The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-01-24

Tn many journeys through the Low
Countries William Gorham Rice ad-
m.red the bell towers and listened to
the music Of the bells with increasing
delight. but rarely met any one who
knew the story of the towers or could
tell him about the carlton playing so
he went on systematic exploration OF
the towers in Belgium and Holland and
embodied what he learned n book
which has just been published by the
John Lane Company. His study of the
subject took place shortly before the
war. so that the conditions he describes
are now regrettab'y altered or abolished
by the great struggle.
The traveller. says MIR Rice. who
would most comfortably gain the
heights of a bell tower and most easily
see the bells and the mechanism OF
large carlton should visit the he'try OF
Client in Belgium. This alone OF the
towers in The Low Countries has an cleo
tric lift. Perhaps some explorer may
feel that the atmosphere OF The antique
IL disturbed by So modern an Invention
but by its a.d the ascent becomes pos
sble for many who would not UNDER
take the arduous climb sometimes OF
several hundred steps necessary to
reach a carillonneur's cabin. Antwerp,
for Instance has 622 steps Bruses iO2
and Mechln 100 to the bells.
Client at this time will specially at
tract English speaking people. and IN
deed those OF all lands who feel that
the alleged gains Of war are the great
Illusion Of the present day. The same
carlton which rang out a century ago
will welcome now the completion of a
hundred years of peace between Great
Britain and the United states, begun
by the treaty signed on December -,
1914 That Christmas eve agreement
was the work of ]. . Adams, Gallatn,
Clay. Buyard and Russell, representa-
tives at Client on the part of the United
States, aided by the wisdom of Madison
and Monroe at home. on the part Of
England it was due to Castlereagh,
Bathurst Liverpool and Wellington,
though none of these men were actually
peace commissioners. No accomplish
ment of the treaty was more important
than that which provided for the arbl-
tration of the boundary between the
United States and Canada; line with
its subsequent extensions running by
land and water nearly I 900 miles. Since
the signing Of the treaty not few
irritating controversies have arisen ne
tween the nations who were parties to
It and great populations active In trade
rivalries have come To exist on either
side of the dividing line, but through
all that line has continued unfortihed,
unguarded and unpatrolled. Both ad-
jacent peoples have maintained their
rights. both have advanced in prosper
ity, and as fixed by arbitration that
boundary has remained secure with
neither forts, nor soldiers, nor ships of
war upon it to keep a threatening or
even protective watch.
The fine house, with extensive grounds
in the Rue dcs ChartreuX in which the
conclusion Of the negotiations of 1874
took place known then as the house
OF Llcycn BHuWens and occupied by
the British peace commissioners, Is now
a Carthusian convent II was there, in
the long saloon looking out upon an
inner court which contains a delightful
formal garden. that the treaty was
signed. The carved woodwork and dec
GRATED ceiling have remained in their
original form, but the room itself was
divided in recent years by plan part!-
tons into three parts, 1t is a satlsfac-
ton to know that this historic meeting
place has lately been restored to its
earlier size and dignity.
Not far distant in the very heart of
the old city is the Place Saint Bayon,
at one side OF which rises the great bell
tower. The heights of this belfry once
gained the traveller finds himself
among "A greater company Of bells both
large and small, than he has ever be-
fore seen. In all there are hfty-two
bells. Fixed upon a heavy framework
OF wooden beams they extend in parallel
rows, tier above tier, filling the sides
of the great tower room. The little
bells are hung the highest The big
ones just clear the floor, The largest
4 of all is taller than a tall man. Its
diameter, S267 inches, is even greater
than it's height. 1t weighs six tons
on it is this inscription in Flemish "MN
name is Roland; when | toll there /.