissitudes of the dark ages, ii be
comes prOblematical what will be left
for posterity after this war In the much
vaunted, enlightened. cultured and
Christian twentieth century.
Evening star., 1914-11-01
BEAUTIFUL "aUAI VERT. BRUGEs.

happen to be, are prohibited from YER
turing farther out than about ninety
yards from the shore If they risk
going beyond. the guard on the beach
quickly recalls them by blowing shriu
blasts upon his horn.
To the north of the city. upon the
sand dunes, which hem it in, the ia
nous battle of Nieuport was fought
Prince Maurice of Nassau was assist
ed in his fight with the Spaniards un-
der the command of the Archduke g
Albert by a force of English veterans,
commanded by Sir Francis We're, who
was desperately wounded early in the
engagement. 1t is said the loo in
trepid Englishmen took UP their posi-
tfon in front of the sand hills and bore
the brunt of the terrific onslaught of
the. 10000 .Spaniards. Finally Prince
Maurice. by his excellent generalship
succeeded in winning the day against
the almost overwhelming number of
the enemy.
Furnes is dull little town. noted
only for its past Importance. Like so
many other Flemish places, it has I,
quaint old town hall. This one is of
the Renaissance style of architecture
and it contains some fine old Spanish
leather and ancient Flemish tarras or
tapestries.
Many well read persons are familiar
with the French word 'arras," having
often seen it in old books. where it
has been used anonymously for the
word tapestry or hangings. Arras is
a well fortified but small town of only
$4,000 people, situated upon the right
bank of the narrow little river Scarpe.
1t lies right in the center of the line
of battle between Lille and Amiens
which extends south of Amiens through.
the pretty little French villages near
Roye in the valley of the River Somme
a locality which has been designated
the hinge" for it is the center of The
curving battle line which marks the
nearest approach of the warning thou
sands to Paris.
In ancient times Arras was the capi-
tai of the Atebates, d Gallo tribe, ard
even as early as the fourth century
was noted for its fine wooden cloth
and for the excellent dye made from
the madder which grew in luxuriance
on the outskirts OF the town. In the
middle ages. SO the story runs, Arras
had attained such high repute for its
tapestry that the name of the town be-
came merged in the goods it manu-
Evening star., 1914-11-01

parish church. screen of most beau
t:fGl and elaborate workmanship in the
famboyant style. Over the high altar
in the church is one of :Jordaens' finest
paintings, his Alteration of the Magi."
-. Nieuport, is another Belgian town
which the war has put upon the map:
1t is only about ten miles from Ostend
by the steam tramway. Large num-
bers of spies, male and female, it is
reported. have been taken in Dixmunde.
Nieuport and in adjacent villages.
Many of those CAPTURED, particularly
the women, have stolidly declared they
have been forced into espionage by the
Germans. and the poor creatures. dull
witted peasants for the most part have
plainly showed by their words and de-
neanor that they completely failed to
realize their awful predicament and the
terrible risk they ran in acting as spies.
Without any distinction as regards the
sex of the traitors. they were promptly
taken out and shot, so reports state.
Appalling as this war necessarily is. it
becomes the more abhorrent when the
simplicity and Ignorance of the ordi-
nary Belgian peasant of the small
Flemish towns is realized. people who
are most docile. and can be easily made
to believe or do anything.
Nieuport is a quain. but desolate old
town on the User. about eleven miles
and Furnes 1t contains four hotels
and good tidal harbor. which has
been deepened so as to admit of sea
going craft. Nieuport-Bains is still
another of the many little seaside re-
sorts in Belgium on the North sea- 1t
possesses not only three or four hotels
but also miniature digue. a kursaal
and a little row of villas. A little more
than mile and a half up the shore is
a lighthouse with a hexagonal tower,
said to have been erected in the thir-
teenth century by Count Guy de Dam
pierre.
Nieuport was once a strong fortress
surrounded by thick brick towers. but
only one of these. situated at the
southeastern angle, now remains. The
towns escatade, or pier, extends out
into the sea distance of more than
1900 feet, affording in clear weather a
splendid view of both Dixmunde and
Ostend. At low tide the water recedes
far from the shore. leaving the soft
velvety sand in view, which makes
the sea bathing all along the shores
of the North sea so particularly fine
Although there is little or no danger,
the depth of the water increasing so
gradually, and there being only the
usual under-tow, all bathers, no mat
ter how expert swimmers. they may
Evening star., 1914-11-01

Relfort and the Vosges mountains, in
eastern France. Recent dispatches tell
of violent conflicts particularly in the
fregion between Lille and Arras, and of
the fierce battle raging between Nieu-
port and Dixmude. and all along the
little River User and through Ypres.
Menin and the small French villages
almost as far as Armentiers, the for
merly prosperous little manufacturing
town on the river Lys, not far from the
frontier.
The Flemish and adjacent French
towns all have close family likeness
to those of Holland, a resemblance not
only noted in the appearance of their
people, but in the towns themselves,
which in many cases have as innumer-
able canals crossed by frequent bridges
as even Amsterdam can boast.
Bruses. the quaint old town and cap
Fital of West Flanders, is quite as Dutch
as though it were across the frontier
and actually in Holland. Nothing could
be more delightfully."- foreign than it's
old "Quai Vert" with it's old gabled
houses, with bright red-tiled roofs,
nlirrored in it's broad canal crossed by
many stone bridges, under which float
barges and canal boats decked out with
white canvas sun shelters decorated
with Belgian flags. In the distance
towers the famous old belfry of Bruges.
and far away at the other end of the
canal rises the more modern spires of
the city.
a fo ooI,
miles from Bruges. and is connected
with Ostend by a deep canal capable of
accommodating sea-going vessels of
small tonnage Smaller waterways
Newport and Furnes- Another deep
canal joins Bruges to the very ancient
seaport near the Dutch frontier-Sluis,
or Il LEcluse-which boasts, or did boast
tury belfry and modern steam tram
way, of both of which the town was in
s'rdinately proud.
No city in all Belgium is more fasci-
occupied by the army of the German in
*aders. for none has better preserved
its medieval characteristics. Its broad
streets are still graced by long rows
Of quaint old mansions built in the late
-Gothic style. which recall convincingly
its now 1ong-departed glory.
In the thirteenth century Bruges was
1T the height of its commercial impor-
tduCS, at WHiCn tiIue IL was the COM
mercial center of Europe. The Duke of
burgundy, Philip the Good on the oc-
casion of his marriage here to the In
fanta Isabella of Portugal, founded the
order of the Golden Fleece. the order
passing to the house of Hapsburg in
1877 with the Burgundian dominions.
Bruges means bridges and the
name is well given. In the middle ages
it was rich and powerful. when Ghent
and Antwerp were in their infancy. and
as early as the fourteenth century the
commerce of the world was stored in
it's warehouses. But today its many
streets. with splendid old buildings,
show no signs of the city's former busi-
ness prosperity. and while the town is
said to have 10000 Inhabitants, it is
estimated, even before the war, that
Evening star., 1914-11-01

in the cemetery at lie Mans. with the
bodies Of French and German soldiers
around her in whose service she gave
up her noble young life.
Termonde. or Dendermon6e. is a small
fortified town the Scheldt not far
from Ghent. at the confluence of the
Dendre and Scheldt 1t now finds it
self in the limelight of publicity. 1t is
the place which King Louis XIV be-
sieged III 1867, but was compelled to
retreat. for the besieged like their
prototypes, the Belgians OF today.
hastily opened their sluices and inun-
dated the whole district. the water, it
is said. forcing the invaders to make q
hasty retreat. The English under Marl-
borough took Termonde after a bonn
bardment of ten days. which was SO
severe tnat it necessitated the rebui;o
ing of the Notifications. which how
ever. were. not finally constructed until
l22. almost a century later.
To the south of Termonde lies Alost
on the Dendre. which normally has
some $4,000 habitants and a brisk
trade in hops. Its old Church of 81
Martin is hardly more than a tray-
ment. two-thirds of the nave being
missing, well as the tower and
portal
In the church. however. is . famous
Rubens. which the master is credited
with having painted in one week The
picture represents Christ appointing st.
Rochus :utelary saint of the victims
of the plague. The similar picture
which may be seen in the museum of
Ghent is only copy of the original.
In Belgium, but close to the frontier
lies Tournai, in the near neighborhood
of Roubaix, Lille and Armentiers,
where, it is reported. Il very energetic
offensive movement has been made by
the Germans. but which has been re-
pulsed by the French. Tournai is one
of the most ancient towns even in
Belgium. It is the site of the ancient
Cftitas Nerviorum of Caesars day, and
it afterwari became known as Turna-
cum. In the tffth century it was the
seat of the Merivungian kings, but
later belonged to France. becoming
part of the Spanish Netherlands by
the peace of Madrid. The many sieges
the old town has undergone has left
posterity but few traces of its priceless
antiquities Only few medieval
houses still stand. and years ago the
old walls were converted into prom
enades.
In Tournai hosiery and "faince'' are
prominent manufactures. but the citys
principal business consists in the MAX
ing of what are known the world over
as brussels carpets" The art of car
pet weaving is said to have heen
brought to Europe by the crusaders
Evening star., 1914-11-01

fure. ornamented with six turrets The
principal facade has no less than forty
eight inches between the windows. all
filled with statues of the counts of
Flanders. the ancient rulers. Unfortu-
llateiy these statues are only copies OF
those destroyed by the French Sans
culottes' in 1872
From the windows or balconies of
the town hall. in ancient times. it was
customary for the new rulers imne
diately after their coronation to show
themselves to their subjects and SOL
cmniy swear to maintain the privileges
Of the ancient city. Lace making is
now Bruges' principal industry. but in
the old days it was o. the chief
markets for the English woolen trade.
The LON baTds and NenetianS and rich
ly laden vessels from Constantinople
arrived in its harbor with precious car
goes.
In 1904 .Bruges suffered a lombard
ment from the Dutch, but the cathe-
dral of st. S2veuT. an early BRICK Gothic
structure. cumbersome i'll design and
with a tower finished OFF with wha
looks like a castle. was unharmed.
Built in the thirteenth. fourteenth and
fifteenth centuries. it escaped any Seri-
Gus mutilation in the unenlightened
past. but ii remains to be seen what
will be LEFT OF the ancient cathedral
when the Germans get through with
the quaint, old city in Ammo Domini
1914
neighboring less important watering
places are now at the mercy of the
British and French fleets Recent re-
ports tell that the allies ships. gun
boats, monitors, destroyers and sub
marines are cooperating in the attack
from the sea.
On shore five nations are reported to
be at each others tnroats, in the throeS
of the battle to the death between the
Germans and allies. reinforced by air
ships, terrible death dealing engines of
destruction, crafty submarines and
other twentieth century inventions,
which prove our boasted civilization to
be only skin deep. The fearful carnage
equaled in the darkest era of the
worlds history.
In the vicinity of Ostend there has
been a terrific fire upon the German
batteries, the reports given out by
the British admiralty explain. This,
it is believed, gave rise to the recent
rumor that Ostend had been reoccu-
pied by the allies. 1t is known that
the famous seaside resort has been
enfiladed by shot and she'll and that
one of the eStaches, or piers, has
been destroyed, while great amount
of damage has been done to the long
line of handsome hotels and other
buildings which line the entire length
of the Digue, Ostend's celebrated
paved "boardwalk.''
Thirty-five miles from Ostend, reach
ed by rail in ordinary time in a little
more than two hours. is the old
Evening star., 1914-11-01

one-fourth of the number were verita-
BILE nnendicants and paupers.
With the poor old city occupied by a
hostile army the terrible plight of the
people may we'll be
imagined. particularly when it is re-
membered that it is estimated that
100000 German soldiers have pushed
their way through the northwestern
part of Belgium.
The Hotel de Vile, or town hall, in
Bruges is situated in the Place du
Bourg. to the east OF the great ,narket
place. 1t is an elegant Gothic -truc-
Evening star., 1914-11-01
TYPICAL PEASANTS OF D1xMuDE.

Flemish town of Ypres, with what re-
mains of it's ancient fortif1cations. 1t
is situated on the Yperlee in very
fiat but fertile district. 1t possesses
remarkably clean streets and it's 10000
inhabitants in times of peace are busi
ly engaged in the manufacture of lin
en- and lace. In the days that are
more than 100000 souls and 400 looms.
The towns downfall began with its
burning and being besieged by the
burghers of Client, and later, in the
tened it's decline by strongly fortify-
ing it. Today the very name Ypres
would be unknown to many travellers
perfectly familiar with other Belgian
cities were it not that the vicfssi-
tudeS of war have once more given it
an ephemeral Importance.
The very latest Paris reports state
that the allies have advanced in the
region between Ypres and Roulers. Rou-
Evening star., 1914-11-01
Three FataIists.

SOLDIERS are often heard to say.
- IF 7 am going to be shot. l shall
be shot" Wilberforce, an officer in the
British army during the Indian mu-
tiny, said that he never met but three
men who carried into practice the
adage. One of those men was a friend,
who, on Wilberforce's arrival in front
of Delhi, proposed a ride to show him
the pickets, assuring him that the jour
ney was safe. AS they rode along Will
berforce suddenly heard the ping OF
a bullet. quickly followed by a secon.i
and a third.
Hello. what does this mean?" hi,
asked.
"Oh, it is only the rifle pits: we All
just on their line of fire. answered
the friend.
Instantly wilberforce whipped up his
steed and galloped into a safe place
Turning round. he saw that his friend
had dismounted and was picking up
the whip that Wilberforce had drop
ped. Having done that, he slowly re-
mounted and walked his horse into
the place where Wilberforce was await
ing him
On another OCCASION a live shell came
inside a siege battery and began bury
ing itself in the ground. Everybody
went down except this fatalist.
Lie down, you fool!" the men called
out. Removing his cigar from his
mouth said the fatalist, Il not
going to put myself out for The
sentence was interrupted by the eX-
plosion of the shell. A fragment tore
off piece of the standing mans trou-
sers. He pointed to the torn portion as
an illustration of the truth of the ad-
age.
The other man who lived up to this
fatalist doctrine was seen by Wilber-
force standing still to light a cigar in
the middle of street down which
heavy fire was pouring. Wilberforce.
who was under shelter, called to him
to come under cover. He looked up
and said
How often have 1 told you that if
am to be shot ] shall be shot whether
l am where | am or under coyer?'
Then, taking out another match, he
finished the lighting process which his
friend had interrupted.
The third instance occurred at the
Delhi bank on the day of the assault.
Seated on the steps of the bank, be-
tween two men, was Wilberforce's most
intimate friend. The houses opposite
were thickly lined with Sepoy rebels.
who kept up a harassing fire, to which
the three men were directly exposed.
Wilberforce called to them to join
him under the shelter of wall. The
friend answered, IF 1 am to be shot,
shall be, no matter where 1 am
Scarcely had he spoken when his
companions were killed. He himself
was not touched, though seven bullets
struck one companion and two she
other He called attention to the fact
rs proof of the truth of his theory.
Evening star., 1914-11-01

lers. or in Flemish. Rousseaere, is q
little town of 1900 inhabitants in a
fertile meadow. situated on the small
stream called the Mander which flows
only short distance before it is lost in
the low flat country.
The town hall is long, ancient build
ing in the market square, which occupies
the center of the town 1t boasts a large
square tower at the south and a minia-
ture, slender, graceful spire rises over
the center o. tie building. The Church
cf st. Nichao! :: small ana .tTac. us'r
were it ..ct fl. - tesutl u s.,i-e which