Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1915-08-08
FANNY WORKS OF ART SAVED
Relics Estimated to Be Worth Many
Millions Are Preserved in Towns
in the War Arena.
MILLIONS ALSO ARE LOST


Ccorrespondcnce OF the Associated Press
FURNEs. Belgium July G1-The little
Flemish towns that loafed for centuries
on the banks Of the Yser before being
rcavakeoed 10 give their names 70 the
history OF some OF the most dramatic
episodes Of the war--Nieuport, Dixmudc.
Yprep-counted Titie commercially. and
only Ypres figured mitch IN history Wars
had reduced the former proud capital
of Flanders 70 a droning town OF less
than S0ooo Inhabitants. Of whom virtually
only the Nalencdenes lace makers worked
The men were called "tournesole" which
may be translated either ~ "sunnowers'
or "shadeseekcrsi' they earned the name
by shifting their lounging places on tho
Grande Place 70 ~ 60 keep in the sun
whom the weather was cold, end % keep
nut Of Il when Il was hot The remaining
importance Of the place, was, as that OF
Dixmade, Newport ana Furnes, chiefly
lts treasures Of Art. Those OF Ypres were
mostly gathered In the Merghelynck
museum and have been practically all
saved, including pictures by Snyders Van
Cost and van Thulden. with rare speci-
mems % wood carving. Spanish leather.
jewels and manuscripts While the Ger
mans we're approaching the line Of the
Yser. Monsieur Henri Dommartin. state
librarian at Brussels. transferred the
museum intact TO Dunldrk and from
there to Havre. The most precious work
Of art in the entire region. THE Adora-
ton OF the Wise Men Of the East" BY
Jorfaens. valued at 100000 francs, was
lost at Dixmude. II had been removed
from the bombarded church to theater
for safety; the theater was caved In by
a shell and the picture destroyed
other Relies saved.
A number Of other works Of art, In
Guiding rare specimens ~ Cordovan'
relics OF the Spanish occupation OF B1an-
ders were saved here BY Monsieur DOM
martin and Monsieur Eugene de Groot,
deputy for Furnas and Dixmude
when the French troops went through
Loo TO meet the Germans along the User.
they saved valuable picture, Christ
Between the Tive Thieves" by Van Book
horst. pupil OF Rubens other objects OF
iesser value were left. but afterwards
saved by Monsieur Dommarttn with the
aid OF the cure Of the parish. They were
about 10 leave when the cure cried, Il
was coins 70 forget the mass book" Tho
mass book OF Loo was one Of the most
valued relics OF Flanders It was printed
by the widow Of Balthasar Moretus, son
in-law OF Piantin, in f7Ot. II contained
many beautiful engravings and was or
nanented with precious stones and
escutchesns with the arms Of Loo.
At the convent Of Loo some reanark-
able portraits Of the nryt btshols OF
Yprcs were found in the cellar and put
into q place Of safety
saved from shells.
The great panel. Esther at the Feet OF
Assuorns," was saved at Nieuport by the
French while the Germans were lombard
ing the town. II Is torn In many places
by fragments OF shells, ono OF which
remains inbedsd IN the frame. A picture
representing the 'siege OF Nieuport" In
1900 was also lacerAted by slsells before
being rescued along with vd1uable por-
traits OF Philippe II. Mary Tudor. Aloer'
and Ieabella. A naonstranca Of great
vaiue was discovered by Monsieur Dc
croot hero walled up IN cellar.
The pride OF Furnas was it, famous
plocas OF Cordovan leather and specimens
of art OF she middle ages. when in Elan
dorp every man condsmned was required
10 eXeCJNe III UIOitEo = tNttt1~S~-~th =
his crime I'm the form OF the part OF me
body on which he had committed II. OF
the part Of the body with which he com
Ynitted Il. Among the relics Of that ass
taken 20 place Of safety from Furne'
were q bronze head with lips sealed cy
rlng-tho work OF q man condemned fol
blasphemy, and a fist OF bronze armed
with q polgnard. the work Of an assassin
preserved ~ Soldiers.
Al Wuiveringham soldiers passing
through ana quartercd for the night II
mo church saved the Christ ON n.
Cross" Alteration o. the BhephsrdS
ana the .Martyrdom OF Saint James"
A celebrated statue OF Christ. ATTRIBUTED
TO the french sculptor Du ouesnoy. Wal
the property Of the little church OF Lam
pernisse, which was destroyed by
shell. together with the forty-four sol
aiern occupying Il. The cure had saved tn
ruiic, however, and Il was later founf
among the objects saved At Wulverang
nam.
The value Of the worhs Of art save'
from rutn along the User runs high int
the millions The value Of what 10 know
=. - 49,. - a. stor. eskruaf1ahia.