The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1921-05-19
ROMANTIC MONTJOIE

Whatever material advantages may
accrue by-and-by to Belgium from the
restitution of her old possessions in the
Eife, there can be no dispute that the
most picturesque townlet in all those bor-
der regions of the former duchies of Linz
burg, Julers, and Berg has passed at once
into her hands in the ancient and little
known, because secluded, human habita-
ton on the Roer which bears the pictures
que name of Montjoie, writes Demetrius
c. Boulger in the London Graphic.
In the days of the Franks, before mile
stones came into vogue, it was the practice
to mark the stages along the main routes
by erecting a pile of stones, and some
times it happened that the spot selected
was on a field of battle. These heaps or
piles were termed "Montjoie" from the
Latin words Mons Jovis, and when the
name Montjoie was incorporated in the
battle-cry of France it signifed no more
than Forward St. Denis. The Burgun-
dian battle-cry, "Montjoie St. Andre" of
the same period, was only Forward St.
Andrew. Baedekers plausible suggestion
that the Romans built fortress here and
gave it a high-sounding name may be
relegated to the order of fairy tales.
Montjoie then was nothing more than a
stage or resting point on the high road of
the Franks across Austria to the Rhine.
Situated in gorge of the upper Roer, it
gave the easiest access from the south to
the centers of Frank, not Teuton, culture
in the AK, Juliers and Stolberg region.
Unlike Malmedy, Montjoie aspires to
no political role. 1t rests its claims to
fame in the picturesqueness of its situa-
ton, and the charm of its medieval build
ings bordering its narrow streets. The
Roer, here only a shallow stream for three
parts of the year, ripping over 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 channel that floods are
rare, as it sweeps along with increased
volume past Duren and Juliers to join the
Mouse in Holland.
Surrounded by the most beautiful forests
of the Hertogenwald or Hohe Venn,
which completely screen the little town
from view, the valley is so narrow that a
cricket ball might be thrown from the
height on which are the ruins of the old
castle to the opposite cliff on which is the
Halter or watch tower. This was placed
where it is because it allowed of better
view up and down the valley in the days
when the robber counts of Reichenstein
levied toll on travellers even if they did
rot completely plumber them.
The scenery is finest in the direction of
kalterherberg where the Perlenbach may
be traced like silver thread as it flows
through the wood to join the Roer. This
stream is called the Pearl brook because
the dukes of Juliers used to derive from it
the pearls for which their treasury was
famous. 1t is true that mussels are still
found, but no one has claimed for many
long day to have discovered pearl.
The little town is worthy of its setting.
Against the rocky and precipitous sides of
the mountains, through which the river
has cut way, aided, perhaps, by volcanic
action the inh abifants have rim IN lofty
and many-storied buildings, which seem
to aspire to reach the submits that confne
them in so small and cramped space.
Houses of five and six stories are quite
common, and even loftier ones may be
found. The consequence is that the main
street, which at some places is not broad