Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-09-13

A ~ work of throwing
A-p up bre tworks
and diggin 6
trenches proceeded with feyerish haste
until midday, when the unhappy news
came that the Belgians were forced to
retreat and that Louvain was lost. AT
once all the work of attempting to pro-
tect the helpless city ceased. and the
triumphant German troops, 100000
strong 1t is estimated, marched into the
town.
With the beautiful city of Louvain a
mass of smoking ruins. not ten miles
away, it is believed tine city fathers
dared not risk like fate for the price,
less art treasures of Brussels. Far
more valuable, in the eyes of many citi-
xens. than even the magnificent Hotel
lie Vile. PalaiS de Justice and the
academic, which are the city's pride. is
the historic fountain which Tor centuries
has been held in almost superStitious
reverence, and looked upon by the mass
es as sort of Palladium which repre-
sents the welfare of the nation.
The curious nIanikin fountain stands
at the southwest corner of the Rue du
Chene and the Rue de fEtruve, just
back of the great city hall. Its curious
little bronze figure represents the "a
nous civic hero and popular idol of the
Belgians. Godfrey. Count of Brabant, at
the age of two years, at which time he
first acquired fame.
The story goes that the baby son of
the reigning Duke Of Brabant disap-
peared one morning, to the terror and
despair OF his royal parents. There was
a great hue and cry. and messengers
were dispatched in every direction to
search for him. Suddenly the little boy
was discovered at the very corner still
marked by the famous fountain, erect
ed back in the year 1919 after the cast
of the artist Duquesnoy. Ever since the
miniature count has been a universal
fayosite.
For almost 500 years the manikin
sentfng the safety of the nation, and
on all gala occasions he is attired In
appropriate festai array. In the year
1f47. when King Louis XIV of France
took the city. he was given the white
eockade. while forty-two years later
he sported the colors of the Brabant
revolution: Under the French regime it
was thought wise by the authorities to
of France. SO upon his baby head was
seen the tri-colored cockade Years aft
er Godfrey was decked in the orange
colors.. and in 1880 he was given the
blouse of the French revolution.
The manikin has not only a COM
plete wardrobe suited to the shifting
needs OF the political situation but was
also decorated by King Louis himself
with the cross OF ST. Louis. a gorgeous
decoration, which he wears on appro-
PIRATE gala occasions. While the child
ish figure is not without real artistic
merit. quite aside from its value as
work of art and a historical antique
in the estimation of the populace it
is held in awe. 1t is believed that
should any injury befall the manikin
it would be a sure augury of some
terrible calamity not only to Brus-
sells. but also to Belgium knowing
this to be the popular belief, the here
tofore inexplicabfy sudden yielding of
the city to the German invasion seems
explained, for above all else they dared
not risb the demolition of their be-
loved manikin known as Brussels
Oldest Burgher.''
The recently devastated city of Lou
vain IL only short distance by trolley
car from Brussels. and has been called
the mother of Brussels" On account
of its picturesqueness and to view the
magnificent old Hotel de Vile, erected
in the fifteenth century, is has been the
mecca for all tourists While the build
ing Is somewhat similar t0 the city
halls of other Flemish cities, 1t is more
beautiful In design and a more perfect
example of the pointed Flemish style
OF architecture
The latest reports credit the Germans
Win having spared in the general hol-
acaust this magnificent building. but
a. splendid Grand Palace. which has
y IL the pride of Belgium for centu-
r.~s, Is no more. Today the tall lace
like spire of the town hall looks down
on scene Of terrible devastation and
ruin. The fine old Church of ST. Pierre,
opposite. with its wonderful carved
wood doors, ten chapels rich tn paint
iugs, among which were Diedrick
Bouts celebrated "Martyrdom of St
Erasmus" and Last Supper" are now
only charred debris of the fire kindled
ny the invaders, which has wiped out
the city famous for Its picturesque
winding streets and medieval quaint
ness as well as for its university and
scientific establishments.
Brussels is well called Little Paris, b"
tor the ancient capital of Brabant is
most decidedly French. 1t grew up way
back In the eighth century on both
banks of the little River Senne, which
is now hidden beneath the fine modern
inner bouleyards built upon arches
which extend through the city. The
OLD ramparts were leveled about fifteen
years ago. as in the city of Louvain, to
ne converted into attractive PRONE
nades No European city can boast of
aandsomer boulevards than those OF
BRUSSELS, which have been constructed
through the heart of the old town,
Promenading along the broad. shady
avenues. completely lined on both sides
with Parisian-looking shops. gay with
nne carriages. autos and vehicles Of
lal descriptions. and filled with hum
dreds OF stylishly gowned pedestrians.
the reason Brussels is known as Lit
tie PARIS Is very apparent
- -
Unlike the commercial cities of Ant
wsfp and Client. Brussels has always
been an aristocratic administrative
city. The dukes of Brabant in the old
days held their court there. and the
knights and courtiers naturally sought
to~ipgYatiate themselves with their
sovereisns by not only speaking the
French tongue. but by taking up
everything French. Today more than
half the citizens of Brussels speak
French. the only Flemish colony being
In what is known as the ''O!d Town.