The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1914-09-10

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| l. divided by the rivers and by can
als, some navigable, into numerous
islands connected by Owe: 200 bridg-
cs. In the center OF the city stands
1.-THE unfinished Belfry, a square
tower some 800 feet high, built in
Ii1S3-1339. One OF Clients most in
tcresting institutions is the great
Eeguinage OF home of German and
IDutch sisterhoods, which constitutes
little town Of itself. 1t Is sur
rounded by walls and a moat and
contains numerous small houses. is
converts and a church. Seven :un-
bred Beguines, women devoted to
good works. live there. Client was
captured by the French in 1898. 170S
and 1745. The treaty Of peace fol-
lowing the war OF 1912 between
Great Britain and the United States
was signed here in 1914. 1t has a
population OF approximately 49,
900. A great exposition was held
here during 1913 in which Germany.
Holland, England and France took
rart.
OsTEND-Thc Atlantic City OF
Belgium, with population OF about
idj.OOO, situated at almost the CEN
trial point on the AZ miles OF sea-
| coast that belong to Belgium. In
1.-THE middle ages it was strongly for
.ficd, but in 1865 the last vestiges
Ter its ramparts were removed. Since
lthcn new town has been created.
in which a solid granite digue or pa
Iladc over two miles long, casino,
royal chalet and race-course are
| features. Ostend is in direct rail-
road communication with Brussels.
Cologne and Berlin.
VISEGRAD - One OF the eight
principal military stations OF IN"
eastern frontier Of Bosnia, 43 miles
cast of the capital. Serajeyo. where
the assassinations took place that
" ere the immediate cause Of the Eu-
ropcan war. The town is about 10
miles west OF the Servian frontier.
! ALOST-A town in west central
Belgium, situated on the west bank
OF the Bender river, midway be-
Tween Brussels and Client, 16 miles
from each place. 1t was the an
Gent capital OF what was called i'm
Iperial Flanders. Thicrry Martens
here set up one OF the first printing
presses in Europe. It's population
is around $4,000. The city and the
surrounding region arc famous for
their hop gardens and linen-bleach-
ing establishments. The meadows
south OF Alost are often covered with
linen undergoing bleaching pro-
cess. i,;t,,
titled places in Belgium, on the Den
I der river, near the confluence with
/ the Schcldt. Its Notifications arc
old-consisting of two forts and
vailed city 1t was here that Louis
XIV. was forced to beat hasty re-
treat in 1867. because its defenders
cpcncd the bikes and flooded the
fountry. The population is approx
mately 1000.
MONS-A city in southern Bel
GUM, the capital Of Hainaut since
the eight century. at which time
Charlcmagne recognized 1t as such.
1t has had long military history
with numerous sieges, being many
times fortified, dismantled, and for
titled again. and being finally made
an unfortificd city in 1862. 1t is
fiourishing city Of about 10000 in
habitants. and is the central point
of Belgium's great coal district, the
Borinagc.
VALENCIENNES- French from
tier town with population Of about
| $4,000, 30 miles southeast of Lille.
at the confluence of.the Rhonelle and
the scheldt. 1t is in the heart OF
great industrial district near tho
Amin coal region. 1t is French
edition OF the city of Liege, except
that it is unfortificd, the old fort1f-
cations having been transformed into
pleasure grounds and drives In 1S92.
II has a long military history; in
l1677 it was taken by Louis NV. att
er an eight day siege. In 1893 1t sur
rendered after a bombardment OF AZ
days. and in 1915 1t defended itself
successfully.
| SOIGNIES-A ftourishing town OF
tn province of Hainaut Belgium.
C" ''s prosperity to the import
ant l. granite quarries In the
ncighbol !. God. The forest OF Soig-
MICS extended in the middle ages
over the southern part OF Brabant up
to the walls of Brussels and is i'm
mortalized in Byron's "Childe Har-
CID" The first blow towards its
gradual contraction was struck
when Napoleon ordered $4,000 oaks
to be cut down in it to build the
celebrated Boulogne flotilla for the
invasion OF England. A considera-
BILE portion of the forest in the
ncighborhood of Waterloo was as
signed in 1915 to the Duke of Well