The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1919-07-19

~ a
ton of her old possessions
IN the EifeI, there can be no dispute
that the most picturesque tOwnlet in
al those border regions of the former
dncbies of Limburg, JulierS, and Berg
has passed at once into her hands in
thp ancient and little-knOwn, because
secluded human habitatiOn on the
ROer which bears the picturesque
name of Montjoie, writes Demetrius G.
Boulger in the London Graphic.
In the days Of the Franks, before
milestOnes came into vogue, it was the
mactice to mark the stages along the
main routes by erecting pile of
stones, and sometimes it happened
that the spot selected was on field of
battle. These heaps or piles were
termed "MOntjOle" from the Latin
words Mons Jovis, and when the name
Manitoba was incorporated in the bat
te-cry of France it signifled no more
than Forward st. Denis. The Burgun-
dian battle-cry, "Montjoie st, Andre"
Of the same period, was only Forward
st. Andrew. Baedeker's plausible
suggestion that the Romans built a
fortress here and gave it high-sOund-
Ing name may be relegated to the or
der Of fairy tales.
NOntioIe then was nothing more
than a stage or resting point on the
high road Of the Franks across Aus
trasa to the Rhine. Situated in a
gorge of the upper ROer, it gave the
easiest access from the south to the
epnterS Of Frank, not TeutOn, culture
IN the AK, JuIiers and StOllberg re-
giOn
In Picturesque Setting.
Unlike Malmedy, MonGOie aspires to
no political role 1t rests it's claims
TO fame in the pictureGueness Of its
situation, and the charm of its
medieval buildings bordering its mar
row streets. The ROer, here only a
shallow stream for three parts of the
year. ripping over a stony bottom,
flows through the town. and in some
places even under the houses 1t is
swollen in the early spring by the
melting SHOWS Of the Eifel, but it has
Scooped out for itself so deep a chan
mel that floods are rare, as it sweeps
along with increased volume past
Duren and Juliers to join the Meuse
IN Holland.
Surrounded by the most beautiful
forests Of the Hertogenwald or HOhe
Fenn, which completely screen the lit
tie town from view, the valley is sc
barrow that cricket ball might be
thrown from the height on which are
The ruins of the old castle to the oppo
site cliff on which is the Halter Oh
watch tower. This was placed where
U Is because II allowed of better
view up and down the valley in the
Jays when the rObber counts of Reich
enSIein levied toll on travellers even L
mey did not completely plumber them
The scenery is finest in the direc
non of Kalterherberg, where the Per
ielOach may be traced like a silve
Unread as 1t flows through the wood Il
lOlh the Roer, This stream is calleC
He Pearl brook because the dukes o
Sahers used to derive from it tn,
PEARLS for which their treasury wa
iamouS 1t is true that mussels ar
sui found, but no one has claimed
of many long day to have discov
cred pearl.
Quaint Buildings, Narrow Streets.
Inc little town is worthy of its set
'ig Against the rocky and pre-
epltOuS sides of the mountains
Nloush Which the river has cut a way
s'aed' perhaps by volcanic action, tn
'i'aoltants have run up lofty an
mdnV'Storied buildings, which seer
y aspire to reach the SUBMITS tina
Winnie Them in so small and crampe
Spaee. Houses of five and six storie
e quite common and even loftie